I found this in My Documents while looking for something else. At first, I had no idea under what circumstances I wrote this back in 2009. While composing this post, I remembered it was a mind-mapping, or brainstorming exercise from some book I got from the library — a right brain, left brain thing. I expect the exercise was “What matters?” and after doodling down keywords I sprang into prose as suggested. Startled by the last sentence, I then recalled it was an unexpected insight then, too.  Anyway, I thought I would share it.

AND WHAT DOES MATTER TO ME?   I ASKED MYSELF!
And the answer came back, it matters to me to have JOY in my life. To have JOY I need to LOVE and TO BE LOVED. This is pretty easy as I have Rob and Vika to GIVE AND RECEIVE LOVE every day. And then there is the JOY I receive from my two children, to whom I freely give unconditional LOVE. That JOY extends with the special grandmotherly LOVE that I have for the children of my children. Over the past years my perspective of myself has changed, as I have unearthed the names and lives of my ancestors. This gives me JOY and RESPECT for their BRAVERY for coming to make a new life in a new land, and makes me THANKFUL for my life. To be JOYFUL, I try my best to be HAPPY WITH ME. I try not to judge myself against the lifestyle and material achievement of others. To own JOY, I do not need money, though it helps! I like to think that I have a POSITIVE outlook on my life, being a ‘glass half full’ person. Like my Heroine, Pollyanna, I LOOK FOR THE SILVER LINING in every dark cloud, and I DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF. I am no longer afraid of being alone.