I'd rather be whole than happy.

Hello lovelies,

This week I graduated from therapy!

I've been seeing my extraordinary therapist

for about 6 years now,

and this week, she and I agreed:

thanks to the work we've done together

(and thanks to my giant shed full of coaching tools)

I know how to free myself.

*

Take note:

we did not agree that my life is now perfect,

and that every issue is resolved.

We did not agree that I have no worries

no shames

no unhelpful tendencies.

We also did not agree that It's All Good:

in fact, when we took a moment

to look to the road ahead,

we saw that I have plenty

PLENTY

challenges coming my way.

But

I know how to free myself.

From anxiety loops.

From other people's opinions.

From situations that suck.

From freaking out about our country, and our planet.

From my own impossibly high standards

(okay, still working on that last one).

*

My life is not exactly - or not exclusively - happy.

And I wouldn't want it to be.

I live on Planet Earth, so

I'm angry.

I'm sad.

I'm irritated.

I'm wistful.

I'm afraid.

I am only sometimes happy.

I'm not pursuing happiness, though.

*
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

If you ask me,

that last part is as overrated -

as emptily idealistic -

as the white dude who wrote it.

When we're pursuing happiness more than anything,

we're denying so much of the beauty of humanness.

And - frankly - we're likely fucking over our fellow humans.

(Amirite, Sally Hemings?).

Much more compatible with Life and Liberty

is the pursuit of Wholeness.

You can find a bit of all of that -

rightnowthisminute -

by going where your heart and gut are trying to lead you.

Go ahead!

If you get stuck,

I will help you

learn how to free yourself.

I promise: your pursuit of wholeness

is requisite to creating liberty and justice for all.