CHOICES II-17 - We can do this the easy way or . . .

Robin Cunningham Living With It Advocate and Executive Robin Cunningham holds a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology from the... Send Message Subscribe: Robin Cunningham

Sunday, January 25, 2009
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In books, movies and TV shows we've all heard the phrase - "We can do this the easy way or the hard way, the choice is yours." In any context this line offers a clear choice. The consequences of that choice are implicit, but nonetheless quite clear. In this series, CHOICE...

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choices
DCROY9633
Monday, January 26, 2009 at 04:47 PM

It irritates me no end when others who have not experienced sz make light of my situation. Yes, I do consider myself greatly recovered, but it is very difficult to make the right choices, still. I know everyone in the world has to make choices, but not everyone has to make choices that affect their mental status every day. Like taking meds. Like deciding yes, I will get up and make something of my day. Most people take it for granted that their minds will function correctly every day. They take for granted that they have the ability/opportunity to get up and go to work every day. They have not lived in hell for years.

But it encourages me no end that we (with sz) still DO have choices. I can make good choices or bad choices and pretty well understand what I am risking. I can choose to do nothing and accomplish nothing, or I can choose to help others and feel the satisfaction I've made someone else's day a little better. It is very rewarding, too, to find out I am really good at helping others. A 40-hour work week doing accounting and answering phones never made me feel that good about myself. A big paycheck never made me feel that good about myself. I can look at myself in the mirror now and smile.

Carolyn

re: choices
Robin Cunningham
Monday, January 26, 2009 at 05:17 PM

Carolyn:

You are so right in what you say. Others haven't got a clue and probably never will, but they still think they are in a position to pass judgment. I find some satisfaction in the fact that they often fools of themselves.

I leave you with this -

GLASS

It is so simple,

And yet profound,

This issue of the glass

And what we've found.

It's both a window

And a mirror.

It's what we see,

Not if it's clear.

With claim to reason

In what's expected,

Some find themselves

In glass reflected.

And thus circumscribed

By clarity of sight,

They never see, or become,

What they might.

While yet others,

All less than whole,

Look through the glass

Into the soul.

They find pain,

But also hope,

Both out of focus,

With which to cope.

If truth bears promise,

And narcissism not,

Which perspective in the glass

Is better sought?

It is so simple,

And yet profound,

This issue of the glass

And what we've found.

Robin

re: re: choices
Zorica
Saturday, March 07, 2009 at 05:04 AM

This is a beautifull poem.i wish i can talk to you.

I have a schizophrenic son whose life is misery so mine and his younger brother. We live in a bloody circle of sz.

I hope my son will be able to move on with his life and accept sz and make the best from it.

I cannot acept his illnes even after a year so I am not blamin him for the same feelings.

It destroyed us .

I enjoyed readin your posts

Zorica

re: choices
Craig
Monday, May 25, 2009 at 03:20 PM

Hi Carolyn, .

I so appreciate what you had to say. My son says the identical thing so I know from him the struggle he has with others not getting what it is like to not be able to simply "get on with things" like people who do not have sz. He says he feels alone and that nobody else understands what it is like for him. Reading your post lets us know he is not alone and that you are not alone either.

Thank you, again.