Sometimes there is a good thing going, and it gets ruined by a handful of people. That is what happened with me and Ten Things of Thankful. I deign not to participate in it anymore, but I do feel like it is important to get some thankfuls out there at week’s end.
There is a saying in DBT, that you are working toward “a life worth living.” Amen to that, because in the throes of all that hell and depression and anxiety and mixed episodes, it DOES NOT FEEL like you are living that life. If you stick with it long enough, however, you start to find little happy flowers popping up in your flowerbeds and you can go out anytime you like and smell the wet earth and lightly-scented flowers. That, my friend, is a life worth living.
The following are the events, people, dogs, and other things that made my life worth living this week:
1) Here, right now, in this moment — I can go to the grocery store by myself without massive panic and anxiety. I even got myself some pretty good deals with the minimal amount of money I had to spend. I am getting to a point where, *sometimes* I don’t need that boost to get there. That is huge for me.
2) I thought I was going to lose a chat friend, and then I didn’t, and the chats are better than ever. Not panicking, not pushing that person away, not going over the top…things I would have done before, they didn’t happen. I processed it angry, I processed it slightly pissed, and then I processed it neutral. In all things, neutral won out and wise mind prevailed.
3) I have made plans for the week. I am having ice cream with Dad today, I am having dinner with my stepsister tomorrow, and I am having a make-up party with my best friend from high school on Tuesday. I am looking forward to all three events and it makes me feel good that I can get out and do these things. Having people around you who care helps create a life worth living.
4) All of my prescriptions are waiting for me at Walgreens. This may seem like no big deal, but it took years of fighting several years ago to get me on the insurance I needed to afford my meds and it has taken years of fighting to deal with the Walgreens system and finally figure out what it was that I needed to do, on my part, to make sure my meds were there and ready and there were no problems. Figuring things out like this create a life worth living.
5) Sometimes things come about that make you realize who your true friends are. The ones that stay and listen and give advice, and the ones who can’t be bothered. Learning which people to keep in your life and those which exist only so you can serve their every need, that is a big life lesson. Sometimes the time comes when you have to “cut the fat” so to speak and let a few go. Learning how to do this through effective communication is learned in DBT and builds more credence toward a life worth living.
I know I have been blogging about DBT a lot lately, but it truly is the best thing that has ever happened to me, as far as my bipolar goes (well, except maybe Lithium 🙂 It is a good therapy for nearly every disorder, and the tenets really do help people even without the disorder. All you have to do is practice the skills, and the happiness will come.
If you’re feeling froggy, feel free to link up to this post with your own list of what made life worth living this week. I would truly be honored. Or, if you don’t want to do a list of your own, leave just one thing in the comments.
RosieSmrtiePants 