Thought of the day

For several years now, I have let my feelings get hurt by people that really do not matter in my life.  They are a part of my life, not by my choice, but they don't enhance my life in any way.  So, why should I let them have this power over me anymore?  It is energy wasted on my part and it takes me away from what I really should be doing.  There is no pleasure or enjoyment in those feelings, so it's better to process it and let it go.  I feel like I did some of that yesterday.

I went to visit my Dad yesterday and knew, beforehand, that there was a good chance of running into my stepsister.  It was her birthday so she and June were going to be having lunch and spending some time together.  I call her my stepsister because, legally, that's what she is and it's easier than repeatedly writing Dad's wife's daughter.  Yes, I am taking the lazy way with this one LOL  During my hour and a half drive to Dad's I had time to think about how to handle seeing her.  I started to get worked up about it when I suddenly thought to myself "Why is this bothering me?"  I was on my way to see Dad, not her, and that is where my attention needed to be. 

As it turns out, their plans got cancelled because she was sick.  Still, June had us drop off her birthday cake and a card and needed us to pick up some things from her.  I wasn't about to make Dad carry all of that stuff, so I walked with him to the front door, carrying the birthday cake.  I wished her a happy birthday and told her I was sorry she did not feel well and then I picked up the things she had for June and took them back to Dad's car.  That was it.  Painless on all sides.  And for the first time in a long time, I felt my words sincere towards her.  I did find it funny that I still have never been introduced to her 2nd husband, even though he was standing 10 feet away from us this time.  Oh well, I decided it's not worth worrying about and so I didn't.

Being able to not care about it made all the difference to me.  I don't know why, it just did.  Dad and I were able to have a great lunch and visit, which was the whole point anyway.