Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group
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Good Morning, Friends! Thank you to all who responded to my post yesterday on "Blessings in Disguise." I appreciate your support during this difficult time of estrangement with my daughter, and I value your honest feelings, even where they differ with my own. Regarding "Blessings:" I am practicing Zen Buddhist. Buddhists are, according to their dogma, atheists. I am not. Buddha wasn't either, but he steered clear of that discussion because his Practice was centered on non-attachment- one of the greatest causes of our suffering. Instead, he positioned himself as a "physician." He stated simply that he taught only about suffering and the healing of suffering.
I use Zen for training my mind. It is a daily Practice.
But for myself, I do not "believe" in God- I am "aware" of the Presence of God in my life, in everyone I encounter, in all creatures, in all of nature, and in the mysterious void. In my view, all experience is a blessing, because it provides the opportunity for inner development. I think of it as "spiritual sculpture." With Practice, we chip away at our delusions, we reveal truth: who we really are, what is really happening, without our ego-mind distortions.
This is how I spend my time- whatever else I might be doing.
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Hey All...I hope that you have a lovely, peaceful beginning of your weekI have a bunch of chores that need doing but may put them off til tomorrow and just hang out with my landlord/roomie todayWhat about you?...Anything special going on?Have a great day and take good care of you!!..Xo
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Once again I've had a fever today. I'm not going to the hospital because that's a huge waste of time but I did schedule a dr appointment for Wednesday afternoon.
I wasn't looking to open a debate (which isn't appropriate on this board). I was only, in one line, looking to explain MY reaction to the concept of "blessings in disguise".
((((((In the quietest voice I can manage over the internet, I'll repeat that as an atheist, neither me nor my children have ever or will ever experience a blessing, and for us, and perhaps only for us...that is a good thing.))))))
Moving on...
I didn't know that you were also estranged from your daughter. That's a hundred times more difficult.
A number of years ago, DS used to have an active Estrangement Board...several actually. I was friends with quite a few of the members and even met a couple in real life. It is a difficult complicated, challenging, heartbreaking situation. The "reasons", for those who knew them, were all over the map. From drug addiction, to parental alienation, to resentment over parenting mistakes, to the child joining a cult, to the child's spouse not liking the in-laws (that one seemed most common).
These were NOT parents who had abused their children. But sometimes they were the "good" parent, while the other parent was absent in the child's younger years.
Anyway, I have no idea of what your particular situation is, but I WILL repeat...I am very sorry for what you are going through. It IS a pain like no other.
I'm glad that you've found something that works for you and I'm really sorry that you and your daughter are estranged
I absolutely agree that what starts out as something terrible can turn around into something awesome....
Look at the story The Hurricane as an example.... Rubin Hurricane Carter became an advocate for injustice/wrongful conviction for the rest of his life
I don't know what made me think of his story but it came to mind
I hope that you and your daughter can find some healing soon.... Big hug.....xo
I love that Hurricane movie, SunCloud. And that great Bob Dylan song about him, too.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_(Bob_Dylan_song)