At times I feel bad when I read about other women whose struggles seem much tougher than mine. There are women who have lost their child and their husband within months of each other. There are mothers whose husbands have murdered their children. There are women who’ve been raped and women paralysed from the neck down after a freak car accident. My self-indulgent nonsense about my body image and my issues with going to a gym seem so pathetic at times.
Not only do I feel like my struggles are small by comparison but I feel guilty for the happiness in my life. I’ve never been homeless, I’ve never been beaten and I’ve never believed life wasn’t worth waking up for.
In our lives we experience both suffering and joy and all of the grayscale between. Although most of us agree that no-one deserves the bad things that happen to others and to us, we also find ourselves wanting to believe that we need to deserve happiness.
In reality, we don’t deserve any of it. If it’s true that we don’t deserve the pain, then we don’t deserve the good things either. There is no giant balance sheet measuring out how much of each we get to experience. Shit happens — good fortune happens — it’s all a part of the circumstances that make up a well-lived existence.
The things we have no control over – both the good and the bad – give us the opportunity to reveal our true character. We can resist both suffering and joy and feel like nothing is the way it should be. Or we can be grateful for all of it.
I’m grateful I have a man who loves me. I’m grateful suicide destroyed everything I thought I believed.
I don’t deserve any of it. And neither do you.
My pain cannot be measured against yours and neither can my happiness. I’ve been lucky and unlucky.
Because I’ve lived.
Today is a good day, because I’ve smiled, walked, breathed and remembered. I don’t deserve any of it but that won’t stop me being fucking grateful for every single moment I have — good and bad.
I’ll take it all, feel it all and share it all. I’ll reach out my hand to help you when you need it and I’ll let you guide me when I’m lost in the dark.
We’re all in this together and we’re never alone. And I’m thankful for that too.
Hi Katie
I swear this email came right at the moment I was feeling disappointed and down about my self image and body issues because I just indulged in chocolate, but you saved me and put things in perspective again-Thank you!!
xx
Thanks Cathy … I’m so grateful to have written this just for you today x
“The things we have no control over – both the good and the bad – give us the opportunity to reveal our true character.” I love this line! It is such a choice. There is a quote floating around “10% life and 90% our reaction to it. Taking the sense that we deserve something also gives us the freedom to experience the newness of each moment!
Love the idea of 10%|90%. I spent so long trying to control the 10% and ended up exhausted and frustrated. Much better to focus on my reaction – the 90% that makes a difference. Thanks Carrie ♥
HOW did you know I was writing about this JUST last night?!? I feel very guilty for having a big fuss about my body when so many others are suffering so much more and I am so over privileged and lucky.
You are right, none of us deserve any of it.
x
We’re psychically connected of course 😉