Thursday, January 24, 2013

It's a long way to Tipperary

I've had a few days to come to terms (sort of) with the newest medical news.  I am seeing a specialist tomorrow and I am looking forward to asking some questions.  I'll need a knee specialist, but for now the ortho doc I'm seeing should be fine.

Life.

I've been listening and reading to Buddhist philosophies again.  I am not a joiner in any religion, I am more of a student.  Robert Thurman's lectures have been very interesting to me.

I am struggling with what this life (my life) is all about.  I know that into every life there is pain.  I don't know what to do with mine right now.  It feels too big for me. I know in time this won't seem so bad.  Time does have a way of erasing the hard lines of a crisis.

I often think back to when my sister Kathy died in 2001 and wonder how the hell I made it through.  If I can do that, I can do this.  I wish she were still alive as she would be the one I would talk to about these things, she was someone I could count on.

I don't have anyone in my life like that anymore.  I suppose I am the person I lean on now.  In some ways that is a good thing, but in another it is lonely.  It's hard to admit, it's hard to type...that I long for a  companion.  Yes, companion is the right word.

At a meeting the other night the topic was brought up about "Where is your wound?"  meaning where in your life do you feel stuck, where is there a story that you are still playing out.  I decided to think about it, to discuss next week.  On the drive home it came to me so clearly, my wound is that I have never felt loved, loved for who I am.

First off, no one would have been able to love me as I am since I didn't know who the hell I was until recently.  As a child, my sister Kathy loved me, although as we got older it was clear that the way I thought (asking deeper questions about life, etc.) didn't appeal to her.  "You hurt my head" she would say with a smile when I would pose philosophical questions to her.

As for my parents, I do not recall them taking the time to get to know me.  I was the 5th and last child.
They separated when I was 10, divorced when I was 12.  I always thought there was something wrong with me because I loved them very much, but they seems annoyed at having a child.

I'm no longer angry at my parents.  Being a parent myself I realize how difficult a task it is.  I have done much better than they did, so at least I have not passed on the poor parenting skills gene.  ha!

How do I live?  How do I love?  I don't feel fully alive.  I am holding back.  Why?  I am afraid.
Afraid of truly embracing life and making the best out of what I have.  What's wrong with that?
I don't know anyone who is doing it.

Is it okay to break free from expected roles? I don't mean anything crazy, just really enjoying life while we have it.  No longer waiting.  Jumping in with both feet.  Giggling.   Not hiding.  NO bargaining with yourself (If I do this, than I can have that).

I am afraid.  This wide-spectrum constant drone of fear permeates my life.

What is I just decided to be happy?  No matter what happened, I would accept it and know that under it all is happiness.  I am alive.  I have a life.  I CAN walk, talk, make dinner, type, teach, shower, think...on and on it goes.

I am not stuck, I am not being punished, I didn't do anything wrong.

I am alone because I left relationships that weren't healthy for me anymore.  I have not regretted leaving any of them.  Leaving them was a coming home to me.

Tonight a bunch of my friends are getting together at a restaurant about 20 minutes from my house.  I backed out of it weeks ago.  It was the right thing to do.  I wish them well.  I am sure they are having a grand evening.  I need to not be there.  I don't know why, I just know it is true.

I am taking care of myself.  Tomorrow I will take care of myself with the doctor.  I have my questions and I'll be pushing to see when I can run again.  Perhaps focusing on what I can do so I can run again will be what helps me through this time.

I am afraid.  I am very afraid, but on I go.    


  

No comments:

Post a Comment