3.Respect that each person has his or her own journey.
This one has been one of the hardest lessons to learn. As a teacher I always want my students to succeed. As a parent, I always want my kids to be healthy and happy, as daughter and friend, I always want the best for those that I love.
The truth is that each person has his/her own journey. No matter what I want for them, it is their right and responsibilty to decide what they want for themelves, and the direction they will take to get there.
I can love, encourage, support, challenge, and help in any way I can, but in the end each of us has our own journey. It is arrogant for me to think that I understand someone else's journey better than they do. My journey is for me to decide, the journey of another person is for him/her to decide. When I aknowledge and respect that fact, my relationships are better, and my life is much more filled with joy.