Like most people, I can be happy, reflective or even depressed according to what’s happening in my life at any time.
Over the past 10 to 15 years, I’ve found what’s most important to me is spending time with family and friends, our dogs and being in the countryside.
But however contented you feel, life occasionally throws you a thunderbolt out of the blue. This August a close relative was admitted to hospital, we lost both our dogs and a tremendous volunteer friend died, all within several weeks.
Now one of these would be tough to deal with, but all three together meant that wherever we turned there was pain and often a great sense of loss. I think it’s especially tough when you run your own business and lead community organisations. Access to what sometimes appears an unlimited nuclear core of energy and motivation suddenly closes off. It becomes difficult to achieve even the simplest task.
To me, this is something that has to be worked through: it’s life. That doesn’t make it much easier. There have been times when I’ve just not what wanted to do anything.
What has helped has been people and dogs. Both people we meet in the course of our daily lives, even passers-by in the street, and dogs we have got to know over the years have been a great comfort. And now we have a new puppy too.
So we are grateful that my relative is now recovering at home and we are able to think about those we have lost in terms of the joy they brought us in life. Motivation and energy are returning.
The froth of summer disappeared suddenly and life turned dull for a while, but now the bubbles are forming again slowly.
Isn’t it funny (strange, not amusing) how sometimes life seems to deliver things in batches like this. As you say, one on its own is bad enough, but 3 in close succession is hard to deal with. You sound like a really grounded person, and I’m glad to read you’re getting some of your equilibrium back. It’s so easy to get knocked for six and much harder to get your motivation for life back. It’s important to give yourself whatever time you need and not beat yourself up for it. Seems to me that’s exactly what you’ve done; been loving and caring towards yourself and given yourself the time and space to get back on track. Love to you and your family, here’s to more froth in life.
Thank you, Andrea. That’s a lovely comment. It’s good to get out the other side and feel positive again.
I am truly sorry for your loss. I understand how tough it can seem but somehow we get through the rough spots and life begins anew. I’ve been there. Sending you virtual hugs and much love.
Peggy (from UBC)
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Peggy Nolan
http://thestepmomstoolbox.com
Thank you, Peggy. I really appreciate that.
Sad for you and yours, Robert. It’s ghastly when so many awful things happen close together like that as you have no time to recover between events.
I had the experience of one of my cats being run over and killed, my horse being put down, my beloved dog dying of cancer, my father dying and myself being diagnosed with cancer – all within 6 months. So I do know how it feels.
Glad at least that your relative is recovering and you have a puppy … the latter will bring a lot of joy into your life (even if it is a chewer!)
Sz xx
Thanks, Suze. You never know what life will bring and you know it will take time to work through, but you know you have to work through it.
Oh gosh, I’m really sory to hear about your loss. *Sending love & healing vibes*
-Sophie from UBC
Really appreciate your vibes, Sophie
It’s a real shock when life goes a bit flat like that…but I’m glad there are signs of the froth returning. Take it easy and give yourself time to get to grips with everything that’s happened. Sending a hug x
Thanks for the hug, Katherine.
As per the Indian Astrological Tradition, every person goes through cycles of seven years, each block of which is dominated by one planet. One block of seven years is dominated by Saturn. This is the phase when terrible things happen in batches to people. Within this seven year phase, there is a specific phase of 6 Months (I think) which is called ‘Kandaka Sani’ (Acute Saturn).
I am not an astrologer and I don’t believe in this but I have seen that this faith helps people to handle and reconcile to batches of sad news
Hope you recover from your shocks and bounce back. Remember, in life as in boxing, the faster you recover after a fall, the winner you will become.
Thanks, Ram. I guess we’ll never know if it’s true, but we have to deal with it.