I’ve been blocked in my writing for a bit now.

Okay, weeks!

I’ve been working with the marvelous Debora Seidman of Writing The Prayer of Your Life. And, today we had a fun session that I want to share with you.

Essentially, I have two parts of me that are in conflict.

When I told Debora that it was like the clash of The Titans (think Greek myths), she suggested I create a play with these two characters.

So, I made up this play. What was fun is I got to be the Director and the playwright. And, then as the play unfolded I got to be a character in the play.

What was really freeing was when I got stuck Debora kept saying, “it’s a rehersal! You can do anything!”

WOW! That lead to cool events and major ahas.

It was fun Playing with words… and characters. I can’t wait to see what happens in the play!!

I know several independent professional women who are DRIVEN!

And, killing themselves… not so softly.

They keep going and going… pushing, driving, even when they’re ‘coughing
up a lung’.

Why?

Can you say it?

F E A R

Many, maybe most, of the independently employed women I know FEAR living on
the streets, eating dog food. They have "Bag
Lady Syndrome".

What is BLS?

From what I’ve observed it’s the irrational fear that – in spite of all
evidence to the contrary – they will suddenly, spontaneously lose everything
they own — and, be living on the street, begging.

It’s nuts!

Perfectly sane (well mostly women who can run any meeting, manage a mega project, beat out most guys, and they just can’t STOP working!

So, they get ‘little’ things like Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Asthma, Pneumonia, and other stress-related conditions. And, still they keep going!!

Don’t matter none what their friends or husbands or partners or lovers say.

They is running scared!

So, folks help me here PLEASE…

how do we get them to STOP

and take care of themselves?

I’m asking for your ideas!!

I am so bloody sick of being advised to be ‘realistic’!

F that!

What in hell is wrong with being a bloody, raging Optimist?

After all, the high priest of Positive Psychology, Martin Seligman, a self confessed crumudgeon, is probably the most vocal supporter of the positive effects (and affects) of optimism.

Optimists live longer! Have more fun!! And, are damn well more fun to be with!!!

So, why the hell do the Fing "Realists" act as if they are God’s blessed army, right-hand "man", and generally better than us.

I get called a "Flake". A "Polly Anna". Oh, and worst of all "unrealistic"!!

Oh, scary.

You bet I’m un-Fing-realistic!!

I’d be freaking dead if I weren’t.

It’s because I fucking well believe "THERE IS AN ANSWER" out there somewhere. Have gone after that answer will all my goddam unrealistic, optimism… that I have managed to beat the crap out of my Bipolar Affective Disorder and am pounding the shit out of the pain associated with my Fibro.

And, I’m bloody OPTIMISTIC that one day SOON.. . I will live without pain.

So, FUCK REALISM!!

This report from Psychology Today online, suggests that by grabbing the cell phone to talk to a friend the instant a bad mood strikes we lose our independce. Their suggestion is that by mood managing this way we reduce our ability to tolerate challenges.

Hmm!

That annoys me. I think I’ll call my friend Brenda to chat about it!