These days, weeks, months, have been filled with so much uncertainty. So many ups and downs, and there have been times when I am sure I've finally figured everything out, that I'm finally beginning to get settled, then everything just falls apart again.
My days are spent trying to feel normal. I get up, make breakfast for myself and eat it alone at the table. I take a shower, get dressed, and go to work if I am working that day. If I'm working, I will shamelessly buy a salted caramel iced coffee drink and a chocolate zucchini bread on my break. I'll sit outside the coffee shop and listen to music for my fifteen minutes, just to have something to look forward to that day.
Then I come home, make dinner, talk to my rabbits, and do everything again in the morning. This has been the first time in my life I have ever had to forcibly convince myself of the things there are to be happy about. I've had days when something just sets me into a melancholy spiral, and I have to dig myself out or turn to a friend who can remind me of what I forget. That no, my life isn't over. All of this is temporary. Yes, everything is really terrible and sucks right now, but it won't be that way forever. And hey, don't worry so much, you're working on making things better. It's hard to remember that when it feels like there's just not enough money or energy for even the most basic things.
But I have a plan, I have a goal in mind. I don't want to talk about it yet because it's pretty big and I am still working things out, but I am happy about it.
I have some projects and to-dos to keep me busy. I have someone important in my life that has done so much and opened my eyes to so many things. I am learning tough lessons about life and myself, but all of it is necessary. I feel myself changing and growing in ways that I only imagined just a year ago. I feel myself growing stern and strong, confident and secure in myself, and it feels really good.
I want to tell anyone who reads this, who might be in a similar situation that I was or am in:
If you're in a place where you feel completely stuck or trapped, know that there is always, always a way out. It won't be the easy way, and yes, it will feel like a complete hell most days, but every day is better and better. And one day, you'll see how worth it the hard decision was. Our most defining moments in life are the most difficult. So do what you have to do for you.
This weekend will be spent reading some new books I got from the library (I intend to share at some point, so no worries!) and listing some handmade items onto my Etsy shop. If you're interested, check it out on Saturday! Here's the link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/shoplemonholiday
Otherwise, I'll be drinking hot drinks, cleaning the apartment, and working on new projects.
I hope everyone's week is going well and I promise to check in again very soon. Best wishes!
Showing posts with label relationships. Show all posts
Showing posts with label relationships. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
New Beginnings
“When you’re ready, I’m ready.” A bomb went off in my head. I looked at his face, but he didn’t seem to notice.
“I’m just not emotionally ready right now. It would be too traumatic.”
“Well, when you are.” And that was that.
This was the first time Sean expressed an independent interest in divorcing me. I had mentioned it before in passing, as a ‘maybe’ thing, but actually taking steps to make it happen was new territory. I was afraid of letting go of the vision I had of us, of him, and of our future.. But recent days and weeks carved the end into our hearts and we knew it was just a matter of time.
I wrote a post on here a little while back about striking out on my own without Sean, learning how to be independent and have a life I can call my own. All of this is still true, but I left out one major piece that even I had trouble recognizing or admitting: I wanted out of the relationship. And even more, I had wanted it for longer than I realized.
Every relationship’s end has two sides. Although I want to be honest, I think for the sake of productivity in whatever it is, if anything, Sean and I have left to work on together, I won’t outline who did what or who was wrong.
I made mistakes. He made mistakes. But in the end, we’ve realized more than anything, how incompatible we never knew we are. “I just wish we were different people.” I told him the night before he moved out. But we’re not. And that’s the problem.
Sean is very passionate, almost to a fault, about his interests and things he knows. He’s incredibly intelligent, a beautiful writer, and although he will swear up and down that he’s not that smart, anyone who talks to him will argue otherwise. Sean is a highly emotional person, but keeps those emotions in check with his unwavering rationality. And most of all, his loyalty as a friend and a partner is so strong, it’s been known to get him into trouble from time to time.
Sean is a beautiful person, and although he and I are very different, I thought it didn’t matter. I thought it made us strong. But I never realized that unfortunately, those differences were so at odds with what I needed from a partner, that they would ultimately be the thing that derailed our relationship and pulled us apart.
I said that I didn’t know if Sean and I have anything left to work on together because it’s true. Things change everyday. We want so much to be there for each other because there’s still love and we still care. But at the same time, we’re hurt. We’re devastated and angry. To be completely honest, I have no idea what is going to happen between us. I hope the damage that has been done isn’t too much that we can’t be friends, but I am also aware of how unlikely that will be if we don’t learn how to forgive and heal properly.
This is why I haven’t written much here. And if you’re a friend or relative, this is why I have withdrawn in a lot of ways. I haven’t known which way is up for the past three or four months, but to be honest, it's probably been a lot longer. I am extremely sad, embarrassed (we only got married nine months ago), angry, and just really hurt. We didn’t plan for this to happen. I didn’t think it would happen to me. But it did. And I am trying to handle it in the best way I can.
It’s so difficult getting myself to realize and accept this new life, that we won’t be celebrating our wedding anniversary every year. That we won’t move to Chicago together and see the world. That we won’t buy our first house, and that it won’t be our baby I hold in my arms. When you have that vision in your mind for so long, it’s heart-wrenching to force yourself to let it go so suddenly.
I never wanted to be divorced at almost 23. I never wanted to be divorced at all. But that’s just the way things go. Sometimes you can’t control every aspect of your life, even when you truly believe you’ve got a good grip or that you can work through it. Sometimes things just...fall apart.
I’ve been trying to occupy my time with work, finding a second job, getting things in order, new projects, and exercising. I found out the going to college next month is a no-go since my financial aid won’t cover everything, and to make it work would make my life a complete nightmare. And to be honest, I only wanted to go because I felt like I had nowhere else to go.
The apartment is in my name for now. I've said I'll keep it, but who even knows, these things change a million times everyday. I had to give Phoebe away, but I am planning on keeping the rabbits.
I’ve been trying to work on me and what I want in my life, thinking about new projects and ideas to pursue, plans for the future, etc.
Despite the heart-ache, I feel different. I feel...relieved. And I am finally on the path that I’ve always wanted to be on. I’m running a lot and getting in shape (I lost 20 pounds in three months), I am trying new foods, listening to new music, reading, and saying yes to new experiences. I feel as though these changes in my life are necessary in order to continue living properly. I need to feel like there is something positive out of this, and that I am beginning a new chapter. Otherwise, if I dwell too much on the opposite, it will consume me and ruin any chance I have doing what I need to do.
I have no idea what will happen, and I am okay with that. Everything is up in the air, so we'll see what comes together. To new beginnings.
“I’m just not emotionally ready right now. It would be too traumatic.”
“Well, when you are.” And that was that.
This was the first time Sean expressed an independent interest in divorcing me. I had mentioned it before in passing, as a ‘maybe’ thing, but actually taking steps to make it happen was new territory. I was afraid of letting go of the vision I had of us, of him, and of our future.. But recent days and weeks carved the end into our hearts and we knew it was just a matter of time.
I wrote a post on here a little while back about striking out on my own without Sean, learning how to be independent and have a life I can call my own. All of this is still true, but I left out one major piece that even I had trouble recognizing or admitting: I wanted out of the relationship. And even more, I had wanted it for longer than I realized.
Every relationship’s end has two sides. Although I want to be honest, I think for the sake of productivity in whatever it is, if anything, Sean and I have left to work on together, I won’t outline who did what or who was wrong.
I made mistakes. He made mistakes. But in the end, we’ve realized more than anything, how incompatible we never knew we are. “I just wish we were different people.” I told him the night before he moved out. But we’re not. And that’s the problem.
Sean is very passionate, almost to a fault, about his interests and things he knows. He’s incredibly intelligent, a beautiful writer, and although he will swear up and down that he’s not that smart, anyone who talks to him will argue otherwise. Sean is a highly emotional person, but keeps those emotions in check with his unwavering rationality. And most of all, his loyalty as a friend and a partner is so strong, it’s been known to get him into trouble from time to time.
Sean is a beautiful person, and although he and I are very different, I thought it didn’t matter. I thought it made us strong. But I never realized that unfortunately, those differences were so at odds with what I needed from a partner, that they would ultimately be the thing that derailed our relationship and pulled us apart.
I said that I didn’t know if Sean and I have anything left to work on together because it’s true. Things change everyday. We want so much to be there for each other because there’s still love and we still care. But at the same time, we’re hurt. We’re devastated and angry. To be completely honest, I have no idea what is going to happen between us. I hope the damage that has been done isn’t too much that we can’t be friends, but I am also aware of how unlikely that will be if we don’t learn how to forgive and heal properly.
This is why I haven’t written much here. And if you’re a friend or relative, this is why I have withdrawn in a lot of ways. I haven’t known which way is up for the past three or four months, but to be honest, it's probably been a lot longer. I am extremely sad, embarrassed (we only got married nine months ago), angry, and just really hurt. We didn’t plan for this to happen. I didn’t think it would happen to me. But it did. And I am trying to handle it in the best way I can.
It’s so difficult getting myself to realize and accept this new life, that we won’t be celebrating our wedding anniversary every year. That we won’t move to Chicago together and see the world. That we won’t buy our first house, and that it won’t be our baby I hold in my arms. When you have that vision in your mind for so long, it’s heart-wrenching to force yourself to let it go so suddenly.
I never wanted to be divorced at almost 23. I never wanted to be divorced at all. But that’s just the way things go. Sometimes you can’t control every aspect of your life, even when you truly believe you’ve got a good grip or that you can work through it. Sometimes things just...fall apart.
I’ve been trying to occupy my time with work, finding a second job, getting things in order, new projects, and exercising. I found out the going to college next month is a no-go since my financial aid won’t cover everything, and to make it work would make my life a complete nightmare. And to be honest, I only wanted to go because I felt like I had nowhere else to go.
The apartment is in my name for now. I've said I'll keep it, but who even knows, these things change a million times everyday. I had to give Phoebe away, but I am planning on keeping the rabbits.
I’ve been trying to work on me and what I want in my life, thinking about new projects and ideas to pursue, plans for the future, etc.
Despite the heart-ache, I feel different. I feel...relieved. And I am finally on the path that I’ve always wanted to be on. I’m running a lot and getting in shape (I lost 20 pounds in three months), I am trying new foods, listening to new music, reading, and saying yes to new experiences. I feel as though these changes in my life are necessary in order to continue living properly. I need to feel like there is something positive out of this, and that I am beginning a new chapter. Otherwise, if I dwell too much on the opposite, it will consume me and ruin any chance I have doing what I need to do.
I have no idea what will happen, and I am okay with that. Everything is up in the air, so we'll see what comes together. To new beginnings.
Sunday, December 21, 2014
8 Things No One Tells You About Being Engaged
Without further adieu, here are 8 things no one tells you about being engaged!
1. You will immediately be asked when your wedding day is.
Seriously...like, as soon as you mention your engagement. It doesn't matter if you've been engaged for thirty seconds, you will be asked. And have an answer prepared or else expect some awkward stuttering on your part and then watch their interest fade away as you try and remember the question.
2. Everyone is suddenly an expert on weddings.
You'll hear stories and advice (both solicited and not) from friends, family, coworkers, cashiers, people in the street, your mailman, pretty much anyone who has been married or knows someone who got married will tell you all about what "you should do". (As in, -GASP- "YOU KNOW WHAT YOU SHOULD DO?!!)
3. Your fiance might not care, and that's okay.
I really thought Sean would be one of those guys who would want to plan the whole thing with me, but he just was not interested. He knew and trusted that I would make everything look beautiful and so he stood behind me with support and encouragement, while I hot-glued our way to a great wedding. This doesn't mean he didn't care about the wedding or engagement. He's just not a crafty guy.
(Example: I asked him once, why don't you give me any ideas or anything? What if I wanted our entire wedding to be hot pink and zebra print??" And he said, "But I know that you wouldn't and I trust you to make it represent us in the best way.") Everyone has their talents and I'd rather Sean be honest than not.
4. You'll want to say, "fuck it." So many times.
By the end of, and most likely throughout, your engagement you will want to throw all your wedding stuff into a fire and dance around it with joy as you wait for them to call your name at the courthouse.
5. That being said, you will also reject the idea of hiring a wedding planner and then regret it later.
If you're inviting over 75 people, hire a wedding planner. It will be the very best decision you make because the stress, and it will come if it hasn't already, will not be worth it. The wedding planner is to the wedding what the epidural is to the labor. Or so I would imagine.
6. Your in-laws will reveal their true colors.
Whether those colors are pretty or ugly, you will know by the end of it.
7. Feelings will be hurt.
You will be told who to invite and more awkwardly, you will have people ask you why they weren't invited. There is no way around it: If you want to have a great, stress-free wedding, invite who you want and forget the rest. Don't let anyone bully you into inviting certain people. It's your day and one you will remember for the rest of your life. You don't want to look back and remember being surrounded by people that you didn't care much for or even know. Feelings will be hurt either way.
8. You will be told that your engagement, "goes by so fast" and it's true.
Although there will be many days when it feels like its taking forever, by the time the wedding begins, it has already ended and you're back at home looking around your same-old apartment and feeling withdrawals from realizing that its all over. So be happy, excited, and I encourage you to plan, plan, plan! This (is supposed to anyway) only happens once in a lifetime!
And when you feel like it's too much or you're ready to rip your hair out, just look over at that beautiful almost-spouse of yours and really force yourself to remember they are all worth it.
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