[This post is dedicated to Maitri, an organization working with and working for the families of individuals with mental illness]We never gave up. You gave us up. Too soon. Too easily.
Yes, we are the tough-to-be-around people of this universe. We tax your mind, your heart, your skills. We bloom like a sunflower once and wilt like a parijaat in the evening. We are unpredictable. We are interesting, sometimes too much. It is fun watching us play but not fun when we land you a kick.
You tell us to behave like you, to be like you. Then all will be well. You think that is your compassion, your care. You tell us it is so easy—get up and move and move on. When we cry it is not that easy to be like you, you blame it on our weakness, of lack of courage, of wanting to wallow in this morass. You get angry, irritated, annoyed, and frustrated with us. How can we tell you we love being sunflowers and shudder when evening comes! How can we convince you that we fight hard to keep that evening at bay, for tomorrow, for day-after! How can we tell you the hard mental work we do to try and at least pretend to be like you and how exhausted we are at the end of it!
You shrug us off too soon. Because we are inconvenient. Because you cannot fit us in a box, in a category. Because you do not have time. Because you have other responsibilities so you want one less. Because you don’t want to feel guilty. Because you don’t want to be seen as insensitive. Because you care but don’t have the energy to care deeply. Because you cannot fix us.
So you tell us what to do and who we are and how we need to change. To be like you and yours.
Let us flow. Every river has its own characteristics. Enjoy what you can, when you can. Help when you can, however you can. If you can’t, move on. Someone else will come. Like you, we are also Goddess’s creatures. She takes care. Let us flow as we are—wild.
We have not given up. On our purpose. Maybe you did. A wee bit too soon.
Acceptance, please.
[Also read:
1. http://subhorup.blogspot.in/2013/03/mental-health-services-definition.html
2.http://serenelyrapt.wordpress.com/2014/01/10/have-you-ever-been-sad/
3.http://serenelyrapt.wordpress.com/2011/05/23/square-pegs/]
We threaten them. We challenge their intricate inner structures. If they could, they would press a button on the remote control of the universe and mute our existence. Only, they cant. Because even then their guilt wouldn't let them live in peace. I feel a deep compassion for them. It must be so tough to live their life!
ReplyDeleteThe challenge of dysfunction is really a gift. It teaches us to be compassionate - not only with others - but with our selves too. We have been conditioned into subscribing to a definition of normal, of predictability, of what is to be tolerated and what is not. This conditioning only ends up limiting us from receiving and rejoicing in the full spectrum of life. Deeply touched by this post.
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