Thank you for sharing this. I almost replied yesterday but I am trying to be less open about specific things going on in my family. What we share can help others but there are also people in my family who are very private.

I think we are attracted to people for a reason. We are meant to teach each other important lessons. I have experienced feeling hurt but because I did not express it--it became a bigger problem than it needed to be. I am mostly honest and open but sometimes when I was hurt I just retreated into my imagination and allowed fear and paranoia to play tricks on me. I am learning how to use my openness as an asset--it is helpful to be open with the people in our lives whom we are the closest to. My family difficulties have taught me to be braver. They have taught me to be more accepting of people as they are rather than projecting all kinds of things. Though these trying times are bringing out fears in many people (and it is not without a reason--some might have compromised health or not know where their next paycheck is coming from), being cooped up in one place gives some of us a chance to spend time with our family and think about how we feel about where we are in our lives and where we want to go next.