Stepping From Here to There
April 4, 2008 3:07 pm Friends and HealingI wonder if a formula exists to determine when it is time to take the next step. Is it time to add more to my daily life? Is there a ratio of days spent in rapid cycling to days of stability? In my training as a therapist I can’t recall any formula or a ratio.
It has been over two years now since I was working as a therapist. The excitement and spontaneity came in large part from my work. The enjoyment now is writing which does not directly include other people. The blog offers some exchange but leaves my human contact still lacking.
As I wrote the last paragraph it seems clear that the part of my life that is lacking is people contact. The over there becomes more defined as I write. It is time and energy put into making new friends It is certainly helpful for me to write especially in response to questions. Does this make any sense?
April 4th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Yes, it does.
Hello, and Thank you for the mail. Sorry for this very short first comment.
April 4th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Mago, Thank you so much for stopping by. I took a quick peek at your blog and will certainly return. You are certainly a fine writer. The question is if I can keep up? I am what they call a “down home Okie”. I live in Oklahoma and have limited exposure to your culture and history. Despite my doctorate in psychology I am slow to understand some things. I certainly enjoyed the flow of your writing and will look forward to reading more.
Peace, Annie
April 4th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Of course you can keep up, trust yourself. Oklahoma rings a bell with pictures from the 30s, FSA?, a time of drought – how is Oklahoma looking now? It should be green, you mentioned somewhere “red dirt” …
Please know and hopefully excuse my curiosity.
Thank you for the compliment about my writing. It is limited I know, some things I can not express properly. And sometimes I’d like to say things more elegant. Feel free to look at texts I wrote on my site, that is what it is there for; I will be pleased if you like what you find.
It’s in the middle of the night here, sorry I’m off now.
I am pleased to have met you.
April 7th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Thank you for coming back. I did read your text and enjoyed the exchanges with other folks. I lived in Minnesota for over 20 years and snow was beauitiful until I drove to the city for work.
I now live in Oklahoma,my homeland.
It was a “Dust Bowl” during the Great Depression. Now it is very green with rolling hills, many lakes and very friendly folks. I live 10 miles from the nearest town on 3 acres and a huge garden.I am on disability and live with my older sister. Just a little about me. I will stop now. Join me again! Annie
April 20th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Annie – thanks for your recent visit to my blog. I’m in the process of catching up on yours and this post really hit home with me.
So often I wonder where I am supposed to be going. I know that I am on a path to recovery but I am often at a loss as to where or what that is.
I remember clearly when my shrink asked to me write down my “vision of a peaceful future” – it is the ONLY homework assignment he has EVER (in nearly two and a half years) given me that I didn’t complete. I simply have NO IDEA what it would look like. And on my good days, when I think I might know where I wish I could go – even on those good days – I don’t normally have the nerve to say it out loud.
So – hold on to that next step, keep it in your mind and as soon as you are ready or can make yourself be ready – go for it. In my (uneducated) opinion, the advice that you would have given is good advice to take for yourself…
I’m glad I found your blog. You have great insights and an easy to read style. I’ll be back. Thanks.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:41 am
SV-Glad to have you stop by with such helpful comments. It is hard to give yourself “assignments” but that is what I guess we have to do sometimes. Doing a blog has helped me do this and as we share with each other it can help us figure out where to go to make progress. Thanks again for stopping by. I will visit your blog again too! Annie
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Recovering after episodes often leaves me feeling like I’m looking at a blank page instead of a list of warm, fun, interesting aspects to my life. I think this is entirely normal because during an episode all our energy goes to surviving. Maybe now you’re edging out of survival mode and ready to add things to your page. Perhaps it would help to make a list of what might interest you and then rate them on how stressful they might be, and come up with strategies to cope with the stress. There must be room for you to be interested and engaged in your life rather than being bored. I bet you have really well developed inner antennas to guide you in this process. It’s a case of balance.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Acorn, What an insightful comment. The idea of looking at a blank page is helpful. You have obviously done work to move you toward wellness. Your suggestions are also helpful. Thanks, Annie