The crucible of a good life is to get betrayed and yet not become a betrayer. To be cheated and not become a cheater. To be broken and not become the thing that broke you. To absorb wounds without passing them forward. To let it end with you, in you, transformed into something that serves instead of destroys. That’s the whole game.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ People that don’t understand that are under the control of those who wronged them. Stuck in a reactive state. A slave. Freedom is a choice. It’s what you refuse to become because of circumstance. “My parents never taught me the right way” Ok I believe you, but that lasted until you were 18. Let’s say you’re 36 now. You’ve had control over yourself and your own decisions for 18 years. What have you done with it? The crucible burns away everything except what you actually are. So who are you? Only you get to say.