Hi fellow survivors of life's rollercoaster!
Let's dive right into a topic that's as colourful as a bag of jellybeans but often leaves us feeling like we've been stuck in a never-ending rainstorm without an umbrella: mental health. Yep, you guessed it, we're about to tackle the profound musings a friend sent me in a text message, but with my usual twists and turns.
Picture this: your mental state is a flashlight. When it flickers or goes out, would you toss it away? Nah, you'd swap the batteries out faster than a squirrel darting up a tree. But what if your inner flashlight is dimming due to life's little curveballs? Do you just toss yourself aside like yesterday's leftovers? Heck no! You give yourself some well-deserved battery-changing love.
Some of us need "AA" - that's right, Attention and Affection. We're like houseplants, except we thrive on compliments and hugs instead of water and sunlight. Others require the deluxe "AAA" treatment – Attention, Affection, and a big ol' serving of Acceptance. If that's the case, we're like a needy cat who wants to be petted, fed, and worshipped as a deity. And let's not forget the "C" we need – Compassion. Because, honestly, a sprinkle of kindness goes a long way.
But hey, there's more. "D" stands for Direction. We're talking about that friend who's always lost, whether it's in a shopping mall or in the labyrinth of their own thoughts. They need a GPS for life decisions.
Now, let's flip the script. What if you're the flashlight that's flickering but refusing to acknowledge it? You're the flashlight that's run out of batteries and stubbornly believes it's still the brightest bulb in the box. Newsflash: denying your struggles won't make them disappear.
Imagine carrying around a backpack stuffed with childhood trauma like it's a fashionable accessory. Guess what? It's not cool, and it's certainly not Gucci. Healing starts when you unpack that emotional baggage and confront it head-on. You can't blame your neighbour's cat for tripping you over that suitcase of pain. Take a deep breath and face it, just like you'd bravely face that horror movie you can't stop watching.
So, you're a little rough around the edges from your past. Join the club! We all have a few dings and dents, like a car parked in a parking lot with people who have no idea how to reverse into the spot and instead say “oops” without leaving a note after scratching! The trick is to release the past like a helium balloon and watch it float away. Forgiveness is your golden ticket to ride this rollercoaster without feeling like you're strapped to the front car.
But what if your internal hurricane causes you to lash out at unsuspecting bystanders? What if your loved one turns into your emotional punching bag, and not the cute and cuddly kind? Do you send them a thank-you card for taking your emotional punches? Nah, you bounce. You protect your own well-being and leave them to figure things out, just like you would with a recipe that's missing half its ingredients.
Love isn't about controlling someone like a puppet on strings. It's not about jealousy or playing mind games like you're the reigning chess grandmaster. Nope, love is more like sharing your favourite dessert, knowing you'll get to savour it together.
Ah, relationships – the emotional rollercoasters that make you question if you're on the right ride or if you accidentally hopped onto the "Haunted Mansion" express. We've all got this baggage, like a traveling circus of memories and emotions, dragging behind us. Picture it: You're at the airport of life, waiting for your baggage claim carousel to spit out those emotional suitcases. But the trick is not to let them hijack your journey because no one wants to be stuck on a vacation with their past as the overbearing travel companion.
Letting go and forgiving is like decluttering your emotional closet – you're throwing out those resentment-filled sweaters and outdated grudges. Yeah, that ex from three years ago who ghosted you or the wife or husband that still feels like a nail in the head? Toss them out with the rest of the emotional clutter. But here's the plot twist: if you're not Marie Kondo-ing your past, you're just letting your life become a cluttered mess of outdated emotions and dusty heartache. Trust me, that closet needs a cleaning more than a teenager's room.
Now, imagine you've got this person in your life who's helping you "change your batteries." They're like that friend who insists on buying you a new phone charger when your old one starts sparking. But instead of charging your phone, they're charging up your emotional stability. So, what do you do when the sparks start flying, and you blast them with your anger like a misfired firework?
Do you sit them down, take a deep breath, and say, "Hey, I'm all for supporting your mental health journey, even though you just triggered my emotional landmines"? Well, sweetheart, if that's what you thought, you might need a reality check as big as the one that hit Wile E. Coyote.
Well, let me tell you, that lovely support person is no longer going to stay if she or he has any sense. Like any sane person, they will exit. You grab your metaphorical baggage and you bounce. Seek help for yourself because you're worth more than being someone's emotional dartboard or punching bag. They hope you have the courage to be honest with yourself, acknowledge you need help, and get it through counseling. And that only works when you are honest with both yourself and the counselor. They can’t help if you tell them what they want to hear. I’ve seen this happen too!
And for the love of all things, let's talk about their little counseling adventure. It's like they're signing up for a reality TV show, but instead of winning roses or singing competitions, they're aiming to win at "Unloading My Emotional Baggage 101." They've got to have the courage of a superhero facing down a supervillain to admit they need help, pronto. Honesty is the name of the game, because if they're sugarcoating their issues like a doughnut, they're just going to be spinning their wheels in the mud.
Relationships and their baggage – a drama-filled sitcom with more twists and turns than a pretzel factory. But remember, you're the director of your own show, and you've got the power to cut out the unnecessary drama and embrace the good stuff. Let go, forgive, and remember that life's too short to hold onto those worn-out batteries. Embrace the new, learn to salsa with your emotional baggage, and shine brighter than a disco ball in the 70s.
