My part even when I had no part

“If we say that we have no fault, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (ODAT, February 4)

The childhood things about which I felt sad or angry or upset:

I did not cause them.

But I did interpret them.

And I then generalised those interpretations.

And I recalled them.

And I attached significance to them.

Whatever repeats is giving me a payoff.

When I was willing to look at and give up the payoffs …

… I could stop upsetting myself.