A few months ago Jules from Big Girl Bombshell threw up a question (in a ‘putting it out there’ way, not a regurgitating kind of way!) asking readers to consider how differently we would act if we weren’t overweight, or if we were slim (or normal: my words). I tried to imagine myself taking off some imaginary fat suit (if only!) and prancing about. It was far more difficult than I imagined as I found it hard to differentiate how I act because I’m overweight; and how I act because of how I feel because I’m overweight. For example… would I still not smile at cute men even if I wasn’t big and feel like they would judge me for even THINKING I was worthy of their affection.
Would my thinking remain fucked up, no matter what my size? Would I still feel unworthy? Which of course begs the question: Is my binge-eating and self-sabotaging behaviour a result of those feelings of unworthiness? Possibly, but that is a whole other story!
And now, as it happens, Jules’s latest blog post is AGAIN enough to make me want to smack my head down on my desk. (At work, not at home, as my desk at home is glass… so it could get ugly!)
In her latest post, Jules comments on that age-old question that parents get asked: “Are we there yet?”
And… she wonders if we are still asking that as adults.
What does it look like to be there?
If life is truly about the journey, then will we ever BE there?
The anticipation, excitement, oh yeah and boredom that happens as we travel to THERE.
What does THERE look like?
Is it everything you dream, hope and wish for?
Or is it just a stopping point in our travels?
And we move on to the next “there yet”
There is our life….but what is it? Do we know it when we get “there”?
Can I just say…. ARGH! All of my worst nightmares racing towards me like a freight train (sorry about the mixed metaphors or similes in there somewhere).
Anyone who has read a few of my posts knows that I’m a bit of a misery-guts who has essentially put her life on hold waiting…. for something…. Waiting for things to be perfect. Or even good. Instead, years (and years and years) have passed me by until I am now 43 and wondering where the fuck my life went. So, I’m most definitely waiting to get THERE. And, like Jules I’ve also wondered about the journey versus the destination and figured I was a destination kind of gal, but …. what if you don’t know exactly where you are going?
As a former project manager it is worrying that I don’t know what the end goal is. And, if I did, am I brave enough to articulate it, or to admit what it is I really wish for?!
In reality, I’ve sort of missed the boat on my perfect life: my life which included a man (and never-ending bliss – obviously); a child/children; a fulfilling and meaningful career and working life; and friends and other family. Oh, and my health. I guess.
Some of those things are no longer a reality, but what is? What exactly is it that I want from my life? What does ‘there’ look like for me? Is it just losing weight; or is it losing weight and finding a partner; or would the partner suffice if they accepted me as I am? Is it ‘not minding my job too much’; or is it feeling great passion for what I do each day? Or is it not working at all? (Ummm…. so okay, the latter would be nice if someone wanted leave me a few million dollars, or even just one!)
And what about the oft-mentioned self-actualisation? Bah!
Will I ever be ‘there’? Or am I the sort of person who will always want ‘more’ and never be contented: the perfectionist who looks around at others with envy, wanting what I don’t have and sure the grass must be greener anywhere else but where I am?
I feel the need to end this post with some sort of platitude about how I should just get on with my life, and wanky crap about ‘loving and respecting’ myself more without external validation. Blah blah blah. But… sometimes, even here where I try to be honest, I tend to sprout a bit of rubbish and say what I KNOW I should be saying… but not really mean it. And, I suspect this is one of those times. So because although I HOPE that I know I’m ‘there’ when I arrive, but suspect I never will, that’s it for today. THE END.
October 5, 2011
Deb – I mean this in the most loving and supportive way possible. It seems that you spend a lot of time asking questions… you might benefit from taking the time to answer some of them. This might help you get out of the “rubbish” state. You are smart, funny, a caring daughter and a great blogger. Figure out what you want, and write about it! Your fans will be here to read and support you.
October 5, 2011
Thanks Julia. In some ways it feels like I KNOW the answers or know what I should be doing, but don’t (can’t / won’t) act on them. I know it’s something I need to work on though!
xx
October 5, 2011
Thanks for the shout out! Its those tough questions that can lead us on the path to self actualization. Where is there? Maybe its their……..ourselves within….You are there…and tomorrow you will be there…Thanks for such an honest post!
October 5, 2011
Thanks Jules and thanks for constantly raising such thought-proking (and angsty) topics!
October 5, 2011
I’m torn. Part of me has no idea where “there” is. Part of me thinks we shouldn’t strive for “there” but should keep living life. it was an interesting post though, as is yours in response.
October 5, 2011
Thanks Karen. It was one of those topics which screwed with my mind a bit!
Deb
October 5, 2011
I read this article and thought of this post..
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/test-case/201110/is-happiness-even-the-point
October 6, 2011
J, I went and checked out this article (and left a comment) and loved the last few paras, about needing the difficult (less-than-happy) times to ‘grow’.
Loved it. Thanks!
October 6, 2011
http://myweigh2onederland.wordpress.com/2011/10/06/there-is-no-finish-line/
October 7, 2011
Very true. Weight-wise, even once (IF) I get to my goal, there will be the neverending battle to maintain!
October 6, 2011
Hi Deb,
I don’t think we’re ever “there” – I have moments, but I’m of the opinion that life is managed, not cured.
Hugs
Liz;)
October 6, 2011
I think you’re right. Another commenter (commentator?) left a link to a Psychology Today post about ‘happiness’ that really resonated with me – basically suggesting that without the difficult times, we would not be challenged or ‘grow’ as human beings.
Deb