tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post4274042379689148722..comments2024-03-14T13:08:14.915-04:00Comments on So, the thing is...blog: Staying in the StruggleBarb Matijevichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-34519859428976039652012-10-23T22:41:13.452-04:002012-10-23T22:41:13.452-04:00Beautifully written, heartfelt understanding and s...Beautifully written, heartfelt understanding and so relatable.... and a great "take note" moment for myself ( just sat down with a packet of biscuits because i have painters block...thought I would eat and surf a few blogs to numb the fear that my paintings are a fluke, then read this, put biscuits down).<br /><br />Thank you for sharing your thoughts......you are an echo of the universe that want to hear.<br />now going to go pant or at least be brave and think about it. the distracted painterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03215830406391462042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-58818386797688207202012-10-20T19:56:33.029-04:002012-10-20T19:56:33.029-04:00Thank you Barb, for the link from Derfwad Manor. ...Thank you Barb, for the link from Derfwad Manor. I feel so grateful you pointed me to this post. I wasn't quite forthcoming about my reaction, which is to say the least, just as emotional as yours. Her story has shredded my heart also and I can finally look at her and only shed a few tears. At first I thought my tears would never end. Something about this girl just grabbed hold of my soul and wouldn't let go. Not for no reason, this. I'm already learning lots from this little girl.sycamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-46556826488532861972012-10-20T13:09:51.148-04:002012-10-20T13:09:51.148-04:00One of your best "sharings" ever. We are...One of your best "sharings" ever. We are all trying to insulate ourselves from the wickedness of the world, and we are probably also trying to be strong enough to absorb the pain, restructure it, and send it back out into the world as a bit of love, courage, light, all the emotions that get us through the dark spots.<br /><br />It took great courage to share this, and your growth in the time I have been following your blog is astounding.<br /> It makes you even a better mother, and our world better for your caring. Carry on!Shaatzienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-49130479770971087142012-10-20T11:07:48.884-04:002012-10-20T11:07:48.884-04:00Barb, I always read and always appreciate your pos...Barb, I always read and always appreciate your posts. This one, however, I may have learned from. It is giving me courage. You see, I have been realizing that ever since I got divorced (the end of my marriage was essentially a surprise to me), I have been afraid. I've been avoiding things I was afraid of until the very last moment. They gnaw at me but I'd still rather not open that email or that letter right away because I'm afraid of what it might say. Calling my new landlord and going over the terms of the lease is scaring me right now. <br />What you have said here that, if I have the imagination to believe it, gives me courage is that there can be a sublime joy on the far side of facing your issues. I don't think I've felt that sublime joy for a long time. I've felt gratitude, yes; I've felt safe; I've felt happy, but I can't remember feeling sublimely joyful. <br />When I've actually gone ahead and looked at the letter from the medical insurer, I've felt relief and have been glad that that reason for anxiety is gone, but the next thing will come and here it is back.<br />Here's to faith that there may be joy there.<br />Sarah Snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-62769310831109614632012-10-20T07:39:07.870-04:002012-10-20T07:39:07.870-04:00Giving you my own "amen". I spent eight ...Giving you my own "amen". I spent eight years cycling into and out of depression when I was married to the children's father. Like you, I found a path to peace that worked sublimely for me. Thank you for sharing the hard stuff, Barb, as well as the wonderful, more obvious blessings. One of my church leaders once said, "There is no progression from ease to ease." You have come through this with your heart and soul enlarged.Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07712412874073377368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-90135117631361531892012-10-19T23:39:58.394-04:002012-10-19T23:39:58.394-04:00Beautiful babe. I can't get Amanda out of my h...Beautiful babe. I can't get Amanda out of my head myself. I've decided that's ok though. I think in some way it honors her.Kelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02340442933452503322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-5010953906178618602012-10-19T23:07:41.105-04:002012-10-19T23:07:41.105-04:00Well. I am just sitting with the idea that maybe i...Well. I am just sitting with the idea that maybe it would be okay to look at the painful stuff. I have been living in a bubble for a while, you know? Thank you for posting and peeling a little bit of the protective wrapping back, because the World is worth seeing, experiencing, living in.<br />Mirihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03924043596033516959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-30436980451311351492012-10-19T19:16:06.895-04:002012-10-19T19:16:06.895-04:00There's a phrase, "make friends with sile...There's a phrase, "make friends with silence," that I like. I don't yet like "sit down with pain," because, ow. But. It apparently needs to be done.<br /><br />And well done to you walking through the valley of the shadow, and waving from the other side to tell us that it can be done.tanita✿davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01671822274852087499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-45943601387936193282012-10-19T19:05:45.880-04:002012-10-19T19:05:45.880-04:00So well said! Congrats on being able to just sit ...So well said! Congrats on being able to just sit with the sadness.Suburban Correspondenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11488916572135296650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-17075630337015308842012-10-19T18:34:38.325-04:002012-10-19T18:34:38.325-04:00Oh that fear of slipping down into the sadness, it...Oh that fear of slipping down into the sadness, it's gripping! I just realized the over night it's been over a year since I had a black time as I call them, and just thinking about having one made mel panicky. I'm glad you have found a way to be present and feel it without it taking over. I hope I can do that too.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03707312160893238672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-40067385032793728022012-10-19T18:09:39.344-04:002012-10-19T18:09:39.344-04:00Oooof. A person really does want to disconnect. ...Oooof. A person really does want to disconnect. But you can't. You try to face it and do the best you can :)Gary's third pottery bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13517401528128108791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-17815739123836611542012-10-19T18:03:46.747-04:002012-10-19T18:03:46.747-04:00This coincides with a huge thing I was reminded of...This coincides with a huge thing I was reminded of on Wednesday by a mental health professional who is giving me counsel. My "off" switch shuts down everything. This is not news to me. Yet it always surprises me. And around I go.<br /><br />I wonder what other coincidences are missed while we're too numb to notice stuff? <br /><br />Thanks, Barb. You're a spark. You truly are. <br />Margie Bardwellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-32895743936434571262012-10-19T18:01:14.119-04:002012-10-19T18:01:14.119-04:00Fantastic entry, Barb, start to finish. I know pre...Fantastic entry, Barb, start to finish. I know precisely what you mean about the grief, feelings of vulnerability--AND learning to allow feelings to be what they are. <br /><br />I wondered (with this: "...feel like it took a lot of courage to let myself go into that pain and sit right down there....") whether the grief (I'm sure you felt that) and eventual 'allowing' during your foot agony was a similar experience and revelation.Lane Aldridgenoreply@blogger.com