Today my own words came back to slap me upside the head. Seven years ago today I wrote the following:
Sometimes in life you are faced with a terrifying storm, one which you have no choice but to walk straight through the center of. When this happens it is tempting to drag other people with you into the eye of the storm.
But if they have the choice to avoid the storm even though you don't, you need to let them make that choice. Don't be angry or hurt that they chose to take a safe passage around it, instead be grateful that they had that option.
Forcing someone to walk through the storm with you when they don't have to would be the height of selfishness.
And today I was reminded of those words, and I am beginning to see that I didn't listen to myself. I expected someone to stay by my side as I walked through the storm and have been both angry and hurt that they didn't ever since they chose not to. The hurt and the anger have prevented me from moving on with my life and enjoying it. In fact by holding onto those feelings I have also been holding onto a piece of that storm long after I came out the other side.
So, today I am making the choice to let go of that anger, let go of the hurt, and to instead be grateful that she had the option to go on with her life and I am choosing to be thankful that she made that choice. It has taken me far too long to realize the damage I am doing to myself emotionally by holding onto those negative feelings.
I guess that is my good thing for today.