I’ve survived my share of challenges in this life and humor has been my saving grace more times than I can count. My hope is that by sharing my journey, others can learn from my choices or at the very least, laugh at them. After all, tragedy + time =Comedy!
In 2000-2001, I was a switchboard operator in Baltimore, MD. On slow days I worked on organizing the storage room and one day I found some cassette tapes of Les Brown's and Zig Ziglar's. I wasn't familiar with these guys, but I liked what I read on the tape sleeves. They had been there so long that no one who was still working there remembered buying them and my wonderful boss, Pam said I could take them home.
I listened to those tapes in my car during my commutes, many things that I heard were foreign concepts to me at that time but I remember sitting in the parking lot of my apartment complex after a long drive home because I wanted to hear more!
Thanks to SimpleReminders.com for bringing back a wonderful memory! You can check out their Facebook page here.
if you are interested in following me on Facebook as well, I welcome you to the journey!
I want to get back in the habit of writing regularly, even if it's not for the book. I'm hoping that doing so will help me get to a place where I can return to writing the book and still be able to sleep at night but I'm guessing as to how to get there...
Exhausting day so far - had my second counseling session (on 2 hours sleep) and I really like this therapist. She's kind, encourages me to be gentle with myself (especially while I'm going through this) asks good questions and from everything I have seen so far - she knows her stuff!! She's big on explaining the scientific and biological reasons that our minds work the way they do - which happens to be one of my very favorite topics! Unfortunately she finishes her internship there next month so I will have to switch to another therapist. This was standard practice at another agency I used to go to, the turnover was so high that in the last 2 years I was receiving therapy (or trying to) I didn't make it past a third appointment with any of them because they had quit or transferred - and I don't blame them, that agency was faulty on so many levels. However, the agency I'm going to now has therapists certified in EMDR and I've been wanting to try that for years, so they are going to try to get me with a therapist that specializes in that.
Had a surprise visit from J. this afternoon. I told him I was struggling and could use a "totally non sexual hug" the next time he was in the neighborhood. (He is an ex- so I wanted to be clear) He made arrangements to leave work early and was here less than 2 hours after I texted , which I wasn't expecting! It was a great surprise, despite the fact that I was on the phone and missed the text that he was on his way so I answered the door a mess - no makeup, bags under my eyes, etc. Because of the way he has always treated me, I don't feel self-conscious with me. We've reconnected recently and I have really enjoyed the conversations, his insight and his hugs. He "gets" me; he can look at my face and read my mind so well. I think I do the same; I "get" him - we are both complicated, multi-faceted, and natural chameleons. He not only knows how to give me what I need emotionally - but actually WANTS to!
Jennifer Aniston knows what I mean:
He has a very comforting and nurturing energy. I opened the door and as soon as he saw the look in my eyes, his face collapsed in sadness and he gave me a big hug. It's difficult for me to cry in front of others. I can discuss most of the horrific things that happened to me without even tearing up, usually. Every once in awhile a tear or two will fall in the company of a select few close friends, but silently...We came in, I sat on the couch and he sat in my wheelchair. He has many gifts and one of them is with silence. When he looks at me I see the power of honesty, unconditional love and support in his eyes; it made it ok to let the wall down and the tears came rushing forth. A phrase I heard recently from S. that really applies - he is really good at "holding the (emotional) space for me" - so that I can then experience whatever it is I'm going through.
He knelt in front of the couch and hugged me, ( the rest of the couch was covered in paperwork) comforted me, held me and let me cry on his shoulder for quite awhile, which I really needed. In previous conversations he has told me how much he cares for me or how special I am to him but today he looked me in the eyes and told me he loved me, cherished me and would do anything for me. I don't think I believe the last part, but appreciate the sentiment. He still calls me "love" or "love bug"...*sigh*
It's been about six or seven years since we dated and we've both changed a lot. He said today that I know him better than anyone, because I've known him through many stages of spiritual growth. He said he feels he is about to go through another spiritual shift and he's going out of the country next week to a place that he said has always been a clarity catalyst and has changed his life every time. I'm curious to know what clarity it brings him this time - I love watching people (myself included!) uncover the truths they have always known, but forgotten. My afternoon left me in the mood for a romantic comedy, tonight's selection - "Hitch".
