How often does that attitude play out in other areas of my life?  Staying in my comfort zone may lessen my fear, but also prevents me from seeing the bigger picture, missing opportunities for personal growth and enriching my life.

I have revisited the cemetery a couple times after the initial discovery.  Each visit brings to mind for me that life here is limited and I need to be purposeful with the way I spend my time. Relationships need to be intentional, and the values I hold as important need to be reflected in the way I live and the choices I make.

So, before you make the commitment "for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health..." you may want to consider these things.  The questions go both ways.  What applies to one individual applies to both.  In order for a relationship to be mutually satisfying, it needs to be mutually sacrificial as well. 

…Murray Bowen, renown family systems therapist is known for his version "Don't Just Do Something, Stand There!"  I am not sure what he meant, but I can think of several situations where it really is best to wait before reacting.  

Resiliency is the ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change (Merriam-Webster).  We have probably all met or heard of people with stories of terrible tragedy, having had traumatic experiences, or who grew up without the nurture children need.  And, in spite of those experiences, these individuals are able to somehow overcome and eventually lead satisfying, productive, and purposeful lives.

Many people procrastinate at some point in their lives, however some people procrastinate habitually, causing undue stress and negative consequences.  Have you ever put off a project, then felt anxiety and guilt because you knew the task needed to be done?  Have you wondered what held you back from just diving in and completing the work?

A recent article discussed the effects of sibling bullying.  It indicated that even seemingly harmless taunting can lead to anxiety or depression later in life.  The effects of feeling bullied by a sibling may be just as damaging as being bullied by peers, and a whopping 32% of kids in the study reported being bullied by a sibling!

Being flexible - stepping back to look at other opportunities may serve us well at times like this.  We may be surprised to find that the path to our goal may not be what we had hoped, but one that works out just as well or better than we had imagined.

Do you lash out when you are hurt?  Do you bottle up your feelings, then explode?  How might things be different if you approach conflict in a new way- being assertive, yet communicating clearly, without blame or defensiveness, with respect and consideration for both your partner and yourself?  

Emotions come and go like waves. Of course, sometimes they may seem like mighty big waves!  "Feelings are much like waves, we can't stop them from coming but we can choose which ones to surf"- Jonatan Martensson.