The day has come! I knew there was a point I would share the story I’m about to tell, but I wasn’t sure when that would be. When this day arrived I always told myself I would know it by what is happening around me. I know several people who are going through some tough times, not to mention the town where I live has had many moments of sorrow between losing a high school kid to the flu, fatal car accidents and losing a wonderful teacher! In times like these it is common to ask “why”. There are people who have faith and believe these types of things are God’s plan, while others may say this is Satan taking over. It could also be as simple as “stuff happens”.
I have personally had several challenges in my life that have put my beliefs to the test. In fact, when I was younger, I think I purposely put myself in challenging situations to see how life would play out and if God would step in. Whether I was running the streets of the South Side of Chicago after foster care kids, biking from Minneapolis to Chicago, interning at Cook County Hospital, working in Methadone clinics around the country, I knew deep down inside there was something bigger than me and that having faith in a higher power was more important than what worshipping place one attends or what religion one says they belong to.
There is no doubt my faith has been tested over the years. I spent almost a month sleeping in the ICU away from my family as my brother worked his way back to living after a horrendous car accident. My heart was once broken when the one I loved no longer loved me back. I have had the heartache of pregnancies not ending with the ultimate beautiful pictures one sees of a mother holding her baby. Loved ones have moved on in body to where I don’t get to see them as I’m accustomed to. I work with clients who have been through hell and back, sold as children, abused beyond comprehension and have never witnessed unconditional love. I don’t list these experiences to have a pity party for myself; I want to show that I have lived.
Recently I was in Target and ran into some good friends who had family in town. We stood there for about 15 minutes chit chatting and laughing it up! Who knew Target could be the social gathering place! Later I received a text from my friend. He said, “You were so funny today! Pure comedy!” I read that a few times and it got me thinking. My way in life has been to use humor to balance the challenging times.
In the world of therapy we are trained to have strict boundaries as a counseling session is all about the client and not about us and our ego. There is a time and a place when a therapist can share information about themselves, but we must first ask how the information would benefit the client. There are very few times I share my “stuff” with clients.
There is one story I have shared more than once and with not as much detail as I’m about to write. Let me preface this by saying, if you are eating or have a weak stomach, you may want to stop and think before moving on.
About four years ago, we decided to go to Disney over Spring Break. I must say that this was all for the kids as I would prefer to spend my time elsewhere. Seeing as we were going to Disney, we knew we couldn’t go without the world’s biggest Disney fans…the Griswolds! We had a great time! We did all the Disney things, played, ate, swam, walked, traveled to several countries and decided to end our stay with a Luau. Buddha left a few days early as he had to head back to Texas to save lives!
After having a great feast, shaking our hips and enjoying our last evening together we made our way through the Polynesian jungle to trek back to the Caribbean. Seriously, where else can you take a tram and a couple of shuttle buses and travel to different parts of the world? Well as we were still walking the jungle of Polynesia I heard and felt a rumble. No, not a tsunami, it was my tummy! The sharp pains, sweat, and the feeling of explosions occurring in my body took over. I looked at Pops and said I didn’t feel well and needed to get to a bathroom. Moments later, sitting on the porcelain throne was pure heaven. I felt so good!
We made it to the tram to take over to the Magic Kingdom where we would catch the shuttle bus to head back to the Caribbean. It was a busy time of night as the Magic Kingdom was closed for the evening and people were standing in line to catch their shuttle to their final destination of the evening. We were in line for the shuttle when the knives started to stab my insides again. I thought I was going to pass out, so I began to walk away and pray for this horrible pain ripping my insides out to go away. My mom followed me as I made my way to lean against a fence as I was holding on for dear life. This feeling was worse than childbirth! Moments later I told my mom I was dying and couldn’t hold it anymore! At that point it was like Mount St. Helen’s exploding, but instead of lava flowing down the volcano, it was a big hot mess shooting down my legs and out my new capri pants! My first words were, “thank you God! I feel so much better!” Moments later reality hit me as I said to my mom, “What are we going to do!” As those words came out of my mouth it was announced that there would be one more round of shuttles buses for the night. In Disney you can’t just hail a cab, so we needed to make that shuttle.
My mom’s first thought was to see if she could go into the Magic Kingdom and buy me a pair of shorts, great idea but they were closed for the night. I was still in shock and so glad death had escaped me, but soon the reality of my situation was taking hold. How was I going to get on a shuttle with a mess dripping down my legs and a smell following me everywhere I go! At this point my mom went into “mom mode”. Mom mode is when problem solving takes over and you will do anything for your child. She ran over to Pops who fortunately brought his big zip up sweatshirt out for the night, and then headed to a couple with a baby and asked if she could borrow some wipes.
Moments later my drawers were dropped with my backside facing the Magic Kingdom, my mom held the sweatshirt in front of me as I used the wipes to get myself all spic and span. Wipes, pants and undies in the garbage, the bottom half of my body was giving the Magic Kingdom a second moon for the evening! The sweatshirt soon became my outfit to wear back to the hotel. Before making our way back to the shuttle line I looked at my mom, handed her my phone and said, “Please take my picture.” I can’t even describe the look on her face, but being the good mother she is, she obliged to my request.
I have been on many bus rides, El rides, taxi adventures, but never one where I was going commando style! My family surrounded me as I boarded the bus. The rest of the riders must have questioned what type of family we were as you couldn’t slip a hair between our bodies! We were so stuck to each other as everyone tried to surround and protect me from humiliation and full exposure! My family not only had my back, they had every direction covered!
Why did I ask my mom to take a picture of me? Well, I had a brief flash that a picture of that moment would be helpful to me at some point. I was so right! Not only has it been helpful to me, I have shared it with some friends and a couple of clients. Why? Well, the picture represents this to me (please excuse my language)…”If you are having a shitty day…nothing can get shittier than this!”
I have been asked why I don’t include photos in this blog and the answer is I want readers to create their own images as they read, not to mention do you really need to know what I look like or what the other people in my life look like? With that said, this will be the one and only time I will include a picture as I have witnessed this picture help people. So with that said and my ego completely pushed aside and buried, I share with you the photo my mom took that day. I give you permission to share this with anyone you think this may help. Let my shitty moment be a reminder to the masses that life happens and we need to roll with it!
RISE AND SHINE!
Rise and Shine Girl Blog 