Happily Ever After… Maybe?

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A few years back I was asked if I thought all marriages were good ones, since I did not have one. I do try to look for the good and do try to think positive of marriages, as such, and of life. Although I am not in denial, there are many marriages struggling, as I know of many. Otherwise, it is not my business so unless you tell me or I see signs, I want to believe and wish the best for the couple(s), as in her own marriage.C1DE24B7-FA8F-46A9-A67F-050BD60EDFFF

The tone in the way she asked her question to me, I had to think that this hit a nerve and perhaps things were a little dicey at home. I don’t know and again, it was none of my business. I knew she would not tell me anyway but her comment and tone did raise my eyebrow and make me hesitate and to wonder.

0BB61D78-4519-4D5E-B1AF-C8894AEC6E87Today, I talked with a friend about his month-long stay in Florida with his wife and how much fun they had together. They have been married a good forty-five years, maybe longer, which is pretty cool. He mentioned that on their drive back home, a long twelve-hour drive, they stopped several times, of course, but he said they sang a lot. How sweet, I thought. I just love this couple and to see them enjoying retirement together. Do I know they get frustrated with one another? Yes. Normal. Still, he calls her Honey and tells her he loves her and they seem so 9D65F1B6-A2B7-45A8-B702-62EB1F741048sweet together. I love that in them and so wish I had that. So I do think the good of them and in most couples.

As he told me of their singing, thinking of their marriage, I had to stop and wonder just what that would be like. I don’t want to be jealous or envious of his or other relationships, but I do desire to have such a sweet, caring, loving and fun relationship. Normal. Any woman or man would want this to share their life with together.

Happily ever after is not a fairy tale—it’s a choice.
Fawn Weaver

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Sometimes as I sit in restaurants, I look around and watch couples. Perhaps observing others just like mine, helping me to feel not so alone in this situation and the hopelessness felt. Maybe getting lost in their time together in order to forget mine.DB8B8D81-5662-421B-A79F-A42FE023733F

It takes two to make the marriage work. When one is doing all the work, it is easy to give up after awhile. When the emotional connection is lost, it causes a sad, lonely existence in the relationship. Usually at this point, one or the other is just done.

AB314B86-A177-4DC3-9EC1-F71CD415B396Depending upon the circumstances, there could still be hope in making it all work and enjoying life together.

Marriage is to be with your best friend and enjoy life in all areas of life. Knowing full well that frustrations come, disappointments, etc., but if the two work together, they can walk hand in hand together no matter what comes their way.

So yes, I do think positive of marriage relationships and feel they do exist, which brings happiness. I have hope.

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Arena Seats

A2557CBC-A7FF-4DDA-B4F3-86309D05D9ABI really do enjoying going to plays and sporting events but through the years I withdrew going because of the seats. When younger, it was not a big issue but when marriage, children and weight gain, I was unhappy in my marriage and the emotional eating took reigns over my life. I hid and was very self-conscious of my weight and my hips, a pear shaped body.
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I am sure others can relate as weight gain causes many issues, the emotional toil that unhappiness brings and in whatever circumstances.  The hopelessness builds and soon no desire to be in the outside world. Just hide.

F9C8F1F1-6089-4C58-8DA1-0DEFB441A8ECI was thinking back when my former counselor discussed my hesitancy for me to even go to the grocery store, I would put it off and cringed as I walk through the store hiding behind the grocery cart. My hiding became worse when my boys went off to college because I had no need to be in the outside world, other than work. Home to work, work to home and hibernate in my bedroom until the next morning. I knew I was depressed but I knew I was also unhappy in my situation and had been. The empty nest wrecked havoc on my life, more alone than ever, no joy and now no laughter existed.

My oldest was to perform in a large football stadium with the college band, he was the lead percussionist. I will go out on a limb for my children and push myself while freezing of fear inside. Enjoying but falling apart inside.351BB8E9-C777-489D-8B02-85D36BB936BB

My boss gave me two tickets to go see my son perform, which I thought was so thoughtful. Two tickets. I knew one was for me and one for my husband. My thought immediately went to two things, one that I had to take my husband and at that time in my life, I hated the man.  The other were the seats, wondering if I could even fit. Anxiety to the max and making me feel worse than I was already.  How would I deal with this nice gesture from my boss, was always on the back of my mind counting the days down of the event.

To add onto the matter, my other son had an event the same day and time, at another location. I cannot do both and neither could their father. As I weighed out the D0047B2E-21FB-413C-ADAD-5637BA452CD5matter, it came down to my weight and the fear of the arena seats. I had my sister go with my husband to the arena with my camera and instructions to take many pictures. My sister and my husband got along great, actually she is the only one in my family that tolerates him, and still. I went to my younger son’s performance. All is well. My sister took many pictures and one was absolutely perfect.

I felt like I disappointed my boss though, as he bought those tickets for me. Now another task I need to concern myself with and that was how do I tell him that I did not go.  How do you tell him that I did not want to be with my husband or feared I would not fit in the seat? Knowing one day I will share with him but it is not time yet. Thankfully, he knew of my predicament with my other son and the time constraint but I am sure disappointed.  I was, too, for that matter. In more reasons than many realized.  It’s done, over, let’s move on.DD0C4332-F319-47C7-862C-B7711E9C395A

In other events, with other arena seats, I could not avoid. I made the best of it but uncomfortable.  Uncomfortable sitting and the pain within of depression. Once settled in my seat, I would glance over and see another large woman squeezing in her seat. My thoughts of I understand plus wondering if she, too, was struggling with depression, probably so; were they happily married, I do not know but doubtful. It kept my mind occupied while avoiding the close quarters of my own relationship. To escape mentally but wanting to physically.

BB92CBBB-9814-4F5D-B347-229926993A3AWe never know what the next person to us or in our paths are going through. Nobody knew my situation for a long time, even in mine or his family or our friends. I wore the mask well.

To see my picture recently from back then to now, side by side, I look so different. Not even the same person, which is good. I could see the sadness in my puffy, fat face and remember what struggles I went through and endured for years. It’s sad to even look at honestly, such a difference.

F568FC4E-EC16-484E-9DAB-1532498C760COftentimes, many look at heavy set women, and men, think that they are lazy. Perhaps they are but underneath the layers of fat are layers of pain. Physical pain as well as mental, spiritual but most will be emotional pain. They need hope and encouragement. It is none of our business to have all the details what made them that way, but there is a story behind the emotional eating.

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While I have made some changes in my life in all areas right past five years, it feels good. I feel good, better than I did, maybe ever. It has not been easy but I knew I had to take the bull by the horns to be in this place. As the old saying goes, don’t forget where you came from, is a wise one. As with me, I did not go through all of my pain of a sad and lonely marriage, wearing a mask to appear happy, fear of arena seats, weight gain, depression, just to name a few. Plus, 901D9BA0-FE77-4F49-8933-23D227800906turning it around with weight loss, hours and years of counseling, pushing myself out of my comfort zones, involved in church, groups, etc., walking in 5K  marathons, but most of all acknowledging and knowing that I AM WORTHY and that God loves ME no matter. I never could grasp those words and now I do not want to let go of them.

Do I still dread the arena seats? Honestly, I don’t dread as much but I do dislike. I may fit somewhat better now but going down memory triggers a depressive state within for a period, memories I would rather forget.

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We all go through situations in life. Oftentimes, our pain and experience is to help others… to go through. We do go THROUGH! Don’t give up. Trust Him!

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And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.Romans 8:28

Don’t Waste Your Pain

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Grouchy Pants

FA346EA7-B58A-495C-990F-C9202005B752Some days, don’t you just want to scream and really say what you want? Restraint is required many times. Right? Thoughts of saying what I want runs rampant all the while biting my tongue or afterward wishing I said this or that as I replayed the situation over and over in my mind.

How is it that others feel they can give me their two cents, their thoughts and opinions about me but if I do the same, I am considered rude, stubborn, grouchy, etc.?

22F808B3-4E7B-441E-A5DD-ED891DBA85DAIt drives me absolutely insane. Just this past weekend, while walking, I had some major pain in my right leg. This happened recently, too, when walking a 5K. I did not know what was happening and 8D7C2148-9F50-4BCF-A2F3-7327EA1E99B3even wondered if I was having a stroke. While trying to remain calm while in pain, I flexed my right arm, twisted my mouth, talked just to see if I could and made sense. Everything seemed fine, it was just my whole right leg. I thought I would not make it to the finish line. Just let me sit down on the bridge and come get me is about what I wanted to say to my friend I was walking with, as the pain was beyond what I thought I could cope with. I had to mentally focus on the finish line while physically I wanted to give up.  We were not as close as I wanted to be but I made it. I was so happy to cross the finish line, somewhat limping. Maybe it was just stress built up from what I just endured the two weeks prior and my whole leg got the blunt of the pain. I never had this pain before when walking, ever.

I have learned through life, that in the pain, no matter what kind, you have to push through sometimes but it definitely alerts you, something is not right.  45F73FE1-A752-488B-BB94-F146586EA889

So when this happened yet again, I knew I had a problem. My acupuncturist was able to see me the next day so with the needles he had in hand, I was the pin cushion but a welcomed relief.

It was the following day when I went to my chiropractor. I was telling him of my situation. I tried to tell him about it while I explained the pain. While I was sitting on his table, moving my hand, just a quick pattern of the pain down my leg. I stopped and kept my hand on my leg while we discussed the possibilities. He informed me his thoughts. He remarked of E808FBD1-90C5-4066-9D87-B90FE9A4F83Dwhere my hand landed on my leg, just resting, which was on my shin bone area, as I continued to talk. He proceeded telling me where ‘my pain’ was at, since my hand was there. No! I tried to explain further that the pain was not my shin bone (shin splints), but I found myself frustrated with him discounting my pain. Usually when I get to this point, I will reply with never mind and move on, I quit trying to explain myself.

As I was lying on the heat, therapy table after my adjustment, he asked me why I was so grouchy. What? Saying that I am usually not that way and I was taken aback. While lying there, I apologized but thanked him for calling me out on it, if I was grouchy. We joked later but still, it bothered me, but why I wondered.08AB86AA-96B5-47F6-B9EC-C26FBC518058

When I left, got in my car to drive away, thinking about the situation that just transpired, I realized I felt he did not listen to me, he was convinced that he knew where and what my pain was but not validating my feelings in this pain that I was trying to express. All because my hand was laying on my leg where it did. Anyway, he did not listen or hear me or even care to, as he had the answer and even disregarded what my acupuncturist had to say. It triggered a response that I would have had as a child and even throughout my adulthood. When I say never mind or whatever, I am so done. My thoughts or what I have to say means nothing so I would shut up and I did just that with him. What is the use in trying to make another understand or realize what I was experiencing. Just save my breath. I had nothing more to say and odds 956E249B-7CF6-483F-A777-FBF266D34A79are, I will not bring up the pain in my leg from walking again, unless he asks. I was triggered, which made me shut down, having no voice. I recognized it instead of holding that grudge and being mad for hours or days. This was something that I dealt with all my life. I do have a voice and instead of shutting down, I should have just expressed that he was not hearing me, actually I do try and tried in this situation, but I have learned there is no use. So to him, I was grouchy.

Why do others feel as though they can call me out and call me names but I don’t dare do that to them?

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Even though my chiropractor did not hear or listen to me, I know the One that does listen to me, He knows of what I am dealing with and He understands me, even though this triggered me more than I liked. In the many times throughout my life when it happened, I would shut down. Do not think that I did not tell the Lord that what just happened, hurt and upset me. He knows my heart.

We all have times when we get hurt, not heard or we are misunderstood. Life… it happens! I am not perfect, I have hurt others in the same way, too. I think just recognizing how fast this all happened and that I recognized the trigger and did not get all bent out of shape. I was happy, thinking counseling has helped me to understand and to cope. Progress!

We each have a mind and a voice, even though it is sometimes lost in the chaos of life. What matters is our trust in the Lord and that He knows us better than anyone (better than we know ourself) and our faith must be in Him. Everything else will fall into place. Trust Him!

 

Jesus was misunderstood. He was perfect and righteous, yet He was still misunderstood by people. If He was misunderstood, I totally will be too. Yet He seemed to seek love above all, not understanding.

When You are Feeling Misunderstood

Is Grouchiness a Mood?  “Although it may feel this way, crankiness doesn’t “just happen,” especially if there’s no specific scenario leading to your cranky mood. These feelings of irritability and annoyance are usually a result of something going on inside your body.”

Validation: The Need to Know that You Matter