I'm not making fun. I watched today's show seeing everyday people whose lives had been destroyed. My heart went out to them. The saddest things was that they endured suffering for years.
Yes, it would be easy to be so dismissive -- just get over it, just stop it. But I realize it could happen to almost anyone. I feel lucky not to have been consumed by such a debilitating condition. I fear that one of my children may be prone to this, and I hope I am raising her to be able to come to me so that she will not suffer. I know that so many do not tell anyone. Not their parents, not their spouse, not their best friend.
What I loved about this show is that the therapy it featured could be applied not only to the severe cases presented, but to almost every aspect of life. It was about experiencing life. Getting in there and getting dirty and living with abandon, taking chances and being willing to face the consequences.
The alternative -- living in fear and avoiding mess at all costs -- it's just not realistic. Bad things will happen, messes will happen. You will find yourself frozen with fear once in a while. That's okay. But we have to choose whether or not we are going to live our lives or just let life make our choices.
"You are not your thoughts," said O. Now there's a flippity-dippity mantra I can get behind. Although I would say more specifically -- "You are not your negative thoughts."
The easy road is to give in to the darkness, to live a life in the shadows. To let those negative voices in your head prevent you from living your dreams.
There's a reason a certain Golden Book was on our grandparents' shelves, our parents' shelves, our shelves, and our kids' shelves. I'm going to buy it for my grandchildren someday. That little train had it right.
Never underestimate the power of "I think I can."
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