I’m grateful for family. Family has taught me so much. I haven’t had the easiest family life, but I’ve grown so much from each experience I had. Without the family I have, I wouldn’t be me exactly as I am now. The person I am has so much love and compassion to share with the world. It’s not just because of the love, it’s because of the trauma too. I learned how to be strong, resilient, and brave. I got to see the importance of healthy boundaries. I learned about both toxic and loving relationships. I learned to break patterns of abuse, addiction, and self-sabotage. I also learned the power of love, respect, and trust. I’m grateful for my family.

I’m also grateful for the family I’ve made by bonds of love. I’m blessed to have a handful of friendships that have lasted between 3 and 4 decades. These relationships have stood the test of time, hormones, drama, chaos, and REALLY growing up together. Then I have ones that are bonds of spirit. These are the ones that when I met them, I already knew them. I’m overwhelmed with love in my heart for the amazing family God has brought into my life.

Today, I commit to appreciating family by blood and by choice. I know holidays can be tough on families. Today, I will remember to align with the energy of love, abundance, and peace. If a family member comes at me with the energy of fear, lack, and separation, I will remind myself they are coming at me from that place because they are in that place. It doesn’t mean that I have to be there. I can think, believe, act, and react from the energy of love, abundance, and peace no matter what comes at me. That’s MY CHOICE!

We don’t ever have to fight to be right, we can share our perspectives and allow others to have theirs. We can pray that God protects us with the energy of love, abundance, and peace to help us stay aligned. If we feel resistance from certain people, trust the space! Imagine two magnets, if the energy is aligned the magnets will connect If energy doesn’t align, the magnets resist each other. If I feel a resistance, I don’t force it to be what it’s not. I see the resistance as God’s protective circle around me.

Just remember, we can’t change anyone but ourselves, and we don’t know what is best for someone else’s journey, because it’s not ours. I choose to appreciate the lessons and the blessings that my family offers whether they are blood or by choice. As long as I stay aligned with love, abundance, and peace, I know I will get the most out of our time together.

With Love, Abundance, and Peace,

©Rachael Wolff 2020

Author of Letters from a Better Me: How Becoming an Empowered Woman Transforms the World