On the Menu Tonight: Karma with a Side of Irony

Sometimes you just have to love the universe.  Last week, I got into an argument with a friend over a perceived slight.  (My perception) Before the fight, I had a whole conversation in my head about what this person not done and even what they had not said.  So into the conversation I went, ready for the fight.  After all was said and done fight and all, I thought I had learned all that I needed to know about these types of occasions. Well, the universe wanted me to make sure that I really got this point. 

Today, I had made what I considered an innocuous comment that really came back to bite me.  Karma begins. Apparently this comment was mentioned to someone, who shared it with someone else and I was blasted via email. (This seems to be the week of everyone yelling at me, sigh.)  I've let this person down, violated some trust and my behavior was not appropriate. My first inclination was to apologize, which I did of course.  (Did I mention that I am a middle aged, southern women) for any indiscretions on my part and that it was never my intention to hurt or disrupt any thing that was going on.  OK so far.  Not sure of the end result, but I know it was an honest “mistake”. 

My second thought was why didn't they just call or reach out to me and simply ask.  Ask, why did you say that, what was your motive (did you have one), etc.  As soon as I thought that, the circle was closed and the irony of the situation became apparent. 

Hadn't I just done the same thing not two days ago?  Hadn't I just reacted to what I thought was an indiscretion or slight to me?  Didn't I perceive the person who had “slighted” me as the “other”?

Talk about getting hit in the head with a brick.  How often do I look at you as the enemy?  Even if we are friends or colleagues, am I ready to pounce on you whenever the situation arises?  My defenses keep you always arms length away from me, as I am watching and waiting for you to do something that proves to me, you are not me – you are the “other”.  I am now able the see the separation in me that keeps me from you.  My thoughts about me bleed into my thoughts about you.  I am one that can be harmed and you are the one that can harm me.  I am powerless because you took my power. 

The circle has closed but I am now open.  Open to me standing in all that is me, smart, funny, and saying things I most likely shouldn't.  Open to you to react or respond to me, and meeting you where you are.  

Finally understanding that where you are has nothing to do with me and how you perceive me is simply your thoughts about me and really has nothing to do with me, the person. 

I stand simply in the truth that there is no me, there is no you, it’s simply we.  And the power we have is the power we share that can’t be taken from either of us.  The realization comes we are simply one. The irony of all of this is not lost on "we".  

Pandora’s Box Revealed it’s Treasure

Today was the day Pandora’s Box revealed its treasure.   I have spent the last few months, walking to all of the pain that I could find in my thoughts in my false belief that the treasure lies somewhere within this pain. If I could see, feel my way through..  But yet, there was always some residual darkness in this journey.  I felt something was always leering from right around the corner. But I was committed! I was being courageous in this journey, badge of honor; you know the crap we tell ourselves.  I was both the heroine and victim in my story. Offender and offended and so life went on, until today. 

Something very interesting happened. Earlier in the day I was having a conversation with a friend that turned into an argument as my “mind”, “emotion”, and the “me that was hurt” took over.  I couldn't move past those thoughts so I attacked.  I am hurt, so I will hurt you. And hurt I did. Offended turned into offender.   How quickly I believed those thoughts and how easy it was for me to turn. 

In a while after the conversation ended, I recognized what I had done, I called and apologized.  Well, was I blasted, apology not accepted, who did I think I was, etc.  The game played so often had begun.  I was the offended turned into the offender.  I was to be hurt again for hurting.  

But something happened in the middle of that conversation. I listened, with no judgment.  I knew she were right. I had done all the things she said, not only in this instance but in many, many more.  I was the offender.  I played this game, and I was excellent at it. 

Now the interesting part, during this conversation “the one that observes” just watched. In a moment there was a space where time simply stopped and in that moment, I was free.  Free from what drove me to the argument, free from the pain of the attack, and free from the future consequences.  I knew I was neither the offender nor the offended; I was so much more and yet so much less. I appeared to be the space between the works and the space around the words, but somehow NOT the words or their intended meaning.  This experience may have cost me my very best friend (years of built of resentment and anger) but in this moment, simply “free”.  Something “broke” something “changed”. Can this game truly be over? 

I think, I may lose her as my friend and yet I am free, happy.  My first instinct is to call and share this moment with her, but alas I cannot.  She is still really pissed at me.  And I understand why, ironically that makes me laugh out loud. 

In full disclosure, I hope it’s not seen as I “used” her to get to here.  I didn't and would never.  The consequences are real, her feelings are real and her anger and pain she believes I have caused her are real.  And I own that and am truly sorry. I behaved in a way that she can call those beliefs real. I am just free from the belief that, her anger and judgment makes me unlovable thus; who I am is unlovable. She may never forgive me and yet I know there is nothing that either of us needs to forgive each other for.  We have seen each other as both the offender and the offended.  And in reality we are neither.  We are simply human and we believe what we are taught to believe about ourselves.