Ever since therapy with Kristopher, I learned that there is HUGE power in facing your fears. HUGE POWER. I could be wrong but I have observed (ever since I learned about "facing your fears") that people run away from anything they are scared of. I did too before Kristopher taught me. But guys, that's wrong. There is power in facing them! REAL POWER. The fear GOES away! So if there is something I am scared of...I am doing it. I am doing it. And then it is like magic. I am not so scared anymore. And sometimes not scared at all ever again. And then I feel cool. And more importantly, empowered.
Joel, a new therapist I see sometimes, believes that "almost all the issues that people need to address come down to empowerment, and he will work with you to help you improve your level of empowerment so that you can face life with strength and confidence." He has been teaching me about empowerment. It is really dang amazing. And fulfilling. And brings me joy.
(I don't look at therapy like others do. I look at therapy as an opportunity to learn from other people. I don't think it means I have "problems". Therapy gives me a chance to glean from other's insight. I love that!)
Since being married and having kids, I have really NEVER traveled alone or much at all. Too many kids to drag along, not enough money, unreliable vehicles, homebody, husband did all the driving.
So when my daughter was asked to be a bride's maid in California and was scared to go alone I told her we would go and I would drive! And I have NEVER done that before. But when I watched my brother conquer the California traffic like it was nothing, (once when we visited and my mom drove) I was frustrated that I would be scared and not able to handle. It is a LOT of chaos here.
Since then I have always wanted to drive to California and manage everything that needs to be managed like a real live grown up. AND drive down Lombard street in San Francisco.
So...we are here. I drove 12 hours yesterday to Vacaville and it was fine! I didn't even fall asleep and kill us which was also a fear. I proved to myself I can drive far and in traffic and keep us all alive. (Thank you to a GPS, navigating a map is a whole different story.)
So here are some pictures about our first few hours (hahaha) of the trip. I have some down time in the hotel this morning (thus the blogging) while Justine is at the wedding. I am going to dye my hair, watch Kate swim, check the oil in the car, and read!
Justine in her bride's maid dress.
Kate HATES when I go anywhere and also cried because Justine was going to California. One day we decided to just bring her as a surprise! So we woke her up the morning we were leaving (yesterday) with her bags all packed and brought her. Actually, she woke up at 5:45am, crying because Justine was leaving. She was MISERABLE to drive with during the long ride. But she is all good now!
Reading my book on how to help people with mental illness (such as schizophrenia), who don't think they have mental illness, stay on their medicine.
It is a beautiful morning. Last night we were nervous. We got to the hotel late, my bank cards kept getting denied, there were people everywhere that we weren't used to, and the bathroom at the hotel was dirty.
It is amazing what a new day can bring.
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