Therapy Thoughts

I love the idea of going to therapy. The thought of venting to an unbiased third party that can’t get mad at you or run away from you. Someone who is supposed to actually care about your wellbeing and give you advice through a hard time or help you deal with your past. Someone you’re supposed to be able to trust.

So why can’t I bring myself to go?

I’ve seen a handful of therapists in my lifetime. Some due to a court order when I was a child and some willingly as an adult. I’ve told my story several times and have received the “I’m so sorry you went through that” and the “Look how far you’ve come” in response. They were all nice people but none of them were able to help me.

Truth is I hate telling my story. Reliving the past that haunts me is depressing and no matter how much I explain it unless you’ve lived it you don’t know. I don’t want to hear that you’re sorry and I certainly don’t want your sympathy. What I want is to change the past and seeing a therapist can’t do that for me. It can’t change people. It can’t time travel and let me rewrite history. It can’t make people that should care about you, care about you.

I can’t imagine being a therapist. Listening to people’s problems all day while battling your own. We all have demons, therapists aren’t exempt. So how do they stay so strong? Do therapists see therapists? Is being a therapist a sustainable career?

I started this blog because seeing a therapist wasn’t working for me. Writing has always been a form of therapy for me. I haven’t written as much in the past year because there is so much going on that is causing me intense anxiety and depression and I just can’t bring myself to talk about it. I don’t want to feel feelings. I don’t want to relive what happened. I have so much to say but I’m exhausted. I’ve been keeping busy in an attempt to distract myself from…myself and haven’t had the time to write.

So I’m going to keep pushing through. When I’m ready to face my feelings I’ll return here for therapy. 💛

Dumbfounded.

Dear Diary:

(An open letter to my sister – I just have to get this off my chest 😩)

I’m confused.

Back in August, you took me to a nearby city to see my favorite childhood band growing up for my birthday. You told me that I’m your maid of honor and we talked about your wedding (your colors, you asked if I could help with centerpieces, etc). You publicly declared on Facebook that I’m your best friend and you’re grateful God made us sisters shortly after.

Then I discover that we have a half sister. I tell you and initially you were skeptical and worried about how our Father would react. Then after you share the news with him and he takes it surprisingly well, you change your tune. Suddenly you decide you’re ok with it too and try to guilt me into a picnic arranged by our Father (who does not like nor talk to me) to introduce our half sister to his family. During a group chat with our half sister I noticed you got territorial over your family so I made a comment about it on the side. That’s when you lost it on me – telling me how awful of a person I am and validating that you resent me for your shitty childhood, made even shittier due to a decision that you made (I gave you an out, you changed your mind on me. Although devastated, I never resented you for that.). You then proceeded to indicate that you thought I was a negative influence on your life and I always bring you down.

We haven’t spoke in weeks. You send me a Snapchat picture of us about 10 years ago and another of you and an ex boyfriend that you had that I loathed. I replied “yikes” because I was so confused and speechless as to why you would send me these photos with no words after the awful things you said to me weeks before.

Fast forward about 2 months and you’re texting me out of the blue saying you think our Step Dad is up to no good. You did some research and think himself and our Mother are in trouble. You clearly hate our Step Dad and seem to be trying to being him down (which in turn would bring our Mother down). Although bothered by the entire conversation, I let you vent and tell you there’s nothing we can do. Now – if the roles were reversed, and I was bringing dirt to you on our Step Mother or Father, you would absolutely lose your shit on me. Our Father’s name can’t leave my mouth without you losing your shit. Just wanted to throw that out there.

You claim to have reached out to me – which is true – but you have not addressed the elephant in the room – the conversation we had weeks prior.

Since then I find out that I’ve been replaced as your maid of honor. I find out our Step Dad is not invited to your wedding (meaning our mother will be going alone – this devastates her not that you give a shit but I guess it doesn’t even matter anymore since you pulled that last stunt and he’s pissed at you (cowardly to not just come out and tell him he’s not invited – you took the snooping through his shit piss him off route instead so he wouldn’t want to attend). I heard we weren’t going to be invited to the wedding too.

Then I’m out of town and informed we received a save the date for your wedding.

Say what?? Let me get this straight.

I’m a negative, awful person who has ruined your life and brings you down. I’m not good enough to stand up in your wedding, not good enough to put in the effort to try and talk to about everything, but you want me to attend your wedding as a guest?

You’re really expecting me to sit in the crowd and watch you get married? Watch my replacement maid of honor stand up for you and give a speech? Watch our step sister stand up for you? Watch our Father that doesn’t speak to or acknowledge me bawl his eyes out as he gives his baby, the most important person on earth to him away? Watch our Mother sit there uncomfortable without her husband, taking care of our elderly grandmother that can barely walk 3 steps who is going to struggle the entire trip up here for your wedding? Watch you spend 90% of your time with our Father and his family despite the fact Mom hauled Grandma up here and your aunts, uncles and cousins, most of which you don’t like and have talked shit about on Mom’s side make the trek to attend your wedding? When at that point at this rate we will have not spoken in almost a year?

Are you bat shit crazy? You cannot possibly be that selfish or out of touch.

As if you haven’t slapped me in the face enough, this is the ultimate slap and a blatant disregard to my feelings. Honestly I feel as though I don’t even know you anymore, but I’ve learned a lot about you in the past 6 months. Shame on me for ignoring the truth and being the best sister I thought I could have been to you despite how much you’ve hurt me in the past. I don’t have any regrets, but it’s time I start looking out for me and protecting my spirit. I don’t have the energy for conflict and I refuse to live in the past. I’m done.

This means that I have no intention on attending any of your wedding events. I’ve taken what you said seriously since I have no reason to believe you didn’t mean what you said, and the last thing I need or want is you blaming a bad wedding day on my negativity or presence since I bring you down. I haven’t been this hurt since our Father walked past me as though I was a complete stranger at your baptism 2 years ago. I can’t take the pain caused by you or him anymore. As you both love to say, “life’s too short”. Well I’m choosing happy going forward. I am unapologetically me, take it or leave it.

Best of luck to you and your future husband. I hope we can be civil and maybe have a relationship/get to know each other again (since I feel like I don’t even know you).

Also I hope your intentions behind inviting me to your wedding go as planned. I’m not stupid. Why else would you invite someone you don’t talk to that brings you down? Oh right so when I don’t show and people ask where I am you can say you invited me and I look like an asshole for not attending my sister’s wedding. Well played.

I’m having flashbacks to the picnic our Father (who doesn’t talk to me) held to meet our half sister in person knowing I wouldn’t attend (because I don’t do fake) thinking it would make me look like an asshole to our new half sister. Hmm…you saw how that turned out. 😉

When people treat you like they don’t care, believe them.

Wow, I haven’t written since June. Not because I haven’t had anything to write about, but I’ve just been exhausted from dealing with life. Have you ever felt that way? So much going on you just don’t want to think about it, let alone write about it? Well today I think I’m ready to write.

Let’s start with work because what’s going on with my family is going to be more painful to write about.

Management decided that I was ready for a new opportunity and hired 4 people to do the work that I have been doing single handedly for 2 years. For 2 years I’ve been stressed, working way more than 40 hours, pretty much doing whatever I needed to do to meet/exceed expectations and get the job done in a quality manner. I’ve been available to my company on vacations. I’ve kept a program running. By myself. I never received any help. My job through the end of the year is to train this staff of 4 (including the new manager) on what I do. Starting in January my responsibilities change. What will they be? Your guess is as good as mine. Yea…nerve wracking. I’m not being let go but they are still trying to figure out what my new role will be. So far it sounds like I’ll be forced to take on all of these random tasks that no one else wants to do. Cool. 😣

Now for family. This is hard. In order to not be a sad sack everyday I push these thoughts to the back of my mind because it’s so depressing.

About a year ago I took an ancestry DNA test. My husband and I thought it would be cool to know our heritages and were thinking of planning a trip to Europe. That was our sole reasoning for taking these tests.

A few months ago on a Saturday night my husband and I were watching a movie when I started getting emails from Ancestry. A woman reached out to me to see how we were related. We shared half of our DNA. My stomach sank. Her name didn’t sound familiar. I knew none of her relatives. She then asks what my Father’s name is. I told her. She then went silent for about 30 minutes. I figured maybe she didn’t know him and I went on with my life.

She then messaged me saying that she thinks he is her Father too. Her Mother had slept with him once 36 years ago. I was shocked but then again I wasn’t (knowing my Dad). We proceeded to message each other the rest of the night.

If you read my blog then you know that I do not have a relationship with my Dad. I didn’t think it was my place to tell him about this daughter. She now had his name and she could message him on Facebook if she wanted to. But it was such a big secret. I went back and forth about whether or not I should tell my sister. She’s very close with my Dad and is extremely protective of him.

I waited 24 hours and then told her. I had to. Initially my sister was annoyed that I took the Ancestry test, was worried about how our Dad would feel about it and she was skeptical about what this new half sister would want from him. Then she was upset at me for putting her in a position to tell our Dad and decided she wasn’t going to say anything. Our half sister had everything she needed to reach out should she want to – my sister had no obligation to tell our Dad and I didn’t tell her about it because I wanted her to tell him.

Well of course my sister told my Dad less than 24 hours after I told her. My Father remembered the rendezvous with her Mother and said it was possible. Suddenly my sister’s tune changed and she and my Dad decided to take Ancestry DNA tests as well.

My Dad met his new daughter and decided to set up a meet and greet with her at a park for his family. I didn’t say a word to our half sister about my relationship with my Dad because I didn’t want to skew her feelings and wanted her to form her own opinions.

A year ago I ran into my Father at an event and he walked right past me when I went to acknowledge him like I was invisible. Despite that, he sent me an invitation to the park to meet his new daughter. The tone of his email was cold and he made it clear this meeting wasn’t about him and I, it was about his new daughter, Jackie. I decided not to attend as the email itself was a punch to the chest (he cares to have a relationship with her but not me) and I wasn’t sure I would be able to set my feelings aside.

My sister, myself and Jackie had a group text going at this point. Jackie had asked a question and I felt that my sister’s response seemed a little territorial over her family (I say her family because I don’t have relationships with them). I sent my sister a text on the side and mentioned it and that was when she lost it on me. She told me I’m negative, I bring her down, I add no value to her life and she resents me for a decision I made to better my life when I was 14 (she was supposed to come with me but decided to stay living with my Dad). Apparently after I left her life was hell. This hurt me deeply because that is the exact reason my Dad and I don’t have a relationship. He is still upset that I moved back with my Mom when I was 14. I decided to tell my sister how I felt and we haven’t spoke since, besides a text that she sent me saying she hopes I reconsider not going to the park to meet Jackie because “we should be there for our sister”. How about you be there for the sister you’ve had for 28 years, no?

I’m currently 31 years old. These people are stuck in the past and still resent me over something that happened 17 years ago. A decision I made 17 years ago to better our lives (my sisters included). I never meant anyone any harm and I can’t change the past (nor would I in the case of that decision). I just don’t have the energy anymore to talk about these things and as long as they resent me we will never be able to have a comfortable relationship.

That said, my sister essentially asked me to be the maid of honor in her wedding prior to all of this happening. Growing up, there was no question that I was going to be her maid of honor. Since we were kids, I’ve thought about the bridal shower I would throw her and the maid of honor speech I would give. I never thought we would have a falling out like this where we wouldn’t be speaking. We’ve been pretty close for years, particularly the last 12ish years when my husband and I have been there for her more than anyone else. I would do anything for her, despite the way she treats me.

Needless to say, a couple of weeks ago my Mom broke it to me that she’s asked her friend to be her maid of honor. This past week I heard that my husband and I weren’t invited to her wedding. It crushed me. Then again if she hates me as much as she told me she does and thinks I’m an awful person, I wouldn’t want her to be fake and invite me. I guess I just never thought our relationship would come to this.

I ended up meeting Jackie at a coffee shop a few weeks after she met the family at the park. We talked for about 4 hours. It was hard to look at her – every time I did I saw my Dad. They have the same eyes. It kind of broke my heart (further). She told me that my Dad and her had already had a falling out. I was sad to hear that but at the same time I felt as though my feelings were validated – I know I’m not crazy for feeling the way I do and it was refreshing to hear another child of his feel this way about him since my sister defends him constantly and acts like the way that he acts is ok and justified. It’s not.

You never know when life is going to throw you a curveball. Through all of this; despite what anyone says about me, I know who I am. I have no regrets. It’s time for me to take care of me now.

True love has a habit of coming back.

Relationships are tough. Especially when you have anxiety. My anxiety manifests itself in different ways. Sometimes it impacts me physically and other times my mood sours. I get short and temperamental not because I’m mad at you but because my mind is racing and I’m feeling awful physically and you just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Add that behavior to months of not telling your spouse how you really feel about a few things and you get a disaster. Let’s just say today I didn’t bite my tongue and what I should’ve said to him in a productive manner didn’t come out as planned. I also said what I needed to say with intent to hurt since I had been hurting for a while now. Two wrongs don’t make a right.

So after a day of dealing with me he tells me he’s leaving the house for a little bit. I don’t blame him, I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of what I was dishing today.

I’m very self aware and self-less, and I need to come to terms with the fact that not everyone is like that. I’ve been with my husband since we were 17 years old. We have both changed so much over the past 13 years. We’ve both taken each other for granted in different ways. Our love language is different. We think differently. We ARE different. Period.

My intent is never to hurt. But sometimes the truth hurts and you have to be honest with yourself and your partner when something isn’t right. Years ago we went to marriage counseling and learned how to communicate effectively. It changed our marriage for the better. It’s funny how over time you forget the lessons you’ve learned and find yourself slipping back into your old ways.

I think we argue about the same things all couples argue about. Relationships are a series of hills and valleys, but one thing I know for sure: even though I’ve hated him all day when he left the house I missed him. I missed him so much my chest physically hurt. And that tells me everything I need to know. 💛

Be in love with your life. Every minute of it.

I have so many thoughts today. What I’m about to write will be really random (and just a few of them). I just feel like I need to get some stuff off my chest. After all, this is pretty much my online diary.

Thought #1: For most of my life I’ve felt alone. Alone in the sense that I don’t share or agree with the same beliefs, ideals and actions of most of those closest to me. One thing that I think we can all agree on is the fact that we’re all really passionate. This often results in conflict, distance or the “elephant in the room” effect where being together is just awkward. We are all pretty different; the only thing uniting us is blood and/or marriage. I think we can agree that we all care about and love each other to some extent. But that love isn’t enough to unite us. Instead we remain divided and some choose to take sides. This makes me really sad. It also triggers some self reflection. Here’s what I know:

• I am selfless. There have been so many situations in my life where I’ve been able to set aside hurt feelings and differences for the greater good of something or someone else. Even if it results in further heartache for me. There isn’t much I wouldn’t do for the people I love, whether they realize it or not.
• I’ve always been the bigger person. Sometimes this is exhausting. Apologizing even when you know you’re right. Reaching out to end an awkward silence. Struggling to stay silent on a controversial topic with a loved one because you value the relationship more than trying to convince them that they’re wrong. Supporting someone’s beliefs even if they differ from your own.
• I always come from a good place. Sometimes I don’t tell you what you want to hear, but what I think you need to hear because I care about you and I think you may be headed down a wrong path. Typically my delivery gets me in trouble (I tend to be kind of blunt). I never say or do anything with the intent of hurting anyone’s feelings. I only say to others what I would hope they would say to me if necessary. I value honesty and facts.
• I have a lot of empathy. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t let the same people hurt me over and over because I wouldn’t feel bad for them. However, we are all responsible for ourselves and our actions. Empathy is not always reciprocated (in my case, rarely). There comes a time when you have to come to terms with the way people are and protect yourself; despite understanding why they may be the way they are. We are all the way we are due to circumstance but we all can choose to be the people we want to be. I’m living proof of that.

Thought #2: My (new) boss of 8 months just tendered his resignation. Although he’s been my boss, I’ve been doing his job for the past year and a half at a pay grade 2 levels lower than him. He quit because he couldn’t handle the stress and demands of the job. Even though I was doing his job prior to him starting at my company, I wasn’t considered for the position due to “lack of experience” also known as age. Despite the fact that during my performance reviews I’ve always exceeded expectations (which I should be, seeing as how I’m a grade 11 doing a grade 13 job). The man they hired to do the job had 30 years of experience opposed to my 10, and he failed to meet one deliverable in 8 months. I’ve met all deliverables. So here is the dilemma: once they realized they hired a dud to do the job, they began to think that maybe I should’ve been given the opportunity. Now that he’s given his resignation, rumor has it I’ll be offered the job.

But not at a grade 13, a grade 12. Not 8 months ago, but now. Not before they hired a retirement aged man to do the job instead of 30 year old female me. This isn’t a job I love doing. It’s a job that allows me the ability to travel and live my life a certain way. So if I do get “promoted” to a 12, I’ll continue to do what I’ve been doing. But I’m extremely jaded. I’ll never forget what this company did to me. And I’ll continue to look for a new job.

Thought #3: I am stronger than my fears. For those of you that don’t know, I have generalized anxiety disorder. There are certain triggers that give me anxiety but I also generally have anxiety all the time for reasons I can’t explain. In terms of triggers, leaving the house and air planes give me a lot of anxiety. Despite that, I travel via air plane at least once a year and leave the house for days if not weeks at a time. I have a fear of public speaking and confrontation, and despite that I’m going to step out of my comfort zone and possibly take on more of that if I happen to get promoted as anticipated (because although I’m doing more than my current boss now, if I get promoted they’ll expect even more out of me). I do my best to not let my mental illness define me. Those of you who struggle know how hard that is. For those of you who don’t, try to have some empathy and just imagine.

Thought #4: I just got back from 5 days of vacation in the Bahamas. It was great to get away. Unfortunately, due to the anxiety described in thought #3 above, I stress ate while we were there and gained back 6 of the 8 lbs I lost before we left! It took me 2 months of eating healthy and hours of working out to lose 8 lbs and in 5 days and 4 nights I managed to gain 6 lbs back. Damn it!!!!!

Thought #5: The Walking Dead returns tonight and since I just returned from vacation and tomorrow is Monday, I need something to look forward to. Anything that distracts me from reality is great.

And those are some of my current thoughts. Overall my soul feels heavy today. But it’s 50 degrees out and the sun is trying to shine through the clouds. It’s up to me to try and make it a great day. ☀️

Perspective

This time of year is always pretty depressing for me. I currently don’t have a relationship with my Father or my Mother. My seasonal depression starts to kick in and I start stressing about those 10-15 lbs that I would like to lose by Spring. I start questioning my job and whether or not I’m really happy or content.

2 days ago I got into my first car accident. I got caught up at work and left an hour and a half later than I should have. I was side swiped at 60 mph on the thruway by a car full of men who didn’t speak English. After they hit me they tried to flee but traffic was backed up and when they realized there was nowhere that they could go they finally pulled over.

We were blocking the left lane of a 3 way highway during a high traffic time. I immediately went into panic mode and began to have a horrible anxiety attack. 3 of the men got out of the car and started circling my vehicle. The other tried to communicate with me but he knew no English and I didn’t know any Chinese. Once we stopped I called the police. The Officer was so good with me considering I was hyperventilating and convulsing uncontrollably. My glove box popped open when I was hit, it was dark and I couldn’t find my registration or insurance card. When I finally did find the documents I was shaking so bad I dropped them several times. The Officer was so patient and kind to me. After talking with us both (or attempting to talk with them) he indicated that it was clear by the damage that the accident was the other driver’s fault. He wrote them a ticket, gave me the accident report and we all were able to drive away at that point.

Perspective. This accident could have been A LOT worse. I may not have parents that I can call when things in my life go array, but I have a loving supportive husband that I got to come home to who comforted me as I continued to convulse for 3 more hours after the accident. Who called the insurance company and is working with them to get my car fixed. Who is there for me through thick and thin.

Do I still need to lose those 10-15 lbs? Yes. Do I love my job? No, but it pays my bills and allows my husband and I to go on vacations. Am I truly happy? Well, yes. Although I struggle with anxiety and depression, I’m alive today and my life could be so much worse.

Sometimes when we are feeling low we get a wake up call and change our perspective. Sometimes when we have a mental illness we lose sight of that perspective quicker than others. But we continue to fight the good fight and look for the positive. We continue to keep our heads up. Life is a roller coaster and I’m along for the ride.

Split families got me like…

Warning: This is going to be a complete vent session. 

I come from a split family. My parents got divorced when I was 5 years old. I grew up with parents that had so much resentment for eachother that co-parenting was out of the question. My childhood was a legit hot mess. 

My Dad did some “dating” (or hooking up, whatever term you’re into) and after several women found my step mom. They’ve been together probably 20 years or so. My Mom ended ended up marrying the first guy she dated post divorce, and they’ve been together for 25 years. 

My Step Dad had no children of his own. My Step Mom had 2 from a previous marriage. I spent my childhood living about half with my Dad and half with my Mom. I became close to my step siblings. When I was 14 I decided I wanted to live with my Mom permanently and that’s when my relationship with my Dad crumbled. Unfortunately that meant distance from my Step Mom and siblings as well.

Fast forward about 10 years and my Dad and I attempt a relationship again. Over those 10 years we spoke sporadically, usually when my Dad drank a few too many cocktails and grew what I like to call “beer balls” (yes I know his booze of choice isn’t beer, but Bacardi and you get the point). Needless to say those sporadic conversations didn’t end well (they were the reason I left to begin with). 

My Dad and I eventually talked, I told him how I felt about everything I had been through as a child and how much pain I still carried with me. He told me how he felt and we decided to attempt to put that all behind us and start over despite the fact that we didn’t agree on anything. I gave this relationship an honest effort. Made sure I reached out from time to time, drove an hour to see him (he wouldn’t come to my house) and played nice even though almost everything that comes out of his mouth I don’t agree with. We are totally different people.

Fast forward to a few years ago when my husband and I were having marital issues and he threw some house renovations that he did for us in my face (we paid him, FYI). Although I was hurt and angry, I decided to make another attempt at a relationship with him. We pretty much repeated what I indicated in the last paragraph. I drove to see him on holidays and for cookouts. Actually, it was more to see my siblings. I really enjoy spending time with them and missed seeing them when my Dad and I were on the outs. 

Time goes by and it’s time for the 2016 election. Dad and I have completely different political views. We exchanged a few Facebook messages about what was going on. He seemed to love talking to me about politics – I couldn’t figure out if it was the debate he enjoyed or just the fact that we always had awkward conversation until then when we spoke like 2 friends talking about politics. Needless to say, when Trump won the election I was devastated. For multiple reasons that I won’t get into now. Suddenly those disrespectful Hillary memes weren’t so funny anymore. We began talking less and less and finally he blocked me on Facebook. I unfriended him – no need for him to see what’s going on in my life if he doesn’t even want a relationship with me. And now we haven’t spoke in months.

A few days ago my sister told me that she is getting baptized in 2 weeks. She recently went on a spiritual journey if you will and although I found it odd I always support her as long as what she’s doing isn’t harming her in any way. My Dad on the other hand has not been very supportive of her. To my surprise, she told him about the baptism and he said he is going to go with my step mom. Great. 

I’m happy that he is going to support my sister. He also knows that I always support her and I will be there. I wonder if he is dreading seeing me and much as I am dreading seeing him? I wonder if he feels the elephant in the room like I do. I wonder if he thinks this is a good opportunity to talk to me (it’s not). I wonder if he likes seeing me full of angst and uncomfortable. I know him being there will mean a lot to my sister and I guess that’s all that matters.

Since I haven’t seen my siblings in months, we thought it would be nice to get everyone together for a cook out. My sister and I talked about it and decided it would be “kids only”. Well today I’m told it’s going to be at my step brothers house right after my sisters baptism. Where my Dad will be. Great. I want to spend time with my siblings so bad but the anxiety that comes along with dealing with my Dad is too great of a burden to bare right now. I know my Dad will want to take my sibs out to eat after my sisters baptism and I know my step brother will invite him back to their house because he will feel guilty. 

This all may sound really petty, but I just don’t have the energy anymore. I’ve tried to have a relationship with my Dad. I’ve put myself in so many uncomfortable positions to spend time with my family. I’ve cried so many tears thinking about the past. There is literally no more gas in my tank when it comes to dealing with this.

I would love to see my siblings but I can’t do it at the expense of my mental health anymore. Call me selfish but this is not ok with me. I am not ok. 

I step out of my comfort zone all the time to live life like a somewhat normal person despite the fact I struggle with GAD. Having GAD is something that I can’t change. I’ve always had it. But I can control my environment and it’s time that I control the things that I CAN control. 

That said, no, I do not want to come to your cookout if my Dad will be there. Yes, I miss my siblings. Yes, I wish I had a relationship with my Dad so it wasn’t awkward for all of us but this is just the way it is. I’ve tried. I’ve spent the last 10 years of my adult life trying. I’ve come to terms with what is. 

I will go to my sister’s baptism. I will be polite and be the bigger person when I see my Dad for the first time in a year. I will not put myself in an uncomfortable position with him any longer than I have to.  Been there, done that. 

🎈

This roller coaster we call life.

Human emotions are something else. When an emotion strikes me, it strikes me hard. People around me may not be able to notice, but inside I’m feeling all the feels. Happiness, sadness, anxiety, depression, uncertainty, all of it. There’s one emotion in particular that is quite frightening.

Love. There are a lot of feelings associated with love. Trust, vulnerability, infatuation, admiration, lust, etc. Love is scary. Truly loving someone is giving them the power to tear you apart but trusting that they won’t. Trusting that they will always do right by you. Trusting that they put you first. Trusting that if something is wrong they will communicate with you. 

Like with any other matter, you learn a lot about love, trust and communication as you go through life. People will leave scars on your heart. Bruises on your self esteem and insecurities. Pain on the soul. Despite all of the emotions and unknowns that come with loving someone we do it anyway. We go through the pain, the scarring, the bruises despite knowing that eventually, intentional or not, we are bound to get hurt.

I’m not just referencing love with a significant other. You can go through all of these emotions with a parent, friend or other family member too. People that are put in your life that you love. So why do we put ourselves through it and risk the pain?

Because no one is perfect, including you. You may have caused that same pain that you feel from loving someone. You may have made a stupid decision or unintentionally hurt someone you love without realizing the pain that you would inflict on them. Love is a risk that we all take. Being in love is a great feeling. The highs are high and the lows are low. We do it for the highs.

Ok I’m done with my philosophical-ness. Life is crazy and I’ve accepted that. It’s ok to feel. That is your right and no one can take that from you. Trust your intuition. 

I’m sitting in the parking lot about to go into the salon to get my hair done having an anxiety attack. Damn this anxiety and all of the mental and physical ailments that come with it. Just this once, I want to walk in there and not feel like I’m on the verge of death. Not look at the clock sweating. Not thinking about what the absolute worst scenario would be and how I would get out of it. Just go in there like a normal woman and come out feeling fabulous because my hair looks fly. But no. I’ll come out with fly hair but my shirt will be soaked in sweat. My stomach will hurt. Extreme exhaustion will wash over me and I’ll be emotionally and physically drained for the rest of the day until I get the next surge of adrenaline before my next attack. Joy.

Happy 4th of July people! Remember, despite what some people may tell you, America has always been great. If you think otherwise I encourage you to spend some time in other areas of the world, such as the Middle East or certain areas in South America. 🙂

It doesn’t matter where you’re going, it’s who you have beside you.

Almost a week out from our 12 hour flight to Hawaii, my favorite place on earth. I cannot wait. I wish I was in a position to never return to my reality here at home. When I say that I mean my job; day to day as I know it, relationships I have with certain people that drain my energy. Since I was little I always looked forward to going on vacations – any excuse to run away from difficult situations and my anxiety. 

That’s what I usually do. Situations that make me anxious drain my energy and the only way I recharge is when I escape. Otherwise the life gets sucked out of me and I feel like I’m drowning slowly and everyone is just standing around watching me screaming for help but not hearing me. Reaching for a hand but they turn a blind eye. The life drains out of my eyes and no one notices. 

My husband and I went to see Logan this morning at the movies. I try to avoid the movies at all costs because sitting still and being overstimulated for hours gives me more torture than pleasure (thanks GAD) but every so often I make an exception and suffer through it for a movie my husband really wants to see that I do too. For those of you who have seen it, Logan dies saving his daughter Laura. While Logan is taking his last breaths the two share an emotional moment where he pretty much tells her that he cares about her despite not showing her much love and emotion throughout the movie, even after finding out she is his daughter. So why am I telling you this? As the lights came on I realized I was sobbing. Yes, it was sad when Logan died but I think sub consciously I was thinking about my own relationship with my Dad. My Dad has a wall up with me, and visa versa. We don’t show emotion to eachother. We don’t interact like a father and daughter typically do. He doesn’t even really acknowledge me. Seeing Logan finally let his guard down with Laura made me so happy. How would she have felt living the rest of her life if he didn’t let her how he cared about her? Would she have regrets? Would she feel alone? They say actions speak louder than words; and I agree, but sometimes, especially when it isn’t obvious how one feels through action, words are necessary too.

Ok that was deep. Anyway, I have a busy week ahead at work as I prepare to be out of the office for almost 2 weeks. I have no back up so whatever I don’t finish will be waiting for me when I return. And that burden will be weighing on me the entire time I’m gone. Yay. 

Did I mention I can’t wait to get away? Oh and that I’m terrified of flying? That my anxiety is ruining my life? Well I am, it is. But I’ll get through it. Always do somehow some way. 

Oh and 4/9 is our 5 year wedding anniversary. Staying at the place we were married in Hawaii. ❤️

My cat has a growth on her ear and I’m afraid it’s something bad. This cat was there for me when no one else was. Send good thoughts her way that it’s nothing bad please! 😻

Have a great week. 🙅👙🐬🐠🌺🌴☀️🌊