# Overriding the Quiet Defaults

## The Scripts We Run On

Life hands us defaults from the start. A sharp word triggers defensiveness. Fatigue pulls us toward the couch instead of a walk. Habits like scrolling through the evening form paths we follow without thinking. These are our inner scripts, worn smooth by years of repetition. They're not bad—they kept us safe once—but they can dim the light we carry.

On this late December day in 2025, with winter's hush outside, I notice mine most clearly. The cold nudges me to hurry past a neighbor, but something whispers: pause.

## The Gentle Act of Override

Overriding isn't force. It's a quiet choice, like flipping a switch in soft light. It starts with breath, a moment to see the script playing out. Then, decide anew. Smile at the neighbor. Step into the chill for that walk. Write the unsent letter.

These overrides build. One day, fear's grip loosens on a new conversation. Another, kindness flows where resentment once stood.

Simple ways to begin:
- Notice the pull before acting.
- Ask: What if I chose differently?
- Let the new path settle, even if it feels unfamiliar.

## A Life Tuned by Choice

Over time, overrides rewrite the code. We become less puppet, more author. Not perfect, but present. The world softens when we do.

*In the end, every override is a vote for the life you truly want.*