I’ve been told that, at times, I trust too much. I often give people a second, third, or fourth chance even after they did me wrong. In other cases, it’s one, and I’m done. Typically, it depends on the circumstances, the person, and our history together.
Sometimes, it’s hard to let go, even though, deep in my heart, I know I should. The hardest part is if the other person doesn’t sincerely apologize and instead talks about themselves and tries to justify their actions. When that happens, I listen to what they say and try to understand where they are coming from.
I give them the benefit of the doubt time after time, but I need to keep rolling forward. Life is all about rolling forward and trying not to look back. It’s one of the hardest things to do, but it is necessary to live in the present and not the past.
The question is, how do I deal with situations like that?
I don’t claim to be an expert, but I can share what I do.
I go silent. I typically stick to myself for at least a day or two, even if I must cancel plans with my friends and sometimes minor appointments. I simply don’t want to talk or deal with the outside world. I hate to sound selfish, but I must take care of myself. Events like that completely drain me.
I could sleep well and be gentle with myself, but I still feel exhausted and unmotivated to do anything. Even driving my chair to my bathroom is a struggle when feeling that way.
It isn’t fun, kids. Yet, I do the best I can.
People often ask how I do it. How do I keep going?
Well, to put it bluntly, I don’t have a choice.
Technically, I do have a choice; we all have a choice. For me, I choose to keep going. I choose to roll through rugged terrain.
Generally speaking, my life is pretty good. It’s not perfect, but there’s no such thing as perfect. Frankly, I’d be more concerned if my life was smooth. I’d probably become bored if life weren’t challenging.
Also, I’d have nothing to write about.
I’m grateful for my past and present life, the good and the bad. Even through the tough times, I always roll away and learn something. Life is funny like that.
If we take the time to appreciate the moments or even pause for a moment, life is one giant learning experience.
I’m also grateful for meditation.
Through meditation, I’ve slowly learned how to quiet my mind and deal with situations more constructively.
If I feel overwhelmed and need alone time, my true friends understand and respect that. We plan to hang out another time and hope for the best.
I’m very grateful for my true friends who understand. Sadly, that hasn’t always been the case. I’ve had “friends” drift away or give up on me when things got tough.
Yes, that has happened with former partners and family members, too.
The important thing to do is not to be afraid to take time for yourself when possible. It’s not selfish. You are important and deserve to be happy and do what you must.
Your true friends and loved ones will always be there for you. They’re not your true friends or loved ones if they aren’t. You don’t need constant drama in your life. Let it go.
Life’s too short to waste time with people who live in chaos.
We all have our own lives to deal with, and sometimes children to boot.
I often wonder how they deal with it. It’s hard for me to imagine because I don’t have kids. I’m not them. It’s their experience, not mine.
We all do what we have to do.
With that in mind, I wish people could be open to understanding others and their situations more. Be mindful of others and their circumstances.
You and I don’t know what others are going through. The best thing we can do is be mindful of that.
Until next week, stay safe and keep rolling.
Photo: iStock