Talking about moving beyond our former constraints of negative situations and people reminded me of my mother.
Mom is still trying to raise her 40-something kids and is forever offering unsolicited and unnecessary advice - to the point of downright rudeness at times. Not to give you the wrong idea - she's not a monster - for the most part she's a very thoughtful, helpful person. But she is definitely lacking that filter that tells most of us, "Don't say that out loud." Know what I mean?
One of the aspects of change in my life currently is physical changes. I have a greater level of energy - working out with more regularity and less dread. I'm dropping weight, not drastically but steadily, without any real concerted focus on doing so. I'm wearing my hair in a different style, longer than I used to. Overall, I think the increased energy, higher level of peace and contentment, general *pleased with myself and my life* attitude is translating into a certain attractiveness.
So, mom was here at Thanksgiving. We're talking about plans I'm making, home improvements I'm working on, financial goals, etc., when she says, "I hope you can set aside some of your money to do some things for yourself. Because (whispered) I've noticed you're kind of letting yourself go."
I brushed it off, which is a new ability. Such a comment would have eaten at me in the past.