What do you want? And I don’t mean the first thing that might pop into many of our minds, which would be a peaceful reunion.
I mean here, today, in your current circumstances. Do you want to know why? This might not be possible. Some of us get explanations, some don’t. And for those of us who received explanations, differing interpretations might mean that being told doesn’t tell us what happened. Therefore, this is out of your control.
Do you want to correct misperceptions about you? You could try. Maybe you could go to someone who has misunderstood or been misinformed and make your case. It doesn’t mean you will succeed at making clear your merits and character. Other people’s perceptions of us develop via what we show them as opposed to what we tell them. Ultimately, their perceptions remain out of your control.
Do you want fairness? Justice? Do you want a chance to apologize? Do you want an apology? All understandable, and all outside of your control.
PLACE is not about any of these things. No, our groups exist for the sole purpose of coping. Have you ever gotten out of the bed in the morning, taken stock of your emotional state and wondered how you could get through the day? The week? The rest of your life?
Days keep coming, and estrangement forces us to adapt. Maybe what you want is to be angry, and all the world can see the righteous torch of fairness lighting your way. Maybe you want to ruminate, to revel in every bit of sadness to which you are entitled. Maybe you want to feel anything but how you feel now, so you find yourself seeking escape via addiction.
Do you want to cope? To heal? To recover? Those are squarely in your control. Clutching to any aspect of this that’s not hinders your ability to cope, heal, recover, etc.
Imagine that deep inside of your soul is a hand-carved wooden box. On the outside are renderings of your virtues, your triumphs, your tragedies. Looking at the box, you see what others see when looking at you.
However, only you can open the box, as it contains what you need.
What do you see when you open it?
