Are we too hard on ourselves and others at times?
I posted the following on Msil’s "Crazy Prisoner" thread but I wanted to start a new one because I think we all have felt this way at one time or the other.
Wondering why we can’t just get it together and leave the past behind?
Then I find that I think I have my life together and I’m wondering what’s wrong with every one else? Then it starts all over again!
I believe we sometimes expect too much and are too hard on others and ourselves.
Read Msil’s story first and then read this and then maybe we can understand a little better why we are going through these cycles.
Msil,
I’ve been thinking about this story.
If this guy had a happy well adjusted normal life before he served this long prison sentence and he had all his friends and family on the out side waiting for him with open arms when he got out, then I would think something was very wrong with him if he could
Not take his memories of this past life along with his wonderful support system and get on with life instead of being obsessed with life inside of the prison.
But that is not how it happens for so many.
This is closer to what happens.
He was raised in a terribly dysfunctional family never knowing what normal is.
In fact some of his family is in prison before him. He as a result of this foundation grows up and spends most of his life in prison. All his friends are in prison (such as they are) all he knows is prison life.
After this long life sentence he is release. Freedom at Last!! Or is it, he asks?
He’s never known any thing else and doesn’t know where to start.
No support system.
No Family
No Friends
No past to map a new life.
This is very scary and can be paralyzing.
We can become obsessed with our past because it’s all we know. We want our friends and family released from prison too!
We can over come this but no one has a right to tell us to “JUST GET OVER IT!”
So yes, we stand outside the gates staring back in.
Yes we will do just about anything to free the ones we love.
It just takes time.
Ranchette