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That I received the candle lighter award, and that it seems I’ve chosen (or did it choose me?) a path of dappled sunlight filtered through the leaves and needles of strong, healing trees today, that my furthest steps so far are on the path of gratitude and thankfulness is by no means a condemnation of writing/blogging about the dark side of things. Whatever your dark side or demons are, they are parts of your journey that might/need to be told.
We all blog for our own reasons; our own goals: catharsis; expression; creativity; coping with demons; writing about the good, the bad, and the ugly that make up our worlds; that are a part of ourselves. Part of my self-designed therapy — while I wait to meet with a therapist in a couple of weeks — (with the help of many comments, emails and conversations, too) is to let my positive ear do the listening for a while.
At least for now, I’m trying to leave the demons in the darkness; to shut them in a closet (figuratively as we don’t actually have a closet) so their whispers aren’t so loud. That doesn’t mean I suddenly think that chronicling dark issues and feelings is inappropriate, misplaced or wrong. It’s just that my current path, my current aim is to walk through and towards the sunlight. To use the tao of the crossroads to head east into the sunrise.
This doesn’t mean I’ll become “phony,” and write happy things when I’m not, that I won’t complain about chronic pain or the health insurance system. There will be days filled with tears; there will be days, perhaps, I do need to go down the dark and dangerous path (holding on to the fact that I’m not really walking that road alone with my demons – there are folks out there I can reach towards). What I want to do right now is to reach out to the folks who care; to remember I have a safety net of internet friends when I take a mis-step on the tightrope of my life.
I admire the bravery of those who blog about their mental health issues – by doing so, they are revealing their private selves; making public the pain, the emotional insecurity, the despair, the isolation. They are not afraid to say what haunts them, what holds them back from the sunshine, what demons lurk in their dark corners. I know I have yet to deal directly with my demons; but for now I’m trying to NOT make them a part of my day; to keep the tears from falling.
The candle lighter award came as one of those serendipitous moments when I was still looking for a path to chose (or chose me). Taken with the earlier phone call I mentioned, and the arrival of a very special parcel full of fun and caring things – seemed like an omen. To take those tentative steps further down the path of dappled sunlight; the path of inspiration – my own and others; to light a way in a world of shadows.
Some folks are working on Day Books, others on gratitude journals. I think I’ll try an write something inspirational and positive every day I can (words of my own and of course borrowed from others – with proper recognition).
When (not if) the demons come back, please remember they are whispering louder than the positive ear can mask. They’ve broken down that virtual closet door and are following me around. But then, it’s the demons, the mental illness crisis that’s talking/blogging not really me. I’m still in there somewhere, as Bruce Cockburn wrote: “kicking at the darkness til it bleeds daylight.”
I really hope that my self-designed therapy, the wise advise of internet friends that I’m gathering into a kind of virtual booklet to help me along, will hold me together til my appointment on the 21st. And my sessions with the therapist will keep me on that dappled sunlight path of recovery.
Thank you all for listening, for being there (even if I didn’t see it/realize it). I have lots of pixie dust, wishing/calming stones, a few fairy wands, and other small gifts of gratitude to disperse. Today is the dappled sunlit path with trees to heal me. Tomorrow, I hope, the path is to a clearing where I can sit in a meadow of wildflowers and address some envelopes. Too bad fairies don’t deliver!
Today’s inspirational quotes are from the wrappers of my cough drops (I have a nasty cold right now): Don’t give up on yourself; Be resilient; Conquer today; Get through it; You’ve survived tougher. Of course, Halls’ “pep talk in every drop” is part of their television campaign, but hey, today, that’s all I got — a lot of cough drop wrappers, lol.
(photo removed: sorry, didn’t realize it wasn’t in public domain due to method by which I found it: just imagine a path through a woods with dappled sunlight through the leaves, and streaks of sunshine making pools on the forest floor and path)
Related articles
- a few tentative steps (phylor.wordpress.com)
- the tao of the crossroads (phylor.wordpress.com)
- a request for 2012 (phylor.wordpress.com)
- hopefully one of the final steps down the dark and ugly path (phylor.wordpress.com)
Oh my goodness what a wonderful post…eloquent, heartfelt….Know that your blog followers are with you. The darkness CANNOT overtake us all. On the days when the darkness and sorrow overwhelm you feel free to write it. Know that we will be here to listen and uplift you and help you back to your twinkly path. Sending joy–and hugs, Kate
Thank you Kate — your words are encouraging and appreciated.
I think I will do as Judy suggested, and make a pair of twinkle-toed shoes. I think I still have a pair of bright green cotton flats up in the attic. With some sparkles, glue, and other embellishments, I just might be able to come up with suitable footwear. If I do, I promise to take a picture and post it on the blog!
Thanks for your encouragement!
Lorraine,
You are on the RIGHT path. There is research on the brain, pain, depression, anxiety that shows that Positive thinking accesses neurochemical patterns that make us feel better. Negative thinking triggers the fight/flight/anxiety response which heightens depression, anixety, pain.
I know I keep HARPING on this but the evidence from research is pretty conclusive. THat doesn’t mean positive thinking is a cure but it will not exacerbate pre-existing conditions as does thinking negatively.
I realize it is easier for me to say than to do but the demons will stay locked up much longer if we concentrate on the positive.
So keep your twinkle shoes on your feet!
Twinkle shoes — I’ll either have to go shopping (just had a trip to the mall) or buy some glue and glitter. Either way, I love the idea of having twinkle shoes! I can interchange them with my fuggs so when toasty toes are needed, I can be warm, and when twinkle toes are required, I’ll be all set for the wardrobe change! Perfect.
And, by the way, I don’t feel you’re harping on anything. And with me and my foggy brain, it can take awhile for ANYTHING, especially something important, to shink in.