And Always One More Time

 "Have enough courage to trust love one more time, and always one more time." - Maya Angelou

Dear Diary,

I'm so angry. Why am I so angry? I'm scared. What am I afraid of? I'm sad. Why am I so sad? Where is my joy? I know it's around here somewhere, but it escapes me now. For how long? 

Ronda 

Dear Ronda, 

Relax. Get some rest. Eat clean. Drink plenty of water. Say your prayers. Don't give up. Keep going. You're almost there. 

Diary

Dear Diary,

Here's what my mentor at Wake Forest U has to say. Makes me feel a little less bi-polar and a lot more real.

But what happens when the situation that angers you is all-encompassing? It goes beyond just a moment or one single event to reach a large chunk of your life? It’s not just one “no”, it’s your whole family life? It’s not just one denied promotion, it’s your entire job? It’s not just one bout of illness, it’s your global health?

It can be tempting then to stop caring about all of it. And, unfortunately, it can be highly effective. The problem is that any emotions that also rely on caring as one of their appraisals take a hit too. Saying goodbye to constant anger means saying goodbye to any joy.

Ronda 

https://christianwaugh.substack.com/p/how-joy-and-anger-are-intertwined?utm_source=substack&publication_id=5202531&post_id=221142637&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&utm_campaign=email-share&triggerShare=true&isFreemail=true&r=pqhty&triedRedirect=true

Dear Ronda,

This is so true.

Don't stop caring. We feel because we care.

Please keep caring.

Diary 

Dear Diary,

I feel like I'm a lucky one too, like Dr. Waugh.

But I’m one of the lucky ones. I only tasted the numbing that others feel all the time. If you or someone you know suffers from it, I just want to say that I’m sorry. I genuinely hope you or they can find a way to start caring again. Because a life without joy is not worth a life without a little bit of anger too.

Ronda 

Dear Ronda,

You are.

Diary