A Difficult Feat
Cynics serve a purpose. When I express an opinion about which I have a smattering of knowledge, a cynic who cites facts based upon his in-depth knowledge, supplies perspective, and that is good. But cynics who know less about a topic than I do, who offer sardonic red herrings, are to be ignored.And ignored with pity when they spout about how admiral it is to keep one's emotions in check, the inherent value is in not letting others know how you feel. When it comes to a poker game or high-level diplomacy or an apprehended spy, that kind of stoicism is a highly coveted skill.
|
|
In the short span of an incredible week, those of us who were surprised to find ourselves deeply affected by the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, observed the House of Windsor scrambling to offset a public relations debacle by offering a gesture here, a gesture there. Considering their stoicism has had a thousand years to reach its no longer tolerable level, I can sympathize with them. To change oneself is probably one of the most difficult feats there is.
A characteristic shared by most individuals in recovery is a history of repressing their emotions. When carried to an extreme, individuals resemble automatons. Internally, their guts process repressed feelings that are swallowed on a daily basis. Like compacted garbage that creates methane gas, denied emotions seep poison. There's a gnawing discomfort that occasionally spurts into debilitating psychic pain.
Cynics scoff at those of us who have dived into our personal garbage pits and hauled the stinkin' stuff into the light of day before determining which goes where in a landfill -- metaphorically speaking. What the cynics don't know is that the effort has payoffs beyond their wildest imaginations.
And that may be why "the recovery movement" successfully ignores national boundaries, age and social standing. What perplexes is why so many refuse to explore their inner selves. There's nothing in there that's going to hurt anywhere near as much as keeping old feelings buried.
More from Donna
Previous guest columns written by Donna Thompson for the Alcoholism site.
As always, your comments or questions are welcomed. If you would like to receive a very short and FREE newsletter about updates to this site and other news, just send a note to Buddy T.
