“Whenever you’re in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude.”
— William James

by Krystal Gail | Jun 9, 2026 | Reflections

“Have you ever won the battle only to lose the war?” Sometimes the greatest damage in conflict is not caused by the disagreement itself, but by the way we choose to handle it. I grew up as the second oldest of eleven children, and from day one I hated losing at...

“Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it.”
— Mahatma Gandhi

by Krystal Gail | Jun 9, 2026 | Reflections

“Maybe if I ignore it, it will just go away.” The conflict we avoid today often becomes the crisis we face tomorrow. Have you ever played ostrich before? Stuck your head in the sand and hoped the problem would simply resolve itself and disappear? How did that work...

“When angry, count to ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one hundred.”
— Thomas Jefferson

by Krystal Gail | Jun 9, 2026 | Reflections

“Did I say that?” Conflict becomes destructive quickly when frustration speaks before wisdom has a chance to catch up. Throughout the week, we have already established that conflict is inevitable. Every person is unique, with different backgrounds, perceptions,...

“Conflict rarely begins with the argument. It usually begins with what goes unspoken.”

by Krystal Gail | Jun 9, 2026 | Reflections

“Often the biggest impediment to healthy conflict is not realizing that you are already in it.” Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night thinking about a situation that was weighing heavily on your mind? Have you ever suddenly received the cold shoulder from...

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
— Viktor Frankl

by Krystal Gail | Jun 9, 2026 | Reflections

“I just don’t get other people.” People rarely frustrate us more than when they fail to behave the way we believe they should.I have been fortunate to be happily married for 40 years. That reality speaks far more to my wife’s incredible patience and resilience than to...