When you break it down, life is just a bunch of choices.
We all make choices from the moment we wake up to the moment we go back to sleep. And each choice consists of multiple factors and usually benefits ourselves, our loved ones and our community. Sometimes we consider necessity, comfort, or ease. And other times, our choices affect us to the core of our being and represents the root of who we are.
Each and every one of us have different priorities and needs during different times in our lives. Personally, we are currently making choices to break decade-old habits and learn new ones to heal old wounds and reach our goals for a better future. Whether it’s critical self judgement, or what orthotics to wear with what shoes, or to cook or to order out (again)... each choice runs through the ultimate question: “what’s best for me and my family.”
We acknowledge that there will be epic internal battles when we make those tough choices. We all know that taking care of ourselves first gives us the ability to share our best with others. So when is it okay to act on that self-serving decision and when should we sacrifice some of ourselves for the greater good?
There’s no simple or straight-forward answer. It’s just one more choice to add to the endless decisions we have to make day-in and day-out. What we have realized on our own personal journey of choices is that each one of us is going to choose our own unique path.
We cannot control how or what others choose. We can only control our own choices. And with this understanding and acceptance comes respect and compassion. It’s easy to sit back and think poorly of other people’s choices and internally lecture about what you would or wouldn't do differently... but that’s the whole point. They are not you and you are not them.
We can support each other through difficult times without the critical harsh judgment of what should or shouldn’t have been done. We can extend love and respect for other people’s choices knowing they are just doing what’s best for them, just like we all do. We can show patience and understanding that change is hard, whether it’s a bad habit, a way of thinking, or a lifestyle choice.
Here at ming+ming, we believe in the importance of a strong community. We can feel the desperate need for support and acceptance, as we navigate through challenging times and difficult choices. And when we feel that others understand us regardless of our past decisions, we can celebrate the successes earned by our hard work, instead of focusing on what we did or didn't do.
Today is a big day and full of choices, but we will always be stronger and better together. So let’s keep marching forward in the pursuit of loving ourselves deeper so we can be better at loving each other.
With love,
Ming-Wai + Ming-Cee
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