Ice Cream Sandwich

Have you ever had an ice cream sandwich? Two boring cookies with a yummy, luscious centre of ice cream. What am I saying? Who hasn’t had an ice cream sandwich? Well at least the cookies are chocolate. But they are usual soggy.
Kind of reminds me of life. You have the soggy bits. You may even have a lot of bits that are soggy in your life. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt to prove it!
Nonetheless, that is life isn’t it? Now have a look at the picture of the ice cream sandwich. What is the part that stands out for you? If you are like most people, your eye will be drawn to the dark brown soggy cookies. The white just seems to blend right in with the background.
Again, just like life. Sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees. – very familiar saying. Sometimes it seems like we just go from crisis to crisis, bad to worse. But do we really? Is your life really all that bad? Are there not some yummy times of ice cream?
As I write I look back on these last three and a half years. Exactly three years ago I started to have warnings from my body (heart) that my life had to change. I have gone through a very painful separation and divorce (yes admit the pain; it’s best for healing – just don’t dwell there). I watched the person I loved and married after ten years suddenly, and I mean very suddenly, change into something I couldn’t recognize. I watched as addictions took over his life and subsequently mine until I made the sad choice to walk (on a metaphysical level my heart trouble was being caused by a broken heart as we romantics call it). I have been to the brink of ruin financially. I have not had or even wanted a relationship. I have seen my consulting go down to nothing. I have lost several friends for various reasons (or choices). I have watched my kids go through a very painful experience as they watched their beloved Grandmother die. I have had three addresses and will now be moving yet again! I have had to go to the government and ask for financial aid in the form of admitting to be disabled (rather slightly, but all the same). I have had to admit all of this to my friends and family.
I could take you down a longer and more winding road of memories (45 of 50 years). But why? I want ice cream!!!
Now what about that ice cream. Well over the same period I have experience the joy of having my business flourish before it crashed. I had the joy of starting to write this blog only this year. When I moved out on my own I found the most lovely place. I have affectionately called it my healing home. I have had the support of wonderful friends and family. I have watched my son fall in love with a wonderful young woman. I have bought a new car on the same day as my daughter, Sarah, did. I moved into friends’ house while they moved away and have had the absolute thrill of my life renovating and redecorating. That spoke to my creative abilities big time! I have made new and wonderful friends. I have started at a place of work that I love. I actually love my job for the first time in many, many years. I am still working with clients as a consultant. I am now studying to be certified as a Celebrant. I have had a steady, albeit very small, income through the months I needed to physically recover from the trauma of my divorce. I have been to Mexico! I have been on my first cruise from Mexico to Hawaii and then spent 3 days there with my son, Tim. As he said once, “that was a trip for the books”. And so, so, so much more.
So I have a choice here:

I can be dwelling on the unsettled life I’ve been living these last few years…
OR
I can be ever so grateful for the ice cream!

I choose…………………

……………Ice cream

MY TRUTH:I have learned that the secret to a joyful life is not to just endure the soggy bits, but to seek out and rejoice in the ice cream in between the soggy bits. It’s hard work sometimes; very hard work. But in the end it is truly what keeps me sane. It is truly what keeps me connected to myself and a benevolent Force that I believe is holding this all together. What about you???? I would really love to hear what you feel below.

Ice Cream Sandwich