Today’s Post Is Brought To You By The Letter C

Usually, when people mention the ‘C’, they are talking about cancer, but we are NOT talking about that right now.

I am not talking about the other c-word right now, either. I don’t say that one at all (other than the one time I did and it was totally deserved and I’m still #notevensorry about it, but that’s it, I swear).

So relax.

At our house, C is usually for cookie.  Or cocktails.  Or COOKIES AND COCKTAILS. My husband bakes AND shakes so we do our part around here to not appear ungrateful for those acts of service.

I am definitely not above using a cocktail to wash down a cookie.  I know, because I’ve seen me do it.

What C is NOT supposed to be for is crisis, chaos, and especially not for crying.  Unfortunately, we have had all of these at my house recently and every time it happened, they reminded me of why those last few are not welcome here.

I was also reminded to write about this, because it just keeps coming up…..

I AM NOT MUCH OF A CRIER.

I never was, even as a kid, but especially not by this point in life. I even have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to this, but for some reason, people are still confused.

While that is understandable, and a totally human response to handling stress and pain and I hope you feel free to do it whenever you need to – it also seems to me like it is the least productive way to deal with a sh!tty situation so it has never been my go-to response.

There is no instruction manual for the project of putting a shattered life back together after the wrongest wrong EVER. I am doing the best I can to cope. It is complicated, though. Some days are for caring for others and honoring commitments to my companies and serving my community while other days are only for crying and barely getting off of the couch, even just for coffee with friends.

You won’t hear about the days I know will hurt you too because you want to help me and you can’t, but I am NOT ashamed of ANY of those days.

I also know that there is no manual for loved ones trying to help. I get it.

Everyone seems to have differing advice on what healthy coping should look like and while that doesn’t surprise me (we’re all just winging it here), what DOES surprise me are these from people who should know better:

• “You don’t have to be so strong all the time.”
• “Its ok to ask for help if you need it.”
• “You don’t have to pretend to be _______.”
• “You really need to _________________.”

These make my inside voice comeback with things like:

Now, don’t y’all know I don’t know what else to be, since things still have to be handled even when I don’t feel like it?

Don’t you know that I have purposefully built as self-sufficient a life as possible, so that I can just want people and not need them?

That I don’t pretend anything, ever?

That if I need to do anything, it’s probably already done before anyone else thought of it?

Sigh.

I forgot how I originally wanted to close this, other than to say THANK YOU for caring about me, even when its not easy. I know you’re winging it, too. I have survived this far so there IS that, and I hope you never forget (because I don’t!) that so much of that is due to YOU.

Also – did you know that sharing is caring? Especially if you bring cake.

I appreciate you.

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