Wise Men Don't Need Advice, Fools Don't Heed It...Benjamin Franklin

An interesting area of self awareness comes when you finally no longer seek advice from others, and they are somewhat uncomfortable with the sudden conversation shift.  I have had episodes where people close to me have asked if anything was wrong because it must be or I would be an open book sharing all of my most intimate thoughts and concerns with them. I have, as a result of this discomfort on their parts, asked questions I had no desire to have assistance with in order to make those I have been associated with for a long time more comfortable.  I don't ask important life determining questions because at this point that is up to me, just simple ones but they are happy enough to have an input in someway and receive that feeling of power and being needed. At one point in my life I would have gone to a Bishop, a woman leader, etc. for ideas with decisions needing to be made in my life.  Almost certainly I would receive an answer that I need to repent of this or that (you haven't prayed enough-when I was praying 17 times a day -NO EXAGGERATION)  Still, it is both freeing and terrifying because now there is no one to blame.  Don't get me wrong there are those people who will try to make living your dreams more difficult, but if I allow that to stop me it is only myself I have to blame.  Being a Mom I do not have complete autonomy and shouldn't because I am responsible for another human being, but as far as failures or successes in my life the buck stops here!  When you have challenges the important thing is finding the tools to overcome those challenges, and this is another area of life I need to work on to achieve success in my goals.  I have heard from a very wise and for the most part successful woman "create lots of buffers around yourself"  She meant make extra time for everything, enlist the help of a support system, be creative.  Her advice, while not solicited is some of the wisest I have ever heard for a single parent or a parent who is married but has a disabled spouse.  I am off to work on a better buffer, and build support and I offer my support to those who need a kind word.  Have a great day.