*Gratitude Over Regret* Dear Journal, For reasons I can’t quite explain, my posting time has changed. But I’ve made a promise to myself: no matter what, I won’t let a day’s post roll over into the next. Discipline matters, and I intend to keep this commitment. Growing up, I used to think other parents were better than mine—especially when I was being scolded or punished in public. In those moments, I was convinced my mum was just out to embarrass me, to reduce my steeze (lol). And when I saw other mothers being all sweet and gentle with their kids, I would wonder why mine was so harsh, so overbearing, so different. I even questioned why I was born into my family instead of another. But then, life happened. I grew. I met people—at university, at work, in different phases of life. And slowly, I started seeing things differently. I began to appreciate my family. I began to appreciate my parents. I began to appreciate my siblings. I realized I couldn’t have asked for a better family or better experiences. Some of the things I once resented turned out to be the very things that shaped me into the person I am today. Without them, I wouldn’t have learned the lessons. I wouldn’t have the depth, the strength, or the understanding that I now carry. So rather than regret those moments, I’ve shifted my mindset to gratitude. Now, whenever life throws me a challenge, I try to see it differently. I ask myself: _What can I learn from this? How can I grow? How can I make the most of this instead of letting it weigh me down?_ That perspective has given me more peace. It has made me more fulfilled. More rounded. More forgiving. More understanding. And I hope that in some way, this inspires you too—to be more open-minded, to appreciate your journey, and to see people through a lens of understanding rather than judgment. Here’s wishing you a productive day tomorrow —one as beautiful and as warm as the hug I’m sending right now. Love, _Aby💕_