jimmy jamesYou Are Not Alone
July 14th 2009 21:47
So, how does it feel to know that there are millions of other people that are probably feeling the same way you are right now? Somewhere along God’s green earth there is another human being, animal, or let me just say sentient being that is feeling sadness, and depression. It might comfort you to think that perhaps not too far away there is another person feeling anger and rage, jealousy and bone chilling fear, or perhaps the overwhelming feeling of grief you are feeling at this very moment is being felt all over the world by people that are grieving over the loss of a pet or a loved one. Whatever the pain you experience, do you look to connect to all that may be suffering as a way of coming to terms with your own pain?
There are some people that can do this to a certain level. And then there are those that tell you that they know what you are feeling, they know what you are going through. These well balanced travelers speak as if they have been to the highest peaks and back again, only to tell you that they got through it and so can you. They will even be so kind as to tell you how and what you are doing wrong based upon their own experience, which really doesn’t mean a thing because after all, it was their own experience, not yours.
It is always good to have others to bounce things off of, and if you are in any kind of recovery from mental illness or substance abuse (same thing), then having people as supports are vital in developing a ritual that can keep your life in balance.
But the main part is you. Find out what makes you tick. Find out what you got. Self esteem is an ongoing discovery. Things on the outside can give us self esteem. Things such as a job, a relationship, and hobbies can help pull us up off the ground and give us a sense of self, a feeling that we can look other people in the eyes and feel good about who we are. These things can give us confidence that grows stronger with the knowledge that we are pulling our own weight, not having to rely on anyone but ourselves. But self esteem doesn’t hold up very well when it is based upon things. What happens when these things don‘t last? What is left? The foundation of a job and a relationship and all the other surface stuff isn’t very strong and it can only hold up as long as these things remain in place. I often wonder how much we hide behind these superficial things.
Working can be very rewarding for some, yet for me I always found it wanting. By simply holding down a job, we are showing that we are just another Bozo on the bus, capable of the same ole same old shit, different day. And pursuing a “career” can be frustrating because sometimes we think that once we get outta school and land that big job, that we will have arrived! This sorta works for some, but how do you explain all those unhappy people out there?
It is easy to fall into the same trap with relationships. Society seems to tell us that we need to have the basic stuff down: A job, money, a place to live, and of course a member of the opposite sex with whom to share our biggest dreams with! Isn’t that exciting???
If that is what makes you happy, if that keeps you afloat. Perhaps you are doing yourself injustice by this narrow thinking. It’s up to you. Show them what you got!
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