The Asylum Confessions: Family Matters (The Asylum Confession Files, #2)

by Jack Steen

"The only time you ever see a person's true character, who they really are, is right before they die. Anytime you judge a person before seeing their true self, you're robbing yourself of an opportunity. Don't wait for death to look; you're smart, I can see it. You have the gift to see who a person truly is, even before they're willing to admit it. Use that to your advantage, and you'll do fine here."

So even if your existence seems isolated and unadventurous, if you do well with the life you've been given, then it's well-lived.

For a mother, that's what it's all about. Living for your children. Ensuring they have the best life, a full life, a life they can grab hold of with strength and understanding.

Rarely are you given second chances, real second chances, but when you do, when they present themselves to you, you need to figure out if the strings attached are worth the price.

to get lost within the pages of a book, within the characters of a story. You still live, but through the experiences and words of others.

so while I had a broken heart, I didn't have a broken spirit.

Never tell someone who grieves that their heart will heal. Never suggest having another baby could replace the one they lost. That was a cruelty I didn’t deserve.

Wake up each day determined to be the best person you can be. Go to sleep each night knowing you did the absolute best you could and that it’s too late to change actions you’ve already taken. Determine to be absolute in your decisions, and you’ll never experience a moment of regret.