Don't Let Your Balloon POP!
I've come to the conclusion that it's okay to be "not fine."
When people ask me how I'm doing lately, I don't rattle off a list of
complaints and observations, sad feelings and grievances - as a matter of
fact, I just might say, "I'm okay." However, I admit that within myself
things are NOT fine and try to work through the feelings that creates.
I don't need to share with others all of the time. It's good to vent to a
friend and I don't discount that. But, I've learned that I'd better vent
with myself and acknowledge my feelings or I, like a balloon with too much
air, will POP.
Embrace the good and the not so good in your life. Don't run from it or try
to bury it.
By doing this; by saying to myself that I am NOT fine right now, I can work
through my feelings more easily.
How do I do it? It's taken me a while to figure it out and I don't have all
the answers. But, 'self allowance' is very important.
I'm not advocating DWELLING in your problems. I'm suggesting that you allow
yourself to FEEL. The world isn't always sunshine and smiles and if you try
to force yourself into that very high, unrealistic expectation, you'll
eventually POP!
I've done it, so I know.
You've got to let some air out of your balloon.
Give the air to God.
So, I acknowledge and embrace these parts of myself right now. I allow
myself to feel hurt and cry. I turn to God for help and guidance and I ask
for more strength.
Here are some examples:
My heart is ripped apart over the fact that my fiance's Dad has just been
diagnosed with cancer. I HATE being in the hospital seeing him suffer. I
DETEST the fear that I feel and see and smell. I want to fall apart when I
see the pain in my fiance's eyes. I am NOT okay with this. It hurts, and it
hurts a lot. I cannot always be the pillar of strength I have expected
myself to be. I lose it sometimes and I am finally saying to myself that
it's okay to do that. I ask God to help me. I need His strength so that I
can be strong.
If I don't, my balloon will pop.
I can't always 'be there' without replenishing my resources. I don't have
unlimited strength. I need time alone to embrace myself and my needs. I
have to re-charge my batteries so that I CAN be there for others. I cannot
do it alone. I am not meant to be the 'Energizer Bunny' because I am human.
It DOES get to me when I see a patient in a hospital being mistreated and I
DO CARE and I WILL do something about it no matter what anyone else says.
Example: I saw a man being wheeled by one nurse, while the other tagged
behind with his I.V. The nurse with the I.V. stopped and the other kept
going. Obviously this resulted in a lot of discomfort for the patient as the
lines got tangled around his neck. He had to say, "Hey, what are you doing?"
The nurses laughed. I had to let air out of my balloon. It was wrong. I
couldn't keep still and silently watch this. The man's pillow fell to the
floor and the nurses were too busy laughing to realize the patient was
struggling to get comfortable. Finally, one of them saw the pillow and
plunked it BESIDE his head, not under it. They didn't CARE and that bothered
me. My balloon was filling fast. How did I let some air out? I took
action. I did what I knew was right in my gut. I walked up behind the man
and said, while grabbing his pillow, "Do you need a pillow?"
"Yes," he replied.
Big deal. I put the pillow under his head and he was comfortable. He
doesn't know whether I was a nurse or a stranger. It doesn't matter. He
felt better and so did I. I helped, BUT why didn't the nurses?
I won't settle for that anymore. I can't save the world, but I can do my
part.
{ Editor: "Help carry one another's burdens,
and in this way you will obey the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2 GNB) }
That's letting air out of my balloon, too.
I've learned that when life gets too heavy, it doesn't mean you're WEAK if
you admit it. It took a long time for me to get there. Tears don't equate
to weakness. They are God's way of allowing you to cleanse your soul. I
always had this crazy idea that if you can't handle things, you're weak.
That's bologna.
That's what God is for.
{ Editor: "Give all your worries
and cares to God, for he cares about what
happens to you." (1 Peter 5:7 NLT) }
So, let air out of your balloon. Cry if you have to. Help if you feel it's
needed but are afraid of doing it. Voice a complaint if you have one. Allow
yourself to 'be'. Let yourself know that you need to recharge once in a
while and accept the fact that it's okay to let the injustices you see bother
you. More importantly, do something about them if you can. Accept that you
get tired and need to nurture yourself, too. If you're running around caring
for others, know that it's draining and that there's only so much you can
take before your balloon starts to fill too much. Don't punish yourself for
needing rest. REST. Let go of the guilt. Guilt fills balloons very
quickly.
If a balloon has the right amount of air in it, it's beautiful, light,
floating, colorful and vibrant. Just like you.
[ by
Ellen M. DuBois Copyright © 2001 -- submitted by: Ellen M. DuBois -- Ed:anon. ]
Inspirational Messages
SkyWriting.Net
All Rights Reserved.
|