Life changes thread: What up y'all?

[friendship]

I'm really glad to hear that you've forgiven yourself. I don't think any of us set out to be "bad" people (except psychopaths I guess) or make mistakes on purpose. I think you're right—I did my best with the tools and information I had, insufficient as they may have been. How could I have done anything else? At any age, it's our first time being alive (that we're aware of, anyway). Our entire lives are a process of becoming.

[dubkitty]

and the 20th/21st centuries did not come with a handbook.

[friendship]

Boy they sure didn't huh

I gave it some more thought and I think my answer was too focused on material/social/external changes. While it's true the outer markers of my life are very similar to what they were 10 years ago, my inner world has gone through a lot of changes. A lot of emotional and dare I say spiritual growth took place, and while going through it was pretty grueling, I think I've become a better person: more responsible, more patient, more compassionate, more grateful, more oriented towards the things that truly matter in life (or at least, to me). 10 years ago I was bitter, angry, reactive, and emotionally buried in a crypt. I am... less so now. I am finally beginning to understand that I don't have to carry an accumulated lifetime of pain with me everywhere I go.

I still go on and on and on about myself though.