At one time in Kathy’s life, being a young “tough old broad” had been a brilliant adaptive mechanism, but it wasn’t a healthy way for her to see herself forever. That’s why we must repeatedly test the limits of our story, to prevent it from becoming solid, to create some give, some stretch, some room for revision. When our narrative is flexible, each and every moment offers a fresh opportunity to welcome all aspects of our being. Kathy came to appreciate that she had been tough when necessary—and she could be tough again if it was required—but that toughness was not the whole of her.
