Friday, February 15, 2013

Middle of the Road




Ahhhh, life and curveballs. Just when I start cruising along feeling all in charge...zing! And me, being me, I get all wound up and start thinking and trying to manipulate things into the way I think they should go and waking up in the middle of the night just so I can think some more.

Yesterday I had a lovely walk and talk with a friend who is also a manager at the company where I work. She's suggested I apply to be her right hand woman, although I have no experience with her department and she's having a baby in six months so I would be in charge of things at the busiest time of the year. The challenge would be amazing, and hard, and the schedule totally does not work for my family. Seeing as how I want to be part of it. 

Taking this position would also mean I wouldn't go back to school. Which I still may not do anyway. Trying to decide on what I want to be when I grow up is a complicated tangle. 

Yesterday I was feeling anxious about the talk, and then we had it, and then I came home and ate all the rest of the children's Valentine's candy. Well, not all, I did leave them both one piece. And they didn't know about the two caramels in the mailbox from a neighbor. And then I broke off a chunk of the candy bar husband bought me (My favorite 85% kind- the kind that is so NOT the" I'm stewing on something and need to feed the beast" kind.) and ate that. All while I was making dinner. 

I should have stopped, and fixed myself a nice ginger seltzer. I should have sat down on the couch for a minute and said a real hello to the kiddos. Taken a breath. 

Not built in a day.

One of the cool things about early sobriety is that you start to realize that things take time. And that THAT'S OK. And that eating nine pieces of chocolate may not be the smartest thing to do, but it won't make me black out or feel like a miserable wreck all the next day. It did make my eight year old cry when I fessed up (I didn't tell the four year old- I'm not completely nuts) but he forgave me. "It was my candy Mom. MINE. And YOU ATE IT. But, if you let me use my Nexus before bed I'll forgive you." And then we played Crazy Eights, and read stories, and life rolled along. And I was forgiven.

Sometimes you have to forgive yourself when you don't know the answer. When you don't know which way to turn. When that road looks good, but this path is cool too....and look there! Sometimes maybe I just need to sit down in the middle of the road and look around. People will beep, wag fingers, yell at me to move. Oh, people. Always trying to tell people what to do. 

I will make myself a ginger seltzer. Sit down. Take a breath. Think it through. Put on a seatbelt and a turn signal when the time is right. Press the gas and move when it feels right. Move right along. 



13 comments:

  1. beep beep. sober car coming through ...

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    1. I love how, whenever I have transportation references, I think of you. :)

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  2. Hmmm...given how early your sobriety is...I think you aced this particular test.

    And you left the one! Ha! I totally do that too!

    Great job. And you're right, remembering to stop and breathe is hard...but doable.

    Sherry

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    Replies
    1. It's like by trying to force something to happen, the real thing doesn't happen, or you miss it entirely.

      Ahhhhh. Consciousness.

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  3. Wait. Sit on your hands and wait. It's hard but I've found that the answer always comes. Look for it and wait for it. It's going to be fucking fantastic!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The answer always shows up when it's ready.

      I think the fantastic part is right! Thanks!

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  4. Yep me to. Just wait. The answer will come. There is a reason this opportunity has come your way! Just try not to drive yourself crazy while you’re waiting! LOL! That’s what I tend to do. :)

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    Replies
    1. I'm not driving to crazy, I'm not driving to crazy. Repeat. Maybe I need to clean something. :)

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  5. Lovely read. I was just laughing because I was chomping on 85% chocolate as I was reading this...lol.

    These grown up things will unfold as they need to. Easy to say, of course. I have been there and still get through those phases of wanting things to be as they need to be right *now*. But the longer I am sober, I find that focusing on the little things, the right things, is often when the big things take care of themselves. Sometimes I am out to reinvent the wheel when all I need is a simple ride on the bike to bring me to where I need to be.

    Like you said, sometimes sitting, eating the kids' chocolate and sipping on seltzer is about all we can do...and need to do.

    Paul

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    1. That 85% is so good, and what I love when I'm sane.

      Now that I've had my candy shoveling moment I find I don't need it again today. Unlike booze, which I would have been pounding again as we speak.

      Thank God for sobriety. And delicious seltzer. :)

      And thanks to you for always taking time to comment. Cheers!

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  6. I will make myself a ginger seltzer. Sit down. Take a breath. Think it through. Put on a seatbelt and a turn signal when the time is right. Press the gas and move when it feels right. Move right along.
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    ReplyDelete