Thank you so much for this article. I literally have a room I need to go through. After an emotionally traumatic incident just over 4 years ago, I've done nothing but sleep in my room. I have stacked boxes and mail up on each other as it came in, so much so that I can no longer walk around my bed. I know the day will come soon that I need to go through it. I need to take the first step and start. Your article was really encouraging.
This was helpful - reminding us to let go of our past selves to allow the new to emerge. What I am mourning is the ‘ambiguous loss’ of friends with whom I shared many commonalities, but now, not so much. Some of those old friends don’t seem to fit so much anymore. It is quite sad to close those chapters.
Ambiguous loss of friends is a hard one for me too. I don’t want to “downgrade” friendships to “well that was proximity-based, I guess” but I’m realizing that, in truth, easy proximity is such a big part! But what I’m realizing is how smart the old advice is to kids: go and do what YOU like doing and you’ll make friends there! If what I enjoy doing has changed, then it makes sense my “proximity mates” will too 🤪
Synchronicity is real. I woke up at 5:20 this morning in my same thought loop - Ruminating about the past. My nightstand drawers hold journals from decades and hollow remains of epic books never written. I had an overwhelming desire to take all and burn them even though they are my story. I lost my only child unexpectedly in 2007. Eight years ago my third marriage had a wake up call. My husband had been cheating for years. I stayed but the person I was is gone and her dreams seem hollow. At age 73 I love the girl who wrote those lines and I don't want to abandon her. Thank you for giving me some fresh perspective and to see I'm not alone on this road. 💞
Great article, Ellen. It seems many of us are afraid to face the “drawer” when there really isn’t anything in there to be afraid of. We have allowed something to hold power over us that honestly doesn’t deserve to. Thanks for giving me the courage to open the “drawer”.
Thank you so much for this article. I literally have a room I need to go through. After an emotionally traumatic incident just over 4 years ago, I've done nothing but sleep in my room. I have stacked boxes and mail up on each other as it came in, so much so that I can no longer walk around my bed. I know the day will come soon that I need to go through it. I need to take the first step and start. Your article was really encouraging.
This was helpful - reminding us to let go of our past selves to allow the new to emerge. What I am mourning is the ‘ambiguous loss’ of friends with whom I shared many commonalities, but now, not so much. Some of those old friends don’t seem to fit so much anymore. It is quite sad to close those chapters.
Ambiguous loss of friends is a hard one for me too. I don’t want to “downgrade” friendships to “well that was proximity-based, I guess” but I’m realizing that, in truth, easy proximity is such a big part! But what I’m realizing is how smart the old advice is to kids: go and do what YOU like doing and you’ll make friends there! If what I enjoy doing has changed, then it makes sense my “proximity mates” will too 🤪
A wonderful read and important to consider what we actually know… putting action forward and doing it. Thank you.
Synchronicity is real. I woke up at 5:20 this morning in my same thought loop - Ruminating about the past. My nightstand drawers hold journals from decades and hollow remains of epic books never written. I had an overwhelming desire to take all and burn them even though they are my story. I lost my only child unexpectedly in 2007. Eight years ago my third marriage had a wake up call. My husband had been cheating for years. I stayed but the person I was is gone and her dreams seem hollow. At age 73 I love the girl who wrote those lines and I don't want to abandon her. Thank you for giving me some fresh perspective and to see I'm not alone on this road. 💞
I needed this too. Thank you.
Great article, Ellen. It seems many of us are afraid to face the “drawer” when there really isn’t anything in there to be afraid of. We have allowed something to hold power over us that honestly doesn’t deserve to. Thanks for giving me the courage to open the “drawer”.
A wonderful article, thank you.⚘️⚘️
Thank you so much. I needed to read this.
The day I packed up all of my expensive DC era suits, silk blouses, etc? It was like I was finally releasing the expectations I'd had for myself.
I couldn't do that job anymore - and what I had ahead has been so beautiful.
What a beautiful metaphor.
Very true. I can relate.