Dear Cali Chica:

I thought about justice and loyalty this morning, after reading your two posts because of that “mental chatter” and  “baseline distress” you mentioned there. In the midst of that mental noise, the value of justice, of what is right, can quiet some of that noise.

Empathy for your mother harmed you. Empathy for your husband will help you. (You expressed in the past difficulty feeling empathy for him).

When old pathways get activated (and it can be following physical tiredness or a distressing dream the night before), and you find yourself distracted by that chatter, and when empathy is not something that you feel right there and then, the value of justice will come handy. Do  what is right and calm will follow.

It may not be important at the moment so feel free to not address it now- I didn’t understand what you wrote about your sister: “She has been helpful in the sense that she understands me… but that isn’t really helpful- it is RELATABILITY”-

– what does she understand about you?

– what do you mean by “relatability” in that sentence?

anita