As I was driving to #Montana this evening, I reached a very familiar place, a place where I had once shared many special memories with an old lover.  I began to feel sad.  It hit me, yet again, that our paths had severed, and it was just me driving to Montana, and not ‘us’.

As a few more memories floated into my mind, I took a deep breath and looked out the window.  There, I saw the most beautiful sunset, setting over the #Bridger Mountain Range.  It was in that moment that I realized, I had a choice.  I could follow these feelings of sadness, which mind you, I have done countless of times already, or I could #CHANGEUP my perspective.

I decided to #changeup my perspective.  Rather than losing myself in the sadness, I chose to feel grateful for experiencing such a great love.  To have had such wonderful memories with someone I care so deeply for, felt refreshing.  I then reminded myself, that although we are no longer together, I will always carry a piece of him in my heart, and for our time together, I will always remain grateful.

I glanced outside the window, to witness, once again, the magnificent sunset.  Shortly after, another feeling came to me, it was a feeling of #PEACE.  The peace I observed in the sunset, I realized, was also inside of me.  I can’t explain it in words, but in retrospect, by allowing myself to feel sad, but then recognizing that I could choose another perspective, allowed me to let go of the unnecessary and repetitive thought patterns, which have caused me such despair in the past, and bring me to a place of freedom and peace, #THESUNSET.

We all have a choice.  I know at times our thoughts can be over bearing and sometimes seem too much to handle.  But there is always another way.  By practicing compassion towards ourselves, allowing ourselves to feel, and then realizing that we don’t have to engage in every thought, will set us #FREE.

Rememeber: Be gentle with yourself, allow yourself to feel, but know when to back out and take the high road.

IT TAKES #PRACTICE, like anything in life.  But a practice which will set us #FREE and make us #HAPPIER human beings.