Dooley Noted: 3/17/2015
When I have a moment of visible emotion or stress, some people don’t react as if it’s normal.
I get comments like, “Whoa, I thought you were superhuman!”
But from what I’ve seen in blockbuster movies, even superheroes run the gamut of emotions.
They have much trouble maintaining relationships, due to their service to a cause.
I suppose I’m not completely far from that description.
So, I wasn’t shocked when I came home yesterday from a 10-day Australian trip – to no invitation from my boyfriend for an airport pickup.
The silence was deafening on that long trip home.
When you know your relationship is ending, you throw out lifesavers for each other – until you don’t.
So, you feebly make small talk about your trip until you have the big, important discussions that change your life.
It was a mutual, amicable ending to a lovely year and a half.
The relationship was the most honest, respectful and loving union I’ve had in a very long time.
He worked hard to be part of my life.
But when it doesn’t work, you can’t force it.
I almost let sadness overwhelm me like a cloak of failure.
Then, I did what anyone would do.
I called my mother.
I’m still someone’s daughter, superhuman or not.
Superheroes endure much pain and struggle.
But they don’t tend to crawl into and live in a pit of despair.
They use the pain as fuel to ignite an internal fire.
You can whine as if things happen to you.
Or, you can see that things in life happen for you – to help you be more superhuman than you were yesterday.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley