# Overrides

## The Defaults We Inherit

Life hands us starting points we rarely question. A sharp word triggers defensiveness. Fatigue pulls us toward the couch. Old habits loop like well-worn paths in the woods. These are our defaults—simple responses shaped by years, biology, and the world around us. They keep things running smoothly most days, but they can lead us in circles, away from where we truly want to go.

## Choosing to Rewrite

An override is that quiet decision to pause and shift. It's not about force or grand gestures. When anger rises, you breathe and respond with understanding. When doubt whispers, you step forward anyway. These moments feel small, like flipping a switch in a dim room. Over time, they reshape the landscape. What was automatic becomes optional, and your path starts to reflect who you are, not just what you've been.

## Building from Within

- Override fear with a single kind word to a stranger.
- Override routine by walking a new street at dusk.
- Override yesterday's regrets by planting something today.

In a world of constant motion, overrides remind us of our quiet agency. They turn inheritance into intention.

*On this January morning in 2026, hold the key close—it's always yours to turn.*