We're born with 2 fears

...the fear of abandonment and the fear of falling, everything else we learn.

I suppose I learned this in Mr. Cook's Biology class in high school, but it's one of those things that stick in your mind every time you hear the word.  For me, it was 'fear'.  I couldn't help thinking at the time that if this is true, then I've learned to fear reptiles, the dark, relationships, etc, from somewhere, someone.

Sitting in my panic/anxiety group sessions (yes, 'fear' has overcome me to the point of paralysis and panic attacks), my therapist said something that struck a cord in me, "it is human nature to run from what we fear".  Apparently, I miss the whole fight or flight class somewhere or forgotten it at some point.  Now I'm in therapy to learn how to 'tolerate' and maybe even control my fears, but not how to face them.  I've allowed myself to be drugged to the point of numbness and be questioned over and over again to the point of pain.

My dad asked me the other day, after almost two years of not speaking to me, "What happened to you?  What happened to the girl that was full of fight and didn't allow anything to get her down?"

I don't know.  Maybe after 15 years of marriage, of living in a promise to God, of being absolutely, positively, 100% sure, that this is the right person for you, then finding out that it's not, does something to you.  Maybe it's that the person I'm with has my heart convinced of the same.  How can fear not paralyze me?  How can I not be terrified of allowing myself to be happy with this person, or letting the thought of marriage and the rest of my life with him scare the life out of me?  How do I stand in front of God, family and friends with him and make a promise that I already broke once?  How can I promise something to someone and not doubt myself that I'll take it back one day?

How do I teach my children to trust their instincts, choices and decisions when I doubt mine?  I don't know.

I don't know how to fix my broken heart, promises and dreams or to encourage my kids to follow and believe theirs.  I'm working on it though.  I know that they deserve to have a whole mother and my love deserves to be loved with no reservations.  I know that if I don't learn from this, then I can't possibly make myself or anyone else happy.

So off I go to therapy and to surround myself with family and friends that know and believe in who I use to be.  If I can get back an ounce of the girl that was so full of life and so sure of herself, if I can glimpse a former time and place where I was completely happy, I can build from it.  I'm working on unlearning my fears, I know it's hard, but not impossible.  On the bright side, I'm no longer drowning, I'm treading water and when I'm strong enough, I'll swim again.  Baby steps...

Another year has come and gone...

With all that has happened, another year has come and gone.  This past year has been full of challenges I never thought I'd face.

When you hear the word Divorce, you never stop to think of what it all entails.  How hard it can truly be for everyone, not just to two married people going through it.  I've learned the hard way, just how truly heartbreaking it can be.  Worse of all, I've had to watch my precious little girls have their heart broken daily by it.

However, I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, it's ALMOST over.  The finality will come with a judge putting a nail in the matrimonial coffin.

What no one ever tells you is the positive that comes from divorce.  The weight that has been lifted, the happiness that can come from being alone and the sense of control.  Sure, there are moments when I allow myself to miss what I had, the sense of security, a complete family, my ignorance to it all, but then I get over it and realize that I'm happier without the misery that all came with him.

I'm looking forward to teaching my girls how to be strong, how you don't need to have a man to feel complete, or that you shouldn't depend on others for you own happiness.  But that if you do have it all and you're happy, then that's a bonus!