Early on in my grieving/healing journey I wrote often of my drop into Cuckoo Luckoo Land. It was the land I believed I stepped into the day Russell went into the hospital for a still mysterious reason. I stayed there through his week of hospitalization and then for months after his death as our kids and I wandered around in shock and sorrow.
In Cuckoo Luckoo Land things are even more bizarre than in Alice’s Wonderland. Not only are things bizarre and weird they, but even the most joyous of events like birthdays and holidays are twined up with pain and grief. It’s such a bizarro place. What’s up is down. What’s in is over. What’s out is in between. There are no clear opposites. There is a little of everything in life – light, darkness, pain, joy, hope, despair, love, loss. It’s simply Cuckoo Luckoo.
Most of the time now, I no longer wander in that land. My healing journey has slowly and steadily brought me out of that space which I am very grateful for. But every once in awhile I can feel myself inching closer to there. What I discovered last week is that I will sometimes start seeking the hidden door that would drop me down in there again. As memories pop up on Facebook around this time it’s super easy to get sucked back into Cuckoo Luckoo Land as I remember all of that crazy first 6 months. I read one thing and next thing I know I’m reading dozens and crying my way through my day.
I did that goofy, open the door to the memories and Cuckoo Luckoo Land several times last week, getting pulled deeper and deeper into the depressive dark places. It really sucked considering there were some gorgeous, sunny days and I didn’t want to leave my house even for the sun. Finally after a few days of that, which included some emotional eating, I said enough and stopped reading the Facebook memories. Well now, what a fascinating thing. I stopped slipping and sliding as much through my days.
So often we simply can’t stop ourselves for just taking a peek at the memories from the past, no matter how painful they might be. For me that can take me way too close to stepping into Cuckoo Luckoo Land and I’ve just got to STOP! I experience enough pop up memories and grief bursts that I don’t need to go seeking them out.
I’m in control of what I look at and what doors I choose to open. That’s what I am remembering and embracing this week! I really can say no to reading all of those things in the past and say YES to staying in THIS time, THIS moment. Hmmm, taking my own wisdom advice might be a good thing.
Dream Weave Coaching - Lara K Peterson 