I have so many reasons to celebrate lately. It feels a bit like bragging: “Oh my life is so wonderful” and I feel guilty about being happy when things are so damn hard for a lot of people, but I have just gone through a shite time, and things have been so hard and so ugly and depression and anxiety has been such a devouring beast, sucking the joy from my life for so long, that having things to celebrate, even the small things, feels absolutely necessary and appropriate.
Wow, how about that for a compound, rambling sentence? But that’s what it feels like to me, this bubbling, tumbling feeling of…joy. Hope. Happiness.
When you’re in the middle of darkness, it’s hard to believe that you’ll ever feel any other way. That things can ever be bright again. Intellectually I knew they would. I reminded myself daily, when in the midst of the depression, that “this too shall pass.” I mean fuck, if I could come out of those awful days after Warren died, I could sure as hell get through a break-up. (And the pandemic and the Trump presidency and selling my house and moving away from my beloved city and dealing with the complexities of becoming my parents’ caregiver.) And I learned something during those dark days. I learned to give myself pause when it seemed hopeless, when missing V and that life filled my every thought, and when depression set in as I realized I would never have it back. I made myself pause, and breathe, to allow myself to feel even the dark feelings – because feelings change. I made myself lean into and experience it, all the while reminding myself that I wouldn’t always feel that way.
Oh, it’s not all rainbows and unicorns now. My mom had a pretty big health scare that made my sister and I face the fact that we can probably measure the time we have left with her in years, not decades, and maybe not many of those. I still miss V (acutely at times) and our long, rambling, sometimes contentious discussions about all things robot and brain science and the meaning of consciousness and AI and self-driving cars. I miss, too, the way we related in D/s and our sexual connection, even as I am building and experiencing a new one with SirQ. Not as often, for sure, but it rears its head every so often, and still twists my heart just a bit. And while the move has been successful, and I love my new house and I am so glad I am here – especially when something happens like this past incident with my mom – I still miss my solo poly city girl life.
BUT –
My Mom got out of the hospital and is relatively healthy.
I have this wonderful new relationship that reminds me every day why I am not in that old one.
Adam and I are better than ever – it appears living together is good for us both as we approach out first year-in-the-house anniversary.
My daughter and I – though we had a recent, highly unusual rift – are back on track and planning vacation time together.
I’m getting the opportunity for travel again – to see the Canadian & to work remotely for a couple weeks in February; to travel with the daughter to the Pacific Northwest in March; and then with Adam to hike in Utah in April.
Life feels…good again.
So, yes, I’m celebrating.
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It’s such a joy to read about the things people are finding to celebrate in their lives, especially when those celebrations have come after some tough times. The world might still be a bit of a dumpster fire but seeing good people have good times, whether or big or small, brightens my day and I think it does for others too, so thank you for sharing with us for #SWAP x
Uplifting, amazing and great to hear.
You have every right to celebrate without guilt! Depression and darkness are hard companions, so when the light shines, and Joy enters, embrace it! I can’t imagine the stress of an aging parent. I am only beginning to enter this phase. My parents are in their earlier 70s.