Hey everyone! I missed you all!!!

I am back from my retreat safe and sound, a bi tired tho. The trip home from the time I left the retreat house, until I arrived home took me 13 hours! This was with layovers and travel time to and from the airport.  I enjoyed my retreat, and really needed that time for me, away from the stress and pressure of everyday life here at home.

There was an "exercise" we did there on Sunday, that had a very profound affect on me. Sometimes, as we strive to move forward personally, we have no choice but to open "a can of worms"  that holds one of the keys that helps us unlock the door to taking the next step. I had a few things come to the surface for me, that I didn't expect to surface again ever. I thought they were dealt with and moved on from. But what really ended up being the case, is I tucked them away because they were just far too painful to fully deal with at the time. So now I have a clearer idea on what I really need to address and work on, to enable me to break free from so much pain that has been lurking in the background of my being, and still impacting me on a regular basis, unbeknownst to me.

While opening that "can of worms" proved to be a painful and emotional experience, it amazed me too, at the empowerment I felt afterwards. The hope it instilled in me for really being able to work through these issues was so freeing in its own way. Even tho it will not be easy, I know it is going to serve me so very well in my efforts to move forward in my wls journey, and my personal journey. My number one focus right now is going to be on learning to "speak MY truth"! Instead of trying to make everything easy and comfortable for everyone around me in my personal life, at the personal cost of complicating my own life and allowing myself to carry the burdens and pain that should not have to be my own. (In my relationships with family members.)  I try so hard to avoid conflict, and to spare everyone else pain, that I end up carrying the burden of all of this...mine and thiers.. and it is so unfair to ME!

I wonder... How many of us here can relate to this? We tend to be people pleasers, but what we now need to focus on is pleasing ourselves more. Taking care of our needs, to enable us to be more "whole". This enables us to be better for everyone around us as well, and to put the responsibility of these burdens where they belong, instead of us tying to carry all of it ourselves..

Anyhow.. sorry for going on and on, but this is really such an issue with so many of us, I just really felt the need to share!

I hope all is well with everyone of you, and that whatever you face now, will soon be resolved and you will all find some inner peace. It is going to take me quite some time to catch up with all the posts here, so if it takes me a while to reply to your posts, please bear with me and know I really do care so deeply for you all.

Welcome Back!
You were missed.. It's been pretty quiet around here lately.

Thanks! I missed you folks as well.
I see there hasn't been a lot of replies lately.. gotta get everyone participating again!

welcome home.  you were missed.  i know what you mean about stuffing stuff. i do that and i hang on to it forever. don't rock the boat, don't even put an oar in the water. lol.   i hope this will help you in the upcoming future.  let me know if i can help in anyyyyyyyyyyyy wayyyyyyyyyyy.  i mean that.  i have some old stuff floating around in my head that i can't get rid of no matter how often i address them.  i think they were so damaging that i can't let go or something.  good luck with you on your journey. i love you patrece. vick

 Thank you so much Vick! I love you very much too. If there is anyway i can help you, you just hollar too!

Welcome back, great post, I have sooooo much to think about before I have a good reply.  Sleeping on in for a day or two and then who knows, I may enlighten everone with my thoughts.  Two shifts left then a weekend off.  I missed you while you were retreating, next year, I will be there too.  Hugs

 I look forward to having you there with me next April! I'll let you know as soon as i have a date for it.
Rest well my friend. Love you and look forward to you sharing on this!