How to Walk Away

by Katherine Center

‘When you don’t know what to do for yourself, do something for someone else.’”

I have a theory that we are at our meanest when we feel threatened. People really seem to do their worst when they think you’re out to hurt them, or steal from them, or take something that’s rightfully theirs.

Needing to find reasons to live had forced me to build a life worth living.

The greater our capacity for sorrow becomes, the greater our capacity for joy.

But you have to live the life you have. You have to find inspiration in the struggle, and pull joy out of the hardship. That’s what we try to do—counterbalance the suffering with laughter, fuzzy blankets, hugs, sing-alongs, sunny-day picnics, chocolate chip cookies, and wildflowers. Because that’s all we can do: carry the sorrow when we have to, and absolutely savor the joy when we can. Life is always, always both.

You can’t fix everything. Not even close. But you can look for reasons to be grateful. More than that, you can work to create them.

More than anything, I know that you just have to choose to make the best of things. You get one life, and it only goes forward. And there really are all kinds of happy endings.