By Alison James

My client Mark Salovich sent this to me many years ago and I would like to share his message now as with the ever changing world it provides a message that touches everyone universally.

Let me not take to myself, or suffer over, the actions or reactions of other people. Other adult human beings are not my responsibility no matter how closely their lives may be intertwined with mine. I will not allow myself to be troubled by anyone else; my only problem is to improve my own way of looking at life. “God teach me to detach my mind from what others say and do, except to draw helpful lessons and guidance from them.”

Someone said something unkind about me. Are my feeling hurt? Yes. Should they be? NO.How do I overcome my hurt? By detaching myself, “turning it off”, until I can figure out what lies behind it. If it was retaliation for an unkindness I did, let me correct my fault. If not, I have no responsibility in the matter. Should I have no responsibility in the matter? Should I ignore or challenge? NO, I will let it go; least said, soonest mended. Nothing can hurt me unless I allow it to. When I am pained by anything that happens outside of myself, it is not that thing which hurts me, but the way I think and feel about it.

I will start a new life each day. I will put the old mistakes away and start a new each day. My higher power always offers me a fresh start. I will no longer be burdened or anxious. If his forgiveness were only for the righteous where would be its need? I believe the God forgives us if we are honestly trying to live today the way he wants us to live. Do we forgive ourselves? I pray that my life may not be spoiled by worry or fear or selfishness. I pray that I may have a glad, thankful, and humble heart. 1987