I sit back with
new clarity, and I can see the circumstances I have been faced with lately for
what they are: more practice and testing of my skills and tools.
The same
situations, people, feelings and/or behaviors continue to pop up because I haven’t
learned my lessons yet, or still!! Despite the progress I have been making with
loading up that cardboard box (from my containment exercise), they keep creeping out, “Hello!! Have you
forgotten about me? I am still heeeere!! Pay attention to me!!"
As I type this, I realize
that this, right here, is another example of my growth, my healing and recovery!
(And I am PROUD!!)
Awareness. The
growing ability to “contain” them when necessary. The expanding proficiency
that enables me to look them in the eyes and say “What’s up? What do you WANT?
NOPE. I don’t think so! That is not true. It’s no longer allowed. SEE YA!! GET
BACK IN THE BOX!!” The increasing prowess that allows me to see them clearly, walk
through my feelings, reaching the other side, exhausted and weak, but of course,
stronger for it.
Acceptance and
letting go. That is a massive struggle. It has been the struggle as far back as
I dig; I never seemed to learn to accept and let go of ANYTHING. Only the continual
“What if?”, “If only…”, “It’s because they did…”, and “It’s because I did…”. I
sit here carrying the tremendous weight of so many unnecessary things that weren’t
even mine to carry, and I have done so for years. Things that have no relevance
now, in my adult life. These things, people, behaviors were a part of who I was
THEN. It doesn’t matter what that looked like, or how difficult as it might be
to ACCEPT now, I must. I was who I was then. With or without the healthy skills,
tools, self-awareness, acceptance, respect, and/or love, it just WAS. I can’t
go back and fix or change any of it. And
that is OK.
I thought that I
had already begun to heal those parts of myself. I now realize that I truly had
not gotten close. I must deeply accept and own, that that person WAS me, that
was my life, THEN. I have reminded myself, repeatedly, reciting Maya Angelou’s
quote, “When you know better, you do better.”, and while I truly believe it to
be true, my actions and self-talk have not matched up.
I haven’t fully accepted
that young girl as she was then. I haven’t faced her, truly forgiven her, or completely
disclosed to her any of the actual facts about anything; which would absolutely
relieve her from the crushing burden of guilt and shame that she has carried. I
haven’t genuinely allowed her to process, heal and move on.
It’s kind of like
fishing. You’re sitting out in the boat on a calm and beautiful day, when
suddenly you feel the familiar tug on your line. Without a clear vision of what
is really on that hook, you begin to reel it, bringing it in for a closer look.
You assume it’s going be a big one, what with the effort required as you
struggle to bring it to the boat. There it is in the net. With gratitude and
admiration, you inspect it, take stock, and maybe you realize that it’s not
quite the fish you were hoping for, or perhaps you intended to set it free to
begin with, so you then release it.
No tears. No
anger. No bargaining. No guilt or shame. You just let it go.
My goal now, is doing
the work to heal the Complicated Grief I have in relation to the oh so many
events/situations, people, and of course, deaths that have been smothering me.
I can begin to muddle through each stage in order to reach acceptance of all
these things, where I will then finally let it all go.
I will finally
find freedom. I will finally find peace.
The amazing and
wonderful part is, I don’t have to look very hard anymore. I can see them. I can
feel the cool, airy, weightlessness of liberation and serenity begin to swirl
around me, tickling the hairs on my arms, and inciting a ripple of excitement,
and relief.
I am doing it. I
am well on my way.
It’s not a
destination I seek however; the path will not end there. It is merely the
doorway. The gateway to my authentic self, where my journey of discovery and
growth will continue onto a bright, fresh and uplifting new chapter of
opportunities.
My story is far from over.