Showing posts with label Values. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Values. Show all posts

Saturday, 6 October 2012

Womb absorbed emotions

Well that's been a long break since last writing here. To be truthful I haven't felt so inclined but also there has been little time that I could afford to writing simply for personal off load.
But here I am. So much has happened. It will be impossible to recall all the learning's.
Yesterday! Working backwards. I handed in my notice. After visiting with P on Thursday evening, seeing the new premises ad collecting the letter confirming my job offer, P then helped me write my letter of resignation. Excitedly I placed a copy on F's desk, N's desk and then not quite as I planned, handed one to L. S had walked in beforehand so I told her that I was handing in my notice, quantifying that with a start date of 1st Jan 2013 and so giving 3 months notice. I asked if she'd mind doing the Reflection group so that I could speak in private with L. However, L came in and said she was going straight upstairs to pay something or other. I didn't want her to hear from F so said "L, before you go I need to give you my letter of resignation." I then felt incredibly awkward. S was quiet and typing on the PC. L simply said "Oh! Oh! Oh!" and left the office in a flurry of petticoats and a bang of the door. It wasn't a fearsome bang but I heard it in the innards of my brains as a slam. I went off and did the Reflection group, knowing that S was tired after her day working at Spittalfields on her stall.
It wasn't like this but it felt like the rest of the day L pretty much ignored me. It also seemed and probably wasn't, or was it?, as if she ignored me practically unless confronted with having to speak with me. She suddenly wanted to be in all of the groups but conceded to S and I doing the Process group together. How ridiculous. I felt freed up in group and was much more comfortable to be me in group. Amazing. I have been agonising for weeks about how to be and where had all my awareness gone. I have been less than effective in group in my opinion. I have felt thwarted. But yesterday was an improvement. My confidence is low that's for sure. But I did start to notice the nuances of people and able to gently share what I noticed and ask questions about what I noticed.
One client is genuinely wanting to work on earlier issues and beginning to express her emotions rather than react to them with her Borderline Personality. It's been amazing working with her.
Later in the morning I went upstairs (management and administration offices). S was standing there talking with F. S left us to to talk. After closing the door I sat down. F was pleasant enough in some ways but was also the super-boss. I took this personally and felt offended and disappointed. But I have been able to step aside from that since. The things I was offended by were her saying that it was important my standards did not drop over the next 3 months. I said that something along the lines of me caring about the clients and not doing the job for money or the P Group and so would I would be disappointed in myself if that was necessary.
I responded to her suggesting that PD had coming poaching staff. F said something along the lines of knowing that he would be knocking on the door for staff at some point, she hadn't thought it would be quite this early. I felt compelled to state that P had not come to me but that I approached him. I reminded her that I had been unhappy and one of the options discussed when speaking with her was to leave. Having been working hard on altering myself within the role and within the relationship with L, I had come to realise that I needed to leave and so enquired with P. I went on to say that the ethics and principles working with L seem so different and without saying anyone is right or wrong there has come a point when we cannot agree to disagree. I mentioned to her that I had asked L not to tell me when she is crossing procedures so that I am not in a position of either having to betray her confidence or betray P Group. However, I was not comfortable with knowledge that this might be going on and it simply didn't seem safe for me personally. I continued saying that there had been some really good and interesting changes to the programme and had appreciated being exposed to different ideas to broaden my knowledge. But there had come a point when I needed to find something else where the philosophy matched my own ethics and principles. I think F heard this. What she heard though and what she does with it is none of my business. The conversation involved her very pointedly commenting on seeing how she can trust me not to steal clients. She didn't want me to speak with consultants at this stage nor other staff members. She wanted to first meet with consultants and would handle them herself. She said that P and I are highly respected by consultants and there needed to be clear guidelines if they were to refer. Their loyalties had to be with the P Group first and foremost. Some of them of course have their own private practices so I'm not sure how much jurisdiction the P Group have over the consultants. They has to be a two-way pathway for them otherwise they wouldn't be doing it I guess. P business must be valuable to them.
I asked if I would be permitted to come to the annual BBQ as I will find the hardest thing to be leaving the clients and the staff in the unit. I did say I was disappointed with P Group when realising that they do not invest in their staff. F of course made no comment. She did at one point speak about vocational work never being highly paid and how dissatisfying that was i.e. nurses, therapists, and yet IT and Bankers getting so much pay. I wonder what she would say about the high price of consultants and surgeons?
Anyhow I think it will be difficult to keep my departure from others around the hospital. After all S knows and we were talking about it. I am sure to tell people, I won't be able to help myself. I want to be able to share at my meetings as well and need to be careful.
What is interesting is how exhausted I am after dealing with everyone else's different emotional reactions to my resignation. So much so that I have decided not to go to London today. I will take today to clean and tidy. I would like to clean my home and get fresh air running through it. I will do a room at a time. I think I should like to change my living room around but I'm not sure of the best design. I'll give it a go. I also want to get new moth balls etc as I have noticed more flying about again. It appears the moth balls were working. I need loads and loads as the whole thing gives me a terrible feeling. I don't know how to put it into words. And oh that's made a link for me. I was just thinking as I was writing how the feeling with the moths is the same as the feeling with the mice at Bay Tree Cottage. I felt a mix of disgust and anger. I was angry with the mice and the moths for dirtying and ruining my possessions. I was loathe to use food ad get furious when there are holes in my clothes with these flipping moths. So people thought it was the larvae that eats the clothes. Oh no it isn't!! Anyway the connection that came to mind was linked with me not really knowing where this intense feeling comes from. And then remembered my mum telling me the reason I had a birthmark of a mouses bum on my bum was because when she was pregnant with me, a mice had run over her foot. She was terrified of mice and I think that terror has somehow been absorbed into the womb and become my own inbred terror. The feeling with the moths is the same. They are invading my life and should not be there yet I can not get them out. How interesting. it really fits as an explanation.
There's probably some psycho therapeutic paper on that somewhere. I'm not sure if there is some developmental research on that subject. It would be difficult to measure I think. If I were more proficient on the OU library site I would research it. Mind you I do not really have the time. Oh to be able to have such time.
Anyway the idea to not go today occurred when G was thinking about meeting for a walk. However, I am coming to realise that he is flaky. So he asked and showed up for one walk. Since then he has cancelled or not asked. I will step back from that. I am not supposed to be having any contact but self-will runs riot in me as they say in the rooms. It was after a body judder day that I texted him. It started with a text to JB but as my sponsor suggested it could have started with a call to my therapist SC. Interesting.
I was driving to work listening to Radio 4. There was mention of the investigations into social services about their supposed failings when themselves investigating the case of a gang of men grooming young girls to sexually abuse them. The report made mention of one or more these girls telling social services or teachers but their please being dismissed. Apparently one of the girls was accused of mixing with the wrong sorts. My dad always said that actually. It wasn't that thought that triggered me to be thinking of him. However, it's a valid thought in this moment. He was always accusing me of my badness because of the company I keep. Interesting. Even when I tried to make amends he said it was the people I mixed with. How I interpreted that was that I am stupid for making those choices. My dad was constantly saying I was stupid and did stupid things. So there was his critical voice in my head even though he probably didn't use the word stupid. It was within the essence I believe.
Anyway I started thinking about the way my dad used to role his tongue backwards and bite down on it. This would mean he had a horrid grimace and this aggressive mouth. He would then grunt or make a sort of sucking in and out noise through this foul mouth. I then thought of the shock when GW had done the same when he was beating me up or as G said "knocking me about". It was more than knocking me about. it was violent attacks that I was complicit in really. I was helpless and terrified and yet was complicit in it. I do need to talk about that with probably my sponsor. Will I have the courage and the ability to make that totally understood. It was not a knocking about and it kind of minimises what took place. A knocking about almost seems condescending of me. I think that links with my dad implying that women were stupid for letting it happen. I will ask G about that when I secretly talk with him.
This memory resulted in my body going into judders. I felt them in my vagina and on my clitoris. I felt the judders through my breasts and then reverberating throughout my body. I felt disgust and revulsion. I could not stop it. i tried calling people but no one answered. In the end I called SC and left a message. He called me back and eventually we were able to speak at lunchtime. He reminded me of his workshops. I can't quite remember what he suggested now. But it required me to be grounded. In a way work had become the boundary to hold me. I had to be somewhat centred even though I didn't feel it. I couldn't "act out", i.e. cut myself or eat, mainly because I didn't want to. I did act out later though by calling JB. However, with him I realised that I have always wanted to tell him because he gets angry. That was what I was afraid of. The judders turning to rage. I cannot contain my rage. The workshop with SC showed me the power of my rage in a physical form. I was held down ad had to keep engaging with the pilot because I was getting wilder and wilder the more I was restrained, The restraint though enabled the fury to emerge from me until I was exhausted. The judders have been turning to rage but thank goodness I have not gone and sought sex even though there have been thoughts now I come to think about it. I have not masturbated. I think I verged on sexual talk with G. reading that violent poem was a sign. So yes speaking with JB in the past has been a way of handing over my anger to someone else and watching it. But then mistaking that anger for being loved and cared for. Bullshit! What a wily survival technique. My dad would get angry and protective and I learnt that was love I think. When G said he was jealous of the gardener/chauffeur relationship I have with V in the village I immediately mistook that for something more intense than his insecurity. I am beginning to see and beginning to be able to stand back from my desires to be loved. it's all mistaken. He cannot commit nor wants to commit. He probably has half a dozen me's hence there is no need to call every day or night or respond to my texts. He can pick and choose and have variety. It's nothing to do with me. I will back of any calls or texts. The truth is I don't really know what's going on with him but get a sense it is not wholesome. It can't be because it's not from me either. I want what seems elusive. I think he's aware of that in himself too. I am getting to be better at being me.
I am not sure moving away was the only answer as I am learning within the contact. I do not what to talk for so long on the phone but it's a compulsion in me.
Anyhow this is the fire that I am playing with. I have felt insecure and pained at times. My imagination being fired with him toying with this woman or that. He really has issues, I think that's plain to see. He is very angry for one and with relationship issues the two suggest there is an addictive behaviour. Who am I to diagnose?
I do get excited to receive a text or have a conversation. I have noticed how I am less and less myself. Anyhow, I can keep trying. I have committed for it to not go any further than this so having him to visit would not be a good idea but there is the suggestion of that happening somehow. I just know it would be dangerous to be seated next to him on my settee. There is an attractive man there. And he is very intelligent. I am enticed and lured by intelligence and knowledge. The thing I miss out is the wisdom. But then if her were wise I'd probably be a bit fed up by now as he wouldn't be acting out. God please help me to keep G at a safe distance. I do not want to be entering into anything. As I know though and the film Take This Waltz screamed out at me, the affair is in the earliest interactions. In the film she said she didn't want to be unfaithful to her husband but she already was as her thoughts were lingering longer than a passing moment with this man. And she was actually spending time talking with him. There's the intrigue being created and the inevitability that they were powerless then to stop the passion developing. If someone truly wants to remain faithful, then they must take appropriate action. God the power of intrigue. I am powerless over it but so far unwilling to do anything about it. I find it difficult to put across and get people to see because it's elusive for me to see it. But when I do I know!
I don't know how to ask questions so that people get to see themselves. S does know. I would like some humanistic training just to get some tips on that. I would like some couples therapy training too and some family training. Just for some tips. The awful thing is training then takes removes the naturalness that can be just as valuable.
Perhaps I'll just ask S and also supervisor P.
What else has occurred? AB suddenly realises the intensity of hot flushes.I know that she spent the whole of my perri-menopause thinking I was griping over nothing. But  boy! It was a real tough time. I think I have been feeling a bit hormonal. I have put on some weight and very uncomfortable with it. My food plan is now a massive amount of foods. I am not liking the extra weight and yet wasn't liking the underweight either. It's so odd though because I also liked it. It was a lovely feeling being so small. Even though I didn't necessarily like what I saw, I did like too.
Any other things? There are sure to be.
My dad. Well it's no wonder I'm thinking of the past when I am in more contact with him. The feelings are mixed ad confusing. On the one hand I am feeling scared as he is more often unwell. He continues to have a urinary infection. At 84 that on it's own is not good but with the fact that he had a kidney transplant in about 1999 I think, there's the added concnern that things are not good with his kidney. I am worried for him. Ad please God help him with his fear. i feel certain he is afraid of death. I think he vaoided being with my mum at the end. Either he is completely at ease with death but I tend to think he is terrified. I wonder how he deals with the fact eh wasn't there. In some ways I am glad because I was there and it meant that I was with someone who at the time I felt held by. Poor S having to be there at my mums death. i was terrified actually I didn't know what death would be looking like. It was horrible the rattle and the gradually ceasing of her breaths. And then seeing her liffeless - I took one more look at her but wished I had been able to stay in the room slightly longer. I feel sure I would have been able to sense her spirit. I wish I had gone back to see her. I feel so sad thinking of that last glance back at her. I miss her so much when I think of that. A final final goodbye. She was an extraordinary woman. It's moments like these when I am hurting with the loss that I want someone to hold me. The only person who can hold me entirely is me and God. God let me lean into you. Thank you.
Anyway with the thoughts about and for my dad also come memories. I often can think the sexual abuse wasn't real. But my body tells me it was so real. I can feel it then as I write about it. The occasion when my mum was away ad I was lying on the settee with him touching my bosy was the most revolting. Mainly because I was complicit in it. But being the father he should have discouraged it. Fucking hell! It's disgusting. Why didn't he stop it? He was supposed to.
Ad then time sin bed when I would try to lie very very still as if I wasn't there because he's be rubbing himself against me. I would feel his willy knowingly as I got older. Ugh it revolts me to the pojnt of wanting to be sick. Why did he do it?? He was unable to help himself. I wonder how the hell he feels about it. Does he feel wrong or does it seem right to him? There is suggestion that paedophiles believe they are doing the right thing. Oh God, please help remove this from me.
This is when the confusion sets in and this can tap into the anger. I am typing more furiously and hitting the keyboard ferociously when I hit the full stop or exclamation mark. it's there. I need to notice this and calm the fury. It's the fury that drives me to want to pick up the phone and text a man. I told JB my realisations that I want him to pick up my anger. He was a prime victime for it. I am sorry for doing that. Then mistaking the anger. I do it unconsciously really yet there it is . I start telling a man who shows a little interest as a text. If they pick up the anger then they muct really like me. What a fucking mix up mess.
And what about my mum in all of this? People say that often issues in relationsip with men is more associated with mother issues than father. I am not sure I see any connection. There is the fact that my mum loved me and I know it. But how do I know it when she was not really there. She adored my dad despite the way he was. She travelled a lot. She worked a lot. She adored people generally ad was a socialite. I could get infuriated with her. Especially when I was a teenager. I think I held anger towards her for adoring my dad when he was so bloody difficult with me. She would sometimes side with me then side with him in a seemingly unreasonable way. Sometimes she would collude with me in bitching about him and other times she wouldn't have anything bad said about him. Sometimes we would be two united in combat with him. I would protect her at the expense of his wrath turning onto me. Oh! That's what I do still with people. And I did it this week with the Psychodrama group.
L had asked S weeks ago to do the Pcyhodrama group. S immediately suckered me into the issue. Then it became a we. Because I like S I allowed myself to be sucjered in. The two of us. But when S started to battle with L I was protective of S. Bloody hell S does not need protecting but there is a dynamic there as she lets me. I wonder if she knows what she's doing or if it's unconscious dynamics for her too. Well I need to step bakc from protecting her. I get it in the neck then from L. It is the same family dynamics. S is my mum, L is my father. 'ucking hell.
Anyway that resulted in L saying we could have said something sooner. There is no point in re-visiting it as the error on my part was long before we were talking about not knowing what to do.
I was also pleased that E told me what L was saying in the clinical governance meeting. She was telling them that S and I are reluctant to do Assessments. E said that it was strange as we always used to do them. what she's not saying is that I don't arrange them as it's never clear where or what her diary is like. There was an enquiry on Wed but I could not commit a time for Tursday as I am never confident that our diary is accurate. And ith there just ebing L and I in it would be ridiculous to try and fit in all the ward rounds and groups and 1:1's and an assessment without first speaking with her. As it happens it's a good job. She had a 1:1 that wasn't in the diary - this was Thurs 3rd Oct if ever ayone wants to investigate.
The time and motion details she is keeping scares me. As I am alswyas afraid of being outed as lazy. Mainly it's a fear that being busy they will give me more and not take into account the fullness of what I am doing already. Some of it of course is private earnings after hours and I haven't wanted that to be removed. I have enjoyed that extra money ad will miss it. There will be a need to readjust of course as working with P there won't be those opportunities. Everything we do will be for the business. The pay is a light increase but £2000 over 52 weeks is not a great deal more - in fact before tax it's a mere £166 per month. That will hardly notice. However travelling will cost slightly less time and fuel wise. And working 4 days per week when I'm studying will reduce fuel costs.
I will ask P if to begin with I can have each Friday off for my studies. That will be so helpful with regard to getting some realy studying done and some down time too. It will be less stressful anyway.
As for the synamics of mother and my choice and behaviour with men. It's not clear to me. With time no doubt it will become clearer.
So today I have chosen not to go to London. Too exhausted with being me in response to the emotional reactions of others has drained me entirely. A day at home doing this and pottering and then the meeting this evening seems enough. I need to study too!
If G feels like a walk today then all well and good. Otherwise it will have to wait until Thurs.
It will be good for me to say I'm unavailable if it's tomorrow he suggests.
I am worrying about being able to have my leave. F was quite direct about that. The P group would not pay me for any unused leave. They are so fucking mean. I am even gladder to be getting out of the environment - even if working for a one man band means there is even less staff investment I know that P as a person invests in people. There is so much difference. I know that if and whn he can invest he would. He cares. The P Group really do not invest in development or care. Another thing that I realise I do not like you see is the staffing principles of the compay. Nothing is perfect but when several things start to build up against me then the whole thing can be unsettling. So that's when it's time to move on or find a way to accept it. It's not acceptable and I s'pose being an addict I want it all. Actually that's not true.When P was the Team Leader, the P Group was still the same. Tosome degree I think F tried to create some degree of staff care. However I think the P Group have even clamped down on that. But even so P kept the team as happy as he could. But once that was gone as well it just didn't suit me. There is nothing wrong in that. I say that ebcause I can give myself a hard time for wanting things to be good. Now that's very unkind to me.
Just when I think I've run out of things that have occurred or run though my mind I have become aware of the fascaintion I have in the macabre. With this tragic situation of little April Jones.
It's now a murder enquiry. It's disturbing me just how engorssed I can be with these cases. Take for instance JH's sister. I was aware of it at the time and even more interested now. With the murderer being realeased it's aroused all this feeling inside of me. Pcyhologically I wonder why people like me become drawn to the macabre. Someone said yesterday that's why people buy newspapers and watch the news. Is that pure interest or do others feel this intensity that I feel too. It's stronger than an interest. I can still recall reading a report in my dad's newspaper of a gril who had disappeared. I can't remember all of the details but it fascinated me that she could not be located and there were clues to say that she was buried underground. I think he was calle dthe black panther. These names that are given to really markedly lable the murderers increase the intensity. Why dowe do this? I am curiosu as to the evolutionary function of this? What could it be matched with in the early days of human development? Is it merely curiosity. But didn't curiosity kill the cat. Is it beyond self preservation? Again there's probably a lot of research into this. INterest in the macabre.
There is the need for bhorror and shockking films. It's not something that's new knowledge about myself but something that I'm jsut sharing with people. I say that because often when I talk about such things with M i get the impression that she feels superiro because she's always known it about herself. I thik I can do that too. Appear as if I've always been aware and aren't you stoopid for not knwing this about yourself. I hope to be able to use that peice of self awareness without having to take humbridge and intolernace of her grandiose self. Be aware and accetant.
I thought of her because I know she has watched ad watched horror frilms. Is she attempting to desensitise from the fears or desenstise from her own issues.
I don't think my macabre interest is to desensitise from my own issues. Just checking on that having written it. It's possible I suppose. But somehow it feels seperate. I immedtiately called J yesterday hearing the news that the April Jones case is now a murder enquiry. I wonder if they are holding the right man? I remember the same degree of curiosity and intensity with the little Soham girls. I remember the feeling of injustice too. Not understanding why they needed to be killed and where was God in that? I feel angry with you God that these things happen to little innocent children. Why don't you protect them? When B (sponsor) said where is God in this today for you Bliss? I felt that anger again. I felt it when she said it the other day. I pleased with God in my younger years without knowing it was God I was pleading to. No one helpe me. I even went to the Church. Both times so helpless and wanting but was not met with any welsome. The one and only person who has been at all welcoming has been Sister N. I avoid her though for fear of being rejected if I won't accept all of her ways. I would like to take a weekend break there and just be. I try too hard with her. I just want to be amongst utter acceptance. I think that is the exxhaustion I feel within me. Time away from everything and everyone seems very appealing. A silent retreat. Me and LouLou and a simply nothing programme. I am pretty certain I would sruggle with that. Maybe I could just take one book to read. Just one immediately became problematic thinking which one - study or fiction? Gosh! I am certainly activity addicted.
So the sunshine is out. G has invited me for a walk some time today. Somewhere on the Downs he says. Where on the Downs?
Okay well I think I'll take LL for a quick village stroll. And then get on with some cleaning and tidying before lunch. I'll need to bathe and prepare my supper because I need to get to the Petersfield meeting to be secretary. I smiled when I learnt it was K from Hayling who is doing the chair. Gosh how she tests my patience. She's lovely but bloody hell her neediness can suck me dry.
I think that's all I have time for now. Good to get that all out of my head including realisations. I have a bit of a headache and I do think I am coming down with something. I ache internally.


Take This Waltz



 

Written and Directed by Sarah Polley
Starring Michelle Williams, Seth Rogan, Luke Kirby, and Sarah Silverman.
I gave it a 4.75 out of 5.
An affair torn between two loves. Once the intrigue develops it gets between love.
I wonder if though it can ever be long lasting love from then on i.e. if it's from a dysfunctional under-emotion or is it true love. In which case was the first love ever true love? Is it possible to keep falling in true love?
Bliss
XX






 

Thursday, 23 August 2012

Soulful striving

It is my job to strive for the soulful things; honesty, graciousness, mindfulness, kindness, goodness, love, willingness, openness, wisdom. Please God help me to achieve this soulfulness and to hand over my self will and the desire for material and self gain. Please help me to share these soulful things in a way that is doing the best for kin and all mankind. That is what my soul desires.
Life without purpose is futile. I pray that I may find the good life worth striving for.

It is God sent that I have this morning to relax a little. It is extra to curriculum due to getting a puncture yesterday. It is does not come free of charge. For weeks now I have been aware that I need new tyres and yesterday God gave me a puncture. Not directly I realise, God doesn't do things that way I am sure. But this was a reminder before anything seriously awful happened. I begrudge spending out on these things you see and postpone in favour of personal pursuits and desires. So thank you God for the least dangerous reminder. And this morning L very kindly allowed me to get into work late so that I can get the tyres sorted out. I just now am waiting until 8 am so that i can phone A.D.D Tyres in Bordon. They were very good to me before and I am hoping they can fit new tyres this morning and not be hugely expensive. I am very grateful though to have been  putting funds away each month so that I can actually afford to replace all 5 (inc spare) if so required. I think they do all need replacing. It's got to be over a year since I replaced them. My car needs servicing too but I won't be able to afford that this month. I hope I've got a lot of extra pay in this months salary. I was begrudging paying it out on a car because it's been my Norway trip fund. I hope not to have to delve into my Paris trip fund. I hope that will be around Feb latest. Although it's probably better to go in April. That would give more time to save up.
I think my dad must be in hospital. he said he was having to go back in and didn't know whether he'd have to stay or not. I suspect he did know. I tried calling at about 21:30 and there was no answer. I left a message. I wonder if he did give my number to his neighbours. He said he would but .....
I will try calling his mobile this morning. And I will also see if I can book to have my hair cut on Saturday. What I'd really like to do is get the accreditation document finished this weekend and then get it approved by my supervisor and eventually submitted before 1 Sep when OU re-starts. This time Applied Psychology. I am just not ready for the discipline required. I need to alter my mindset. I think I will have to work all day Saturday and the mornings on Sunday. And have Sunday afternoon as relaxation time after the AWOL. If I read in the mornings all the information gets lost with the day filtering into the memory banks. It rubs out anything I've read.
As soon as I start thinking of other things after reading I forget what the points were.
I also realise I learn by experiencing. I think this may be very basic learning. I am not so cranial. But when I get real examples then it seems to truly get into the memory banks. Experiencing something seems to really be the best way.
I even forgot though in my first share last evening at AA after 90 days in FA of not sharing, to talk about love as connectedness. I think I was born with this isolation tendency. And circumstances probably enhanced it. Being an only child made it and makes it easy to feel lonesome, and I don't mean lonely. But the lonesome can quickly create loneliness and a feeling of being unlovable and unloved. I know it's not limited to single children though as many people with varying numbers of siblings and closeness can still feel that isolation. But what i am experiencing is a connectedness through fellowship. The calls are indicators of love. Even though the connections can be difficult or easy depending on individuals, I feel a love. I love the programme. I am so grateful to God for bringing me this programme and helping to rouse the willingness in me.
It is glorious. I have been troubled at work for example and now I am less troubled. Trusting in my sponsor and the programme and gradually becoming more willing to do what is suggested, it's all got me to being a different and improved version of me. I know L is changing too and I am grateful to God for that as well. All of me is screaming that it's me who has done all the work and wanted things to be better. pride and self righteousness. But I can concede and smile at myself about that, because I know she has been changing too. Thank you God for showing me me.
Please God help me to have the willingness to work this programme.
Thank you God for another day abstinent yesterday.
Poor anyone who reads God and thinks OH NO! A religious culty freak. If only that person would know that I am least religious and Goldly in that sense than anyone. The Bible and the religious practices are not for me. I get the principle more and more though.
Reading Paradise Lost is interesting. You see I think I am understanding Milton to be suggesting that the Garden of Eden was actually before Earth. There was no Heaven nor Hell, there was just this place with angels and peace. But Satan as he became to be known was envious and wanted higher ranking position, even Gods position. He tempted Eve with the apple and was rallying the discontent in the other angels. Angels that were impatient or jealous or bored or scolded or resentful or something. All these emotions and traits exist but there are those that Satan was able to infiltrate and culture those traits in his growing desire for more. It is something that can be cultivated and a darkness that grows fast and envelopes the light. I can relate. It was a seed that exists there and as the devil gets a hold for  example through abuse or abandonment and faulty nurturing, the dark feelings have the room to swirl and escalate. Then the Satan can step up the anti using this emptiness ad coldness to turn it into hatred and desire and overwhelming power. It's there, it can be ignored. Ignore at ones peril. As the fallen angels discovered. They lost their belief in the light, stopped putting into action all the effort required to nurture and then the swirling dark cold abyss grows within needing more and more to fill it as it grows deeper and deeper. I followed that trail. The seed was given room to grow with the sense of shame and hatred that I was given. There wasn't enough belief surrounding me to counter the effect. And the abyss was opened up. I had this anger in me without knowing what it was and no teachers to even show me a different way. well actually I don't think that's entirely true. I suspect there were a lot of people trying but the power of the shame and hatred was louder somehow. Maybe I am the sort of person who listens to that like the angels. Some did not want to follow Satan's desires, they had the strength and belief to turn away and face the light.
I found alcohol and diets and laxatives and this fuelled my anger. It gave me a false courage, a strength to rebel. I rebelled hoping to be heard really but in fact it widened the abyss. My mum was the frail link back though. I kept a little of the light for the terror of finally letting my mum down so much that she would have to let get of the thinning stretching thread. She loved me so much and this morning walking around the village I longed for a moment to be her daughter in the world we live in. Just to have her here to love me. Just to have that assurance. And an opportunity to show her a revised me, a more soulful caring me. Show her how much I truly love her and actually that I do appreciate her. I know she knows in Heaven but it's earthly her I am sad not to have here today. I can bring her close to me though.
But that sadness with loss and grieving does not have to turn into a gap for the devil to seep in. No. no. Nor do my worries about finances or the difficulties at work or the need for study time or the laziness with hpusework. No, instead I can turn to God. I can keep my strength of belief. I can ask for the willingness to work this programme. And then there are fewer and fewer avenues to trundle along that lead into temptation.

A friend made a comment that she felt igorant about not knowing what Paradise Lost was. It got me to pondering about the fact that in the past I have been so tough on myself, telling myself I am ignorant. And that isn't with any love at all I have said that to myself. I brate myself for being ignorant as if it's a terrible thing. How awful the way language is used with connotations from nastiness. So being kind and gentle I was saying to this friend that it is not ignorance as a bad thing but it is ignorance fulls top. I didn't know about Paradise Lost and rather than being ashamed of that it is not something I have sat down to discover. I didn't do any literature study to any great length. I chose to play instead of study. And now I can be humble enough to be grateful for the different people in my life that bring diverse interests to me. And as they become interesting to me I do indeed follow them through. Paradise Lost had come to my attention some time ago. I did look it up and even copied the books onto my conputer. But it didn't really sink in. And then my sculptor friend showed me her work in connection with an upcoming exhibition called Revelations. I don't know if it's just a title and she has taken the Biblical theme or whether the Biblical element is the them. Anyway she has referred to Paradise Lost as her inspiration. And my gosh the work I saw was outstanding. She expressed the emotions of despair at the realisation of waking in this place called hell. This endless prison with no entrance nor exit. Wow, such vision. A knowingness of those feelings. And I could see how that intial shame borne from powerful desire, so powerful that all trust was lost in the light and God and turned towards Satan full of promises and guile. They invested in the temptation and desire and woke to realise the results. And of course there lies the pain to be further cultivated by Satan.
So she brought Paradise Lost a little bit more alive for me than the last encounter I had with it whatever that was, I can't even remember. And so much so that I am trying to read it. It's a lot of literature to read. But wow it's painting powerful pictures for me. The meaning though seems sop difficult to express. And someone else can. How wonderful that is. I am envious but will not allow that to breed and instead I am grateful to God for showing me this. I am learning. And my horizons expand. How wonderful that I have so many people with interestes that spark my own interests. And my knowledge is growing, my openness grows as I realise the passion and delight these things can bring to my soul. Thank you God. Thank you for E and the many pothers such as A and M and T and A and E and - that's beginning to look like a genetic code ha ha ha ha.
So here I am sitting waiting. I have tried calling 2 tyre places with no answer as yet. I have at least sent a text to L to tell her what is happening. I hope to get there by 10:30. Is that possible?
I will call my hairdresser too. Can I afford it? I hope so.
I need to save £360 per year for haircuts which means putting away £30 per month. I will need to start doing that then.
I also need to phone Vodafone and see if there is a better package for my minutes usage. It's crazy paying £150 per moth on Vodafone then there's BT and Plusnet for Broadband. This is a lot of money every month of communications. There has to be a better way. I onder what happens if I amalgamate them all. What is the total cost? £150 Vodafone £45 BT and £12 Plusnet = £207 per month!!!! That's ridiculous. I do  not use my landline except for an international call once per week for 1 and half hours. I use the Internet a lot.  Oh and I add some money for Skype calls too. Not much but that probably pushing £215 per month on communications. There has to be a better way.
I will call BT, Plusnet and Vodafone to see what they could do to improve these costs if I put all of mys business with them. I need to phone EDF too to see what good deals they are offering on supplying electtricity as the fixed rate ends this month. Has ended actually.
OK lets start with Vodafone. 191 - it's free. No tyre place first. I hope they open at 9am. They do.
OK it's time to go. And bugger I didn't read anymore of the poem. I will take it with me whilst I am waiting.

Thank you
Bliss
XX



 

Sunday, 17 June 2012

A class taste

Well what a day! All sorts of experiences to ponder and ask for guidance with ....
I always feel awkward and kind of clumsy when I meet with S. To me she seems so gracious and composed but also I think there is something held back. And then I become all sort of gushing and silly. I feel the child that's for sure when I'm with her and yet I'm old enough to be her mother.
And then whilst in the meeting I felt LARGE. Someone came over during our 5 minute break to remark on how tiny I am now. And E who I had met in my first weeks of being in FA also commented on how tiny I am. I felt the opposite. It's seems odd that I can have such an inaccurate sense of my physical self. When I've been LARGE I feel LARGE but don't see it fully until in a photograph or something. And now I'm slim once again I see LARGE, even in photographs. I was sitting in comparison yesterday.
As my sponsor was saying this morning I have this mental illness and a lot of it for me sits in self-hatred. I compare and despair as B says. And this insecurity and self-hatred means I operate in spiritual blindness. This is important to bring God into this today. God I need help to stay away from comparison with others.
I noticed that with some people I feel uneasy. It manifests in different ways. With N I feel that she is wary of me for some reason. She is almost over friendly and then distant both at the same time. I feel irritated by her for some reason. I' not sure what irritates me though. To stay out of my self-centredness I need to keep in mind her background and what might be going on for her. Of course I can project my ideas of what her issues might be onto her and that can make it worse. I know she had a relapse and returned having gained a lot of weight. When I've been bigger than other people who were once bigger than me I can have real jealousy and even hatred. It's of course hatred for myself really. So I wonder if I'm projecting that onto her. I have felt a difference in her from the friendly person I met. I have stopped calling her and she's stopped calling me. I will call her and say that I've noticed we speak less even though it was regularly anyway.
And with C I see a real defensiveness from her. She looks suspicious. I consider that her childhood in NI must have a real impact on relating with people and life  general. She can't be that old, she doesn't look that old but old enough to have had to live through some very difficult times. Probably even basic survival things. I was please that I was aware of my lack of desire to make contact with her - keep her at a distance because she is distant from me. So I said hello and reminded her who I was because I usually think no one will remember me. We chatted for a while and managed to establish a few things going on for her. She wants to return home and I learnt a little about her job, which she loves. I mentioned to B that I felt jealous of her. And when speaking to H this morning she said she often asks herself what it is she's jealous of in a person as it can be a realisation of things she wants to do. Some of my jealousy is often banal. I'm jealous that B might like C more than me. Or that others seem to like her despite my thinking of her as stand offish and suspicious. That;s when I think it would be important to step aside from my self and learn more about the person. And that's when I can bring to min that perhaps her environment has influenced the way she is. Maybe she's not suspicious at all but that's how it seems. She is very cautious about the people she has contact with. Now she is a little more familiar in the rooms perhaps she will be less threatened by other less frequent visitors. Maybe it's nothing like that at all. I would be interesting in knowing but I think that will take time. Interestingly for me the more someone is withdrawn or distant the more gushing I can be or completely ignore them.
With V i sensed a distance. However, by persevering and talking with her she has been more open. That's not my talking I hasten to add as she stated the other day how detached she realised she can be and is making a concerted effort to engage at a different level. I feel honoured that I am one of the person she has done that with this week.
So all these interactions - it's so fascinating. Then spending time with V. It was delightful that when I spoke with him on the phone and mentioned that I was visiting the Victoria Miro gallery to see the Grayson Perry tapestries, he asked if he could come along too. It was a really lovely afternoon. He is so at ease talking about all sorts of things. He was a little reluctant to talk about his family. He has decided to detach from them. His mother moved to Ghana a long time ago now. He is only in his mid 20's so he has had to fend for himself for a long time. He has no contact with his brothers. I wonder why? I had already felt as if I had pried too much as his entire demeanour altered when talking about these matters. So I backed off despite being intrigued to know more. i have to remind myself I'm not at work and also there is time to be light and breezy. So we were and there was much joviality between us.
I was really amazed at myself having taken us on the number 17 bus to Wharf Road, N1 but it was the N1C  bit that meant we were in the wrong place. Tra la la. We laughed but also I felt guilty and over remorseful. For goodness sake I made a mistake and it was a use of the internet that I didn't bother to check. Who would have thought there could be two Wharf Roads in London N1 even with the subtle difference that I didn't check. V was so gracious talking about the many times he's travelled about and got to a place without knowing where he was and to add to the problem no map either. But here we were generally in the right direction and with the wonder of an iPhone access to Maps app. It meant a little walk through to Angel and then a short bus trip. I enjoy travelling around London by bus, so much more interesting than by tube. Another short walk chatting about all sorts of things and presto! we arrived. Victoria Miro gallery, Wharf Road, Islington, London, N1. What a fantastic premises for a gallery. And Grayson Perry's tapestries were tremendous. Here are some rather poor photos as a taster ....














Unfortunately the photos of the Upper Class tapestries didn't come out clearly, well only two of them are really worth displaying. A real pity.
There are a number of things I'd like to know more about N.E.S.L - what does this stand for? It probably did say in the series. And the anchor appears in some way in each of the tapestries W.R.A.
It became clearer the ways in which the tapestries are influenced by the renaissance paintings as mentioned in the galleries description of the tapestries. As well of course as the inspiration Grayson has apparently taken from William Hogarth's The Rakes Progress. Which I have discovered is at the John Sloane's Museum in Lincoln's Inn Field. I of course now want to go there more urgently than ever. It's been something A and I have been discussing and G too.
Gosh there is so much detail it's difficult to even pin point some of the things I discussed yesterday whilst actually there. Something that was immediate to V was that the Upper Class seemed to be actually transversed with working class. He pointed out everything in the tapestry (and this is the one that I don't have an even half decent photo of) is what he knows to be working class. He said that it could be anywhere in London and then of course reading the scripture of the tapestry it became clear that he was right. The move through the classes is apparently an emulation of Tome Rakeford's journey into wealth, then loss then rebuilding of wealth and finally dying in despair and mental illness. Interesting. The funny thing is that the happiest tapestries were the working class ones. Despite all the buys-ness of them, they were bright and cheerful. The middle class tapestries appeared to be less jolly despite appearance and the upper class tapestries just seem spacious but empty space, not airy. The of course the last one showing hi dead in the gutter despite all his wealth. Gosh a very poignant tale. Is that how it is? Yes I guess for some there is that growth from nothing to enormous wealth and all the trappings but despair with it. The working classes maybe be clamouring for financial security but they are finding pleasure in more simple things. What happens to the thinkers though?
Well it's nearly AWOL time.
A way of life not absent without leave. It's funny really because it's quite the opposite from the absence, it's a real showing up for life. And yet every time I can think of it as absence.
I'm feeling hungry. I'm not sure if this is tiredness. or that I have so many things I need to do and don't want to do them - such as writing a bit more of the accreditation dissertation, tidying and cleaning, reading, walking LouLou. It's probably a complete mix of all of these things.
Oh and I want to call my dad too but have forgotten yet again to talk to anyone about this. I will call someone before I do it.
And then there was the texting with M this morning. I can seem to me that I get it very wrong with M so often. She tells me how she's feeling about things but with little compassion. Or maybe I receive it with little compassion. She is angry that I sent texts and emails asking how she is. She felt that the email was just another way of getting in and as if I'd ignored her text response. It seems to me as if she is confusing me with her mum. Would it be wrong to say such a thing. Well yes for the time being I think it is wrong to say such a thing. Instead I sent a string of words that were from my heart and also my hurt. I will include this text conversation in a separate Blog. Just for interest as it is important in working how to relate with people in the loving and caring way I desire to communicate. People matter to me and I want to convey that value in my actions and not just my words. As I have seen with Grayson Perry and with V and some other people.
I need to continue writing about this as it's important to get down I think.
So bye for now

Bliss
XX




Friday, 24 February 2012

How can we truly know who we are ....

.... in a world that rewards conformists?
I don't know whose quote that is but it resonates. And then I will try to rebel just to have a voice. Yet the best way is to be neither rebel not conformist as they are really the same thing. So says Paul Vixie and goes on to say "find your own path and stay on it".
I think the anger I've felt this last week has been fuelled somewhat by trying to find my own path and staying on it yet having to adjust to others paths too.
The new team leader is a real challenge for me. I don;t feel safe. There is a viciousness that lashes out from time to time and a sincere lack of taking any responsibility for her actions. Furthermore, she is easily distracted. We were talking about a breech of contract and taking action as a consequence. Her case was based on what the client needs to work on and way off mark of the subject of the action to be taken for the breech. It was weird and both S and I were thinking and S said what has that got to do with it. Then she said well I'm not used to working this way which again had nothing to do with her complete distraction. It's a little weird to be honest.
My greatest difficulty is sitting watching the unit being changed and not in my opinion for the better. If only I could let go and just allow it all to happen. I don't know how to do that and so I'm praying hard. I become harsh in my judgements within the anger that wells up. I see S getting frazzled and the unit being compromised and eventually that will effect the clients and the programme and our reputation. I don't ever like t be  part of something that is flailing as my reputation gets dragged in with it.
My anger was so raging yesterday. I stomped about the hospital making comments here and there. I didn't like what I saw in me. But at least I am looking at me.
unconscious incompetence - don't know what I don't know
conscious incompetence - the most painful but also the learning phase
conscious competence - starting to make changes and apply the lessons
unconscious competence - things become second nature
I have experience of the unconscious competence as there are changes that have become more natural over time and every so often I get a momentary realisation that these changes are a part of my everyday now.
The amazing thing is that I haven't had to use on any of this to date. I did think "duck it" last evening as I was driving home. I saw a person coming out of a supermarket with a big bag of goodies and my next thought was to go and get a bag of sugar products, get home and lunge on the settee chomping and watching films. I could almost taste the sugar flavours. I can even feel the urge as I'm writing about it - euphoric recall. But then thankfully I know this is not my food today thank you God. And I don;t want back all the misery that then ensues. The problem will still be there but ten-fold as I will be in internal agony yet again. So even though I'm struggling it is nowhere near as bad as it could be if I was using. And then today I drifted into a film that talked of depression and suicide. That is always an attractive option. The melancholy seems a sweet place to me, it beckons me constantly. Misty, lonely, dramatic and to be gone, a memory fading in the very same mist. That would be it. No more struggle. The greyness within would no longer have a home to be growing in me. Yet with my recovery I can keep it at bay. Sometimes it seems terrible that I am only keeping it at bay and it's never gone.  But keeping it at bay I can have good times. Then it swapped to wanting to be with a man like Aidan Quinn or rather the good looking character that he represented on the screen. That makes me smile as I quickly start the fantasy and have to come back to reality. I am so committed to not being in any kind of relationship right now.
I feel sad when I think of JC - his reply was so kind. But it's so right.
So how God do I deal with this anger by which I mean allow myself to be angry about the real things and let go of the need to be escalating the anger. I feed it and then it's rage. I feed it with resentment that is my own doing, such as doing all the crossing of t's and dotting of i's where others aren't. I get a sense of power from the anger too. In talking today I heard and recognised the feeling of powerless I have brings fear so the power from anger seems to compensate. But really it's destructive. It is at the levels I'm talking about anyway. Destroying me and then I lash out. I do this by getting over involved and argumentative or gossipping which quickly goes beyond truth. I did that yesterday. I wish I hadn't but I did so what do I do about that now God? I am truly sorry. I don't think I exaggerated when I was talking to NL but I'm not sure I could put my hands on specifics. I have to prepare myself for that. I was very pleased with the way he stopped to ask and listen. It was a change in him I really appreciated. And reassuring that there is some stability in the hospital now. Maybe he's finding his confidence??
God I offer these people to  you - L, N, A. Please protect them.

Then there was the hospital on Tuesday. That was so violating and afterwards I just felt so tearful. It was odd as I left. Coming out of a lift was a man in a wheelchair, very pale faced and in a white gown. Then I noticed a very silver, long chain connecting him to one of the two people behind him. One was pushing the wheelchair. They were both in uniform. I tried not to be too obvious about looking. I wish I had looked more. At one point they were standing chatting with this very silent, white man, headed tilted down sitting without moving. I felt for him but at the same time wondered what sort of criminal he was. I felt vulnerable and exposed. My skin crawled. I didn't want him looking at all the people especially the children. There was something sinister I felt inside of me. I am so dramatic I think. Perhaps I need to listen to my instincts so as just to be wary. But I also believe in the good in everyone although it might be dug in deep under all the blackness. After all I am only sometimes consciously incompetent.

I called my dad in my extra vulnerable state. Really I wanted my mum. Oh I considered a sugar binge that day too. Similar thinking actually. Please God help me to get rid of this thinking in case it gets more powerful and becomes the binge. I just wanted to go home and curl up and hold myself from the violation I was feeling. I am concerned about the results. Something is so not right and hasn't been for a while. They found nothing untoward last time apart from a polyp, probably in the same place. They thought that was the cause of the bleeding. I keep bleeding but I am hoping it is a result only of the procedure. If it hasn't stopped next week I will go back. Having been offended by L with regard to the hospital appointment on Tuesday I didn't try to make a convenient time for the scan appointment I now have. It seems that they couldn't see all of my womb with the internal ultra-sound because not only is my womb tilted backwards but it is over to the side. She also had problems finding my womb through all the irritable bowel symptoms. I was amazed to see it and kind of glad to have it confirmed visually. It's never been actually confirmed as a diagnosis. But I felt myself swell in the morning and the pain was there. Then to see all the holes filled with gas apparently and she said that this should be completely flat. It was worrying really but not surprising its painful.
So calling my dad resulted in little comfort from him. I braved saying that I had been at the hospital and suddenly someone in the background was calling out. I'm not sure who it was but he wanted to get off the line. He ignored the fact I'd been in the hospital even though I'd made myself vulnerable and told him. He lied I believe about who had come in the door, it just sounded odd in his tone. Anyway, that's my dad. As I write this I remember that he cannot be different and it's not a personal thing against me, even though at the time and often it does feel like that. Tank goodness God is my parent.
I thought this the other day looking at the wonderful moment when the sperm meets the egg. An electrifying energetic moment. So powerful to create life. The man and the woman are merely vessels of the two elements. God gives the life to the combination. The mother has the privilege of carrying the life. But then they are are imperfect human beings mostly unconsciously incompetent. Some people are more conscious in their incompetence and then some others are wanting to be consciously competent. To be honest my dad was conscious of incompetence, always saying he should ever have been a father. The problem was he didn't want to or didn't know how to make the changes. And that has a cost.
So today I have felt very tired. And things are fling aroun my mind. The consequence has been on my ability to focus on my studying. I watched instead Sarah's Key, walked LouLou and dozed. Oh and listened to music. I love listening to music. I love creativity, art. I am inspired at such a deep level inside of me. It's like sparkles sparkle in me. I am thankful to God for this appreciation. I sparkle when I see the sun rising or the sun setting and the moon appearing with the stars. I marvel at God's creativity and when it shines through people it's just as glorious. Sounds of the sun rise that make me smile.
I need to hoover so that it's decent tomorrow when A and M visit. I need to food shop for them too. I need to get to Petersfield by 6 I think. Bloody hell it's 5. I won't make it. I wonder what time they open in the morning. I could go before I go to Uni.Hmm it opens at 8am. I need to leave here at 9 am.
If I left here at 7:15 I cold shop at Sainsburys Alton on the way but then the stuff has to stay in the car for a couple of hours. Hmmmm. I should have gone earlier.
So much to do ..... ad I've lounged around a lot today. Mind you I did update my CV and send it off to the agency. I put some good action in to bring about change if change is meant to be. I need to trust in God to show me the way.
I was surprised that the agency have knowledge of Sporting Chance. And it's a good job they asked about the CRB as now that's being updated too.
I just need some money now. I'm overdrawn again and there's no spare money anywhere to draw from - so a 4 day week at lesser income will not be do-able. I need £25 gross for 4 days no pro-rata and that's the minimum. Bloody hell everything is becoming so so expensive. Thank goodness for some 1:1's recently and some overtime even though I need the time. I can't have both it seems at this job.
So yes some positive action and a little studying even though mnimal. And some well needed rest.

OK off to have my lovely clean food meal - thank you God for another abstinent day and room for growth and freedom. And thank you too for the facility to talk to people and write this all out.
Bliss
XX



Tuesday, 31 January 2012

Please remove my busybodiness



    Actually, Bliss, nobody "needs" to be corrected. They know when they're acting up, or will soon find out.
Poor behaviour within your proximity, however, is always a tip-off that someone else might correct what they're thinking, saying, and doing.

I can be so naughty at this. Rather than sharing my own experience I can use that as a way of telling someone subtly what to do. Or is just outright tell someone. For example M was talking about emailing and emailing and I kept saying well you are going to have to phone. She kept saying emailing, I kept saying phone. I heard myself and stopped and instead asked what are you going to do? Email! Her prerogative and none of my business.
Similarly with T I so want her t be back in recovery and stop her pain, my sharing of my experience is motivated by that need for her and also because I'm feeling uncomfortable saying I am in recovery - I don't want it t sound self-righteous in any way whatsoever.
People with people huh! At least I would like for defective behaviours to be lifted. As I become aware of them and then only in God's time.

So much to write about but I know it'll be purely study evasion.

Byeee
Bliss
XX

p.s where is .RU - a regular reader but not since I've been slacking. Poop! Come back :)

Monday, 2 May 2011

Bloggers

I wish people would leave comments as they pass by my blog-life.
It would be interesting to know what they were looking for and what they found and how they think and feel about it all.
There may be those that agree with or disagree with my writings and the wiring of my brain.
I would like to hear differing opinions about things or similar thought patterns. Perhaps people have differing value systems tat might throw light on complex matters that confuse me.
I don't think I would like rudeness .....
Come on! Don't silently flit by - converse
Bliss
XX

ps I think I am feeling a heap lot better - not such a big pile of poo I am in today. Hooray
Now time for sleep
x

Tuesday, 7 December 2010

Changing recurring choices that no longer work

Actually, it's not that there are recurring themes in a lifetime, Bliss, but that there are recurring choices.
Isn't that totally awesome?!
Love, love -
The Universe

Just one of the many benefits of working the Steps has been identifying patterns that have never or no longer serve me well. The difficulty once identifying them is making changes. Re-learning, adopting newer and healthier patterns.
And of course there is the tricky trickster called denial - justification, manipulation, dishonesty with myself, or dishonesty with others to keep the behaviours etc from being detected, shame, etc etc. Denial manifests in many forms.
In early days of recovery I was riding the pink fluffy cloud thinking  knew it and had got it, whatever it was.

The great thing about the continuing growth is that I can see there are just as many choices as I care to even try to think about. I just need to keep opening my eyes to see the choice. The next step is choosing the ones that are less instant gratification but more in line with my values and principles. There we are - back to how the values and principles I have form my boundaries and how my emotions are just one of the ways that the Universe communicates with me.
Thankfully I am now very aware of healthy choices and how when I repeat those I continue to grow and feel better. Equally when I opt for the old patterns or less healthy choices, I can feel it. My self esteem is a great indicator. Doing esteemable things brings esteem. And the opposite applies of course.

I am feeling unwell. I feel quite sickly and have a headache. I cannot afford to be off sick because  this company I work for adopt a zero tolerance. I think this is unreasonable! As JH pointed out yesterday I hadn't thought that. I thought that they were right - after all why should they foot the bill when people aren't well, But JH reminded me of the welfare system and how our ancestors fought and even died for the sake of more equality and rights for employees etc. I am annoyed at my company for the way they do not look after their staff.
Ad yet I know for management it is much more flexible and negotiable. ET should not tell me really. It simply breeds contempt!! Fuck em. I am not loyal to them at all. I like my work and I love working with the clients. But I do not rate the company. No training, no decent pay, no sick leave, bare minimum really! Fuck em!

This monring, JH and I were sexual together. I have very mixed feelings about this. I love sharing this sexual intimacy with him. I love the feel of his hands on me. Yet I am still feeling the pain that he was being sexual with other women when I was finally allowing a man right into my soul. Offereing true true intimacy. Again it was a choice I made based on the fact that he was telling me certain things. Of course learning that this was not the truth is the point. I gave of me thinking I was making choices. Actually I was not. If I had known I would have made different choices. Yes I could have had a sexual fling but this is what I would have known it to be. Instead I thought I was getting really close with a man who was respectful of me.
So when having a sexual encounter this morning, I could feel that hurt. Hurting because I love him so much and want to be able to be open and sexually intimate. Intimacy is so different from sex.
I am still trying to put trust in the relationship let alone trust JH directly. It's hard. He was not truthful with me from the very start and yet kept telling me to trust him. He says he understands the difference now. I am hoping he does. I do not want to feel the pain I have been feeling. The problem is that to keep open to people and meeting that person who truly soul connects, requires me to meet along the way a lot of people who will hurt me.
I hope that JH can be that person as I love him. He has a lot to do though. He needs time.
I hope that his desire for sex doesn't trigger him. I hope he knows the difference. I hope he can see clearly what this last 9 months has been teaching him.
Universe I understand that he didn't do this to me. I am not a victim, it hurts nonetheless and brings questioning. I am sad that this is the way it has been. I wonder why I didn;t say goodby when I first knew he was not telling the truth. There were several signs. I really knew when the stories didn;t add up when ES was with him. He had told me that he wanted a monogamous relationship with me. I suspect he really believed it but .... well he says he didn't realise. That is not possible. Everyone knows deep down what they are doing - he knew otherwise he wouldn't need to keep things secret or tell lies to cover up. Anyone who is doing something entirely innocently does not know to do this. So he knew at some level.
Anyway this isn;t going over and over old ground, this is till trying to heal. As soon as I touch the real love I feel for him, I touvh the hurt too. It's easier not to love in some senses but I do not want to be closed down. I want to be a loving person, the loveing person I am. Pity that people take advantage for their own gain and do not see what I have to give and respect and cherish that. By not, it is so easily gone!

Universe - I hope and pray for people to see clearly and have all their heart desires. I hope that their choices will be healthy for their soul.
I have a heaviness in my heart. A lump in my throat.

Leaving for work now
Bliss
XX

Thursday, 2 December 2010

Values continued

How can you recognise your own values?


How do you decide when to make a stand, or what is important to you?

People develop values as they grow up and mature. They are influenced by their circumstances and by the people around them. As a result values can be very personal and unique to each individual. The most significant influences in developing values are:

 your family

 your education

 your religious (or not) upbringing

 your friends and peer group, and

 the media.

Because your values are so personal and part of your make up, you may not always recognise them. One way of identifying them is when you are faced with difficult choices. In order to make decisions you are likely to refer back to your values in order to discover what is important to you. For example, if you had a special family outing planned and your boss asked you to work on a rush order at the last minute, you may have to decide if you value your family time more or less than pleasing your boss. Obviously the circumstances around such events play an important part in the decision making, but alongside your own values.

Activity


Look at the different sets of circumstances in the examples below. In each case a decision has to be made which challenges the values of the individuals involved. If you are working in a group, discuss the different values involved and how they may affect the possible outcomes.

1. Sarah’s daughter is pregnant and wants to have an abortion. She feels that she is too young to have a baby and there are lots of things she wants to do before having a family. Sarah has always been strongly opposed to abortion and values human life. She loves her daughter and has always tried to support her.

2. John’s employers want to make some changes at work in an attempt to improve company productivity and profits. These changes will reduce John’s overtime payments and meal breaks. John feels that this time his employers have gone too far and he would like to challenge their proposals, even if it means strike action. However, not all of his colleagues agree and feel that it is best not to rock the boat because at least they still have jobs and these measures might save the company.

3. It’s a General Election year and the candidates are canvassing for your vote. How do you decide who to vote for? Which candidates share your values and offer policies that you agree with?

4. Paul’s sister has announced that she is going to marry someone from a different nationality/ religion. How might this affect Paul’s values and how might they differ from those of his sister?

5. A supermarket chain wants to build a new store in a public park in the centre of town. It has offered the local authority a good price for the land. Andy feels that the park is an important public facility and well used by many people, but some of his neighbours like the idea of having a big new supermarket in the town. What does Andy value about the town? What do his neighbours value?

How did you react to these situations?
Did everyone in your group agree? If not, why not?
What do your responses say about you?
Who do you know who shares your values?

Values inform boundaries inform attitude, behaviours, beliefs and esteem

James Ensor - JH introduced me to this artist following me attempting to find Le Doleur. And JH explained realism to me. Fascinating  art history is fascinating. The changes of the preferences throughout the centuries - trends and exploration of humans developing - evolving. What was once enchanting or interesting becomes less so with normalising and then our human brains want more. Evolution - reflecting our reflections. More more more. Exciting, dynamic, endless creation. What next?
But Ensor was not a realist painter surely? His influence JH told me was from masks. Like Ensor I find masks sinster and the smiles insincere. What is really behind the smile, the mask. A place for soemthing unknown to hide. I never did lke clowns, finding them frightening.








So back to the boundaries lessons from yesterday.

Values inform boundaries. And out values are learnt usually in early years. We learn our values from parents. siblings (family essentially). So if our values are in anyway distorted by family dysfunction, then our boundaries will also be distorted.
So for example when I was a child I lost the back door key. My dad went berserk. He cursed me and told me I was irresponsible and useless. I was 7 or 8 max. I was responsible enough for my parents to expect me to let myself in and look after myself until they got home, so was given the key but lost it when I went out to play.  So it was a very confusing message. In fact they should not have been leaving me alone. All the priorities were mixed up. So I was taught the message that I was irresponsible and not taught how to be responsible. Just that if I did things wrong I would make my dad mad at me. So the value I learnt was to be perfect and not upset my dad. It was not OK to lose anything and that I was not a responsible person. No recognition for what I did do either.
So my boundaries were informed by that. Anyone was to tell me off if I didn't get it perfectly right. So therefore it would be better to try and cover up any mistakes so as not to be told off because they would also see how much of a useless person I actually was. No boundaries - barriers - HIDE HIDE HIDE in case anyone sees the real me and I am useless.
I am rambling on to try and make my point. My dad's value - I have no idea. Everything ha to be absolutely smooth all of the time. And other people were not to know what on behind our doors - so secretive was the value not openness and accoutability. This sort of things were rules that I learnt and informed my values and barriers.
Also I was told I was not clever and I was useless at art and that getting a career really mattered and that to be playful was not good and I was lazy for not liking gardening and instead preferred to be inside reading or something. Anything I did was not valued. I loved horses and riding but had to be the best and even that was driven out of me in the end. I still love horses but rarely ride anymore. When I do I just like to be with the horse and not have to be the best.
Althouth Clive Turner told me I have a very natural seat. I was so proud of that even to this day. I was a natural at something but did not want to be any great competitor or antyhing. I just wanted to be with the horses.
Values of mine though were not those of my parents or then even the teachers. And do I learnt I was wrong. My own self worth being eroded away at.
Get the picture so far ... surely more to write on this.

Here is something I read that I adopt as a value to me - One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye.


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Emile_Friant_La_Douleur_1898.jpg

File:Emile Friant La Douleur 1898.jpg

le doleur - emile fraint

Of course you don't know "how."
It's OK that you don't know "how."
To be honest, Bliss, you're not really supposed to know "how," because it's when you don't know that you're pressed hardest to learn that I do; to see that the hows are my domain and that your job is only to define the end result and get busy.
All so that you might quicker learn of how things really work, as you suddenly find the path that you sought lies beneath your skipping feet.
Double Dutch -
The Universe
 
 
ML's poem
MacKenzie’s goodbye

Since I was a little boy
Unusual is what they said
I always wanted to destroy
Calm and peaceful in my bed
I grew in to a comic killjoy
Decided I’d be better off dead
Ending it - is best for this little boy


Need to try and get out of this village now ..... snowed in. But need to get to work and will have to stay there for next couple of nights - do not want to get stranded on these country roads. It was frightening last year.

I want to tell you about Il y longtemps que je t'aime. A very lovely emotive film with a lot of strong messages throughout.
I like the Iranian doctor saying "war is weak, they remain in here always", as he patted his heart and talked about people he had long lost. Their memory and the love never goes. And how in the Little Prince he dies but leaves the memory of his laughter whenever the pilot looks to the starts.
I cried when I read that and smiled at the same time. I miss my mum every day. And just recently I thought I would just call her and tell her something only to remember I couldn't. So I then told her anyway as I was driving along. I could see her very clearly about to tell me her opinion on the matter. HA!

Right got to at least try and get out of this village.

Bliss
XX

Saturday, 6 November 2010

Honour

What is honour?
How can we honour people?
What is it to be honoured?

How to keep my dignity? Through choice?

To be gracious - I am not feeling gracious because of distrust requiring abstinence. That stinks.
Why hae I come to this?
I am full of grace.

Simply it's not the detail  it's really not. But it;s become about the detail
Dignity, choice, grace, honour, trust, love - all in two simple spiritual principles
I have willingness to keep practicing these principles - from here everything else can grow

Sunday, 3 October 2010

I haven't had a handbag since oooooo 1980 something ....

Bliss, you know the way, you're strong enough, and you will prevail.
Otherwise, what would be the whole point?
The Universe
 
I don't carry a handbag. I haven't liked them for as long as I can remember. There is something so very, very girly about it. And I realise there are some really girly things that I just don't get pleasure from at all. I do wonder if it's because of the contempt I picked up from my dad towards women being women. He used to tell me that women were only good for one thing. I took that to mean sex of course. He sneered at women for snivelling as he called crying and for being weak. He was scathing about women being int he army and such things. So, no doubt that has been an influence. He told me when I was very young that he had never wanted children and that he especially didn't want a girl. Now it was undoubtedly true and his opinion but it wasn't appropriate to tell me as a little girl. I absorbed that so entirely that the very core of me exists as unwanted and worthless. It is hard to challenge the belief that sits in the very centre of my heart.
The point is not what I intended to write about. It's funny how a blank page instigates so much thought and energy.
Anyway, back to the handbag. There is another part of me that just can't be bothered with the whole carrying energy. It has to sit just right on the shoulder. I think my shoulders are shaped differently - maybe that contributes to not feeling girly too then. The flipping strap is always sliding off and I was forever having to slip the handle back up my shoulder. Plus I had this feeling of something on my shoulder all the time. And I was messy - everything went into the bag. I remember carrying my cigarettes (thank goodness I have given up - 6 years ago now! Well, 6 years ago next month I think) and there was always little bits of tobacco in the bottom of my bag and it would get on other things. Finding things in a hurry was impossible. Funnily enough I had a special place for fags and lighter - make sure I knew where my addictive substance was at all times and easy access for instant relief. So having a handbag was not at all convenient for me.
I don;t remember when but I decided not to have one and have been carrying everything in my hand. It has been a juggling act - now money and mobile phone mainly but at one time - money, phone, fags, lighter. I was forever dropping things. And friends get fed up with me because when out for an evening or even now just out for a walk or something, I always say can I put my things in your bag please?
Apparently K used to buy a bag large enough to take my things too. She actually prepared for an evening out with me in that way. I suspect there is some resentment from these people but they always say yes. So I have learnt not to be co dependant and if they say yes that's their own issue.
However, I know that I need to be responsible for my choice not to have a handbag.
Now there is also another thing - probably linked with my thoughts on what it is to be girly or female. It is that I am not fitting into a cliche. I like, really like it that I am not the same as everyone else. And rather than just to be content that I am unique as is everyone, I like these very open signs that I am slightly different. I like it when someone notices my nuances that really are making a statement.
This is a part but not the largest part. I really don;t like handbags. I barely even notice other peoples handbags apart from to wonder if it will take my money and mobile. I know it is such a fashion thing for many people but I don't even recognise the design,colour, etc. So it's more than just a statement by it's absence in my life. I am pleased about this as I really don;t want my choices to be run by ego and prefer that my steps are less in anger (i.e. rebellion against social ways) and more in simple personal preference.
 
This morning I spoke with ML. The last time I spoke with her was a very very quick phone call to tell her my mum was dead. Before that? Well her daughter is 20 something. We have had a brief encounter in that time maybe once of twice.
I tracker her down after years of having her in my mind. I occasionally glanced in various places for her and then suddenly I thought that maybe she would be on Facebook. Something actually triggered that thought - I think it was a combination of some cousins suddenly asking for friendship with me and then the whole International thing being so easy. Anyway I guess all these little things were formulating to slowly, slowly dawn on me to look for her there. She wasn't there of course and today I learnt that she "hates that thing". Wow it's lovely hearing a ML expression! :)
Anyway through a process of elimination or rather connection I located J who I believed to be her husband. I hoped that they were still together as I remember my mum once suspecting that ML was having an affair. My mum was attracted to drama as me he he.
Anyway the next thing is J accepted my FB friendship and sent an email with ML's mobile phone number. Wow. I sent her text and this morning we spoke. It was brief and at times I know she did not understand all I was saying.
She spoke a little about her children and her work and now non-work!
She asked a little about my mum which was lovely - no white elephants in the room. She also said that my dad had written to her telling of his circumstances i.e re-marrying I think I understood. Ugh it was horrid when she said she always loved my dad and was so upset with herself for never responding to him. I said that I am still angry with him for re-marrying like he did and Ml was so gracious when she said how she had always loved him and what he did he did but she was still so fond of him. At least that means he didn't do anything bad to her. I was always worried that he might or even at one time that they seemed far too close. Maybe I was just jealous as he was never like that with me - YUCH!!!!
Well I have sent my email address and we both said that we would like to keep in contact. She asked if I ever visit France and I said that i would love to visit her.
Oh happily her mum and dad are both alive and well. And G is living in Annecy with her parents. Gosh they must be very ancient now. I am so so pleased to reignite this contact.
I have known Ml since we were 12 or 13.
 
So then I telephoned my dad. He had left a message yesterday morning. Of course I felt guilty for not being in yet again and had to justify myself by explaining that I had been at work. Sometimes I don't feel the need to justify my guilt. And sometimes I recognise the guilt and can change it as I have actually done nothing wrong at all.
Gosh! My dad actually said that he felt proud of me in relation to my studying and how I have been doing. That's amazin. My dad has never said anything like that before. I am sure I prompted it last year when  got angry but honest with him. The fact is that he said it. I could hear how difficult it was for him to say. I simply said thank you. He then went on to say he didn't know where I got it from - it wasn't from my mum or him is what he said. I immediately jumped to defend my mum and said that i thought mum was very clever and he was intelligent. He said thank you.
He has a real intelligence. He has a brain with potential but it seems that he has never realised his full potential. Or maybe for him he did being in the army and special forces etc. Maybe that was what he wanted. But for me he is shrouded in a lot of anger and pain and that has stopped him ever believeing in himself. He has been violent and aggressive in attitude in an attempt to try and keep something away or prove himself. I don;t know all that is behind this very shut off man. But if I look at him like I would a client it is apparent that a lot is going on underneath the very angry and at times nasty man. I wish for him that he finds peace within his soul. I hope that he can find contentment through life and not have to wait for death for the an guish to be removed. I hope he finds self forgiveness completely.
I cry as I weite that ebcause I know that I will never be a part of that contentment and forgiveness. I will not feature and have to find my own solace from all the things that he did to me as a child. I have to find forgiveness for him and for myself. It's hard and I lng for him to envelop me in proper fatherly love. BUT I can never aloow myself to get that close to him and what's more he will not let me anywhere near him.
He is but another human being on this planet. Somehow the Universe has worked it that there is this special feeling between children and parents - evolution - survival of the gene etc I am sure. Well it can be the downfall as well. OK so the gene has survived in me but the gene dies out in this strand as I have never ever wanted to have children and that's been contributed greatly by my own childhood. I have absolutely no regrets but it's irobnic how the evolutionary development of this "bonding" emotion actually can also work against the very purpose.
I did not pluck up the courage to ask for my dads finacial help. I want to borrow some money. I need my car MOT's, I would loike to have my hair cut and coloured, I need to pay a little debt I have accrued and am worried about and I want to start getting some savings back on track. Oh not to mention the irresponsible phone bill I have managed to run up. Anyway, I would like to asl my dad for help but have not got the courage because of what he might think!
I also men tione dto him about my fortcoming exam and how I am taking it at home. He enquired as to why but I did not tell him that it's special arrangements due to dyslexia etc. I believe that he would immediately be critical in a very negative manner and that would of course completely negate his feeling proud of me. He would think I cheat and am lesser a being etc etc. So i brushed it off as just the way of OU. He is not a stupid man and the lie or rather hiding of the truth will have been sensed anyway. Gosh! How many times do I say that to JH - I am afraid to be sho I am with my dad because he hates me so much already. Everything about me gives him more evidence that I am worhtless and to be hated.
Thank goodness I am growing out of this as me in the bigger world.I am pleased to be me and my whole truth. I am less and less aashamed of me.
This morning I was saying to JH how pleased I am that I have principles that I can hold for myself and I do not allow to be compromised just so that I am acceptable. And by holding this dear and important o me I can allow this dignity to others.
I get it Universe. I see how it works. Thank you. It's a pity it has to be learnt - it seems to me that living decently is not so easy to dio for many people I encounter. Does it really have to be experienced though such adversity. Or is it that some people do not need to pay attention as much as I do. They are just going along mainly in the white light? It's just the smaller number who see the black and the grey and have to keep turning to face the light?
 
 
Anyway, these two phone calls this morning raise again feelings from the past. Memories, reconnection, an array of emotions. It's gone, it's experiences, it's missing in some ways - not here today, things can never be re-hashed. Some things can be re-addressed but things with my mum for example can never be discussed or done differently with new knowledge. I miss her. Hers and my dads wedding anniversary was on 1st October - AGAIN! I didn't acknowledge it with my dad. Well after all he is married now to T. I have so much resentment towards her, him, them. Please Universe can you help me to let go of that.
I try to remember that I am grateful to her for looking after him. There was no way when my mum died was able to try and have a relationship with him. I was only just starting to pull away from his clutches and then start to look at the effects of my childhood with him So to then become involved because he was on his own. So it was good that he had already met her in some ways.
Grr there's another resentment - him and other women. He never had the decency to leave my mum and I - ignore her principles of monogamy and go behind her back. How disrespectful is that!! Do it by all means that's everyone's individual choice. But what irks me intensely is that people do it without respecting those with different principles and the only way they can  do that is to lie. Let people with similar principles gather.
None of them I am actually judging. What I am judging is the deceit - pretending to be the same but not being. And there is an power game in that even if that's not a conscious thing. My dad kept my mum under false pretences. If he had been honest I truly believe my mum would have stood by him. However all her choices were removed by his deceit and deviousness. Grrr.
And T was a part of that. She knew he was married and that my mum was dying. No fucking decency in her. But what annoys me is not that but how fucking pious she proclaims to be. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh. I HATE HATE HATE the fucking pretence. Own it, be OK with who you are and if you have to hide it then fucking well change!!!!!! Don;t drag everyone else with you on a fucking lie.
 
Oh yes angry! Anyway not much acceptance and serenity yet as you can see.
I can rage about this. It taps straight into the rage that still exists of a little raped girl. Wow that rage is volcanic in me at times. I feel an energy that explodes within me. I recognise it and then can calm with gentle hugs and love for the little raging girl within me. I have to do it! I can get angry about that fact alone. But it's how it is. No one else can do it. The people that could - well my mum is dead and never seemed to know ow to and my dad - well he is the perpetrator. Nothing he says or does can take away from that.
I don't even think him owning up to is and saying sorry would be enough - well maybe.
Yes maybe it would but it would have to be a complete ownership - a half hearted something would mean little. After all he has half heartedly owned things in the past but then nothing changed. Yes that's it an ownership then a real display of a change in attitude and behaviour.
 
Oh I forget once again to say thank you and how much I appreciated as a little girl how he supported my horse riding. And he really did. If it had been up to my mum I would never have gone and then never achieved what I did. I loved my horse riding and my horse and yes just the whole environment. Thank you dad.
 
I have more to write - work, ET. Another Post
 
Bliss