Monday, May 4, 2015

Grief

Sometimes I type small tidbits on my phone. I usually don't do anything with them, but I just found one I wrote over the weekend. My previous post is from feeling overwhelmed by sadness for several days (maybe even more like weeks, months or a few years).

Here's my note:
Most days I love that empathy is one of my strengths, but sometimes... Sometimes, I get so overcome by the hurt and pain of others--especially when I couple it with my own hurt and pain. 
Why is the universe so unfair? Why do those with such great love, respect and appreciation for others get screwed out of such basic happiness? Happiness that so many others attain without trying? 
I'm exhausted by it all, but I have to trudge through the grief because I don't think average people understand what I mean (that's not a slam on others; it's just what I believe to be true). It's hard to explain why I'm so sad.


In that respect, I am hopeful that I can focus on the positive and become a happy person who can complete normal tasks (like laundry).


Nothing makes sense

Nothing makes sense anymore (The use of the word anymore is rather bold since it implies that the world used to make sense. I’m not sure it ever has.)

There are four employees in my office (there used to be nine).
There are eight custodians; there are five employees in the cross cultural studies office, I saw someone’s title this morning was note taker, BUT there are four employees in the marketing and communications department who are charged with marketing for the entire university.

One of my childhood friends has been in and out of the hospital with a debilitating disease for months. As a child, she was a vibrant and super talented gymnast who was probably so much healthier than me. Now, she spends her days mostly sitting.

Another girl I went to high school with has Stage 4 cancer. She is a mother of two who lost a baby due to a rare disease a handful of years ago. I remember her as one of the sweetest cheerleaders.

The world does not make sense. Nothing is fair.

My sister-in-law has been trying to have a baby for four years. She has had two miscarriages, and her doctors have not been able to give her any clear-cut logic that helps understand why she isn’t cuddling a baby of her own.

My other sister-in-law has had miscarriages, too. She is still waiting for a baby of her own.

A couple I only know through acquaintances and blogging has been trying to have a baby for years. After they opted to try for adoption, they were ready to welcome a baby boy into their lives when his birth parents had a change of heart.

The world is not fair. Nothing makes sense.

The husband of a woman who played basketball at my college (a few years older than me; I never played on her team, but against her in practice and alumni games) was in a terrible car accident and the outlook is bleak. They have five children and the wife is a stay-at-home-mom who homeschools.

Where is the justice?

The news has been blowing up about more riots in Baltimore last week ... this comes a few months after the riots in Missouri. From what I can tell, these are the result of injustices that people believe to be the result of racism. Racism! I thought that was reserved for history books, but it’s still very much alive. Why?

I have no energy to take care of my family these days. This morning Denny was asking if he had clean socks and jeans. A part of me was ticked because he’s a grown man who can use a washing machine, but mostly, I’m ashamed and appalled that I have no drive to accomplish the basics needs of my family. I’m actually not as busy as I was a year ago, so what’s my problem?

It would be easy for me to complain and say I have too much on my plate, but that’s not the issue. I’m just sad. I’m so sad that I don’t know what to do. I start cleaning a room and then get distracted and never return to it. I have intentions to clean, cook, decorate, but my house is a disaster.

I can’t seem to shake this feeling of helplessness. Nothing makes sense. Life isn’t supposed to be this hard.

My kids are so cute, sweet and adorable, and yet, I’m sad. My sister had a baby five days ago. He is so adorable and perfect. I still feel sadness like I’ve never felt in the past.

For a long time I have been waiting for a full-swing shift in how I feel, but it seems like I continue to feel more sadness. Every little thing that doesn’t swing my way seems like a huge, staggering loss instead of the tiny bump it usually is.


Nothing is fair. Nothing makes sense.