When Choosing Yourself Feels Like Hurting the People You Love

For a long time, my job was to prevent discomfort. Not officially. No one assigned it to me. But I learned it anyway. Make things smooth. Keep everyone happy. Notice needs before they were spoken. Roll out the red carpet of daily life so no one had to feel friction if I could absorb it first. I loved the smiles. I really did. A child delighted. A peacef…