...by Seven Mary Three, the band of my teenage years. Heartbreak, hospitals, moving boxes, and family. That's what I remember most about the end of that era. The next decade (and a couple more years) flew by way too fast, but maybe for good reason. Yet as quick as that time left me in the dust, I've been left with many gifts from those days.
Right now, having moved on quite a bit, I sit here with a half clean house (I'm telling you, this is progress) and a heart full of love and a mind full of chaos. And, of course, I'm listening to Seven Mary Three. I know I had a discussion earlier this week with my loving mama that I didn't really want to have. Something triggered my emotional gag reflex and I spewed forth thoughts I've kept from her for a long time. I told her things that I've been telling my sister for quite some time, but she's different. Though she is certainly protective, I consider my sister rather objective. She listens to the good, the bad, and the ugly, but I feel she judges pretty fairly. If I'm being taken advantage of, she doesn't hesitate to force that to my attention. At the same time, she doesn't have a problem telling me when I'm being a complete ass and overreacting. Most importantly, when I need consoling, she's there to deal it out. My mama...for too long, she's played the role of mama and dad, meaning while she tries to listen and give me relationship advice, she also can be a hard-hearted protector. I'm afraid if I tell her something negative (and I try to tell all, not just the bad), she'll hold that grudge forever and treat the person I'm with unfairly. Don't get me wrong, as a mother I understand this completely. But the other night, I guess it had been building up too long and I let loose. So much, in fact, I don't even remember half of what I told her. It was something I needed, though.
I've been here before, but I've come to some conclusions about my current position and why I treat my relationship the way that I do. I have found myself being suspicious but not being able to justify those suspicions with actions or words. I have doubted when I should believe. And, I have grossly underestimated the power and, at the same time, the comfort this love is giving me. Why? None of us are perfect, but I think it is quite possibly my fault. If you don't agree because of a certain incident, please don't comment here. We'll talk, if you want. But I've decided I want to give my heart a chance and let the wall down a bit. I'm in love. I have to accept that this person is not the men of my past. I cannot hold him accountable for what others have done. I can't assume that I always make the wrong decisions with relationships and that I should live my life waiting for the other shoe to drop. I think that's unfair...for both of us, really. I love and appreciate what I have. So, I'm going to concentrate on that; concentrate on him and my family (and my friends that are family). I want to keep things positive, and I truly believe this is the direction I need to go right now. It's very important to me.
In conclusion, I didn't want to put a single word of that in writing. But if I say it, it's real. The End...
When someone feels like the protector, all they hear is negative. I've felt the role of protector most of my life with family and friends and it's hard to separate the good from the bad. It is incumbent upon you that is being protected to understand the tint of our glasses and understand the hurt we've felt for you in times of darkness. The love for the protected is hard erase the tears of love lost. We don't experience the ebb and flo of it that you do. We only see the extremes and extremes don't make a relationship. That is cultivated over time spent and laughs and tears. Our empathy is singularly focused on you being free of sorrow, and it's difficult to let go. It seems strange, but once enraptured in the role of protector, we don't abandon. You may have to put up with some "I told yous", but in the end it's based on love
ReplyDeleteI've read this comment several times and I appreciate it more each time I read it. Sometimes, it is difficult to be the protected as well as the protector. I think it's important for each role to see the viewpoint of the other. I believe those who protect me do for the most part, or at least they try to. It can certainly be overwhelming to hear the "I told yous" or even the warnings and especially the negative assumptions about the other person in your life. But I do listen to them objectively, I think. I know that they come with good intentions and from those that care. That alone means a lot.
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