Emerging victorious

For the last 7 months I removed myself from nearly all activities.  I pulled back from all but one dear friend.  It's not that I've been in hiding.  Things got so bad I had to scramble to insulate myself from the hurricane that pounded the shores of my heart, ripped away my carefully patched-up shingles, and shook the very foundation of my soul.

My dearest Princess, who struggles with bipolar disorder and substance addiction, set my world into a combination tail spin - nose dive this spring.  Her breakdown tore at my heart and tore up our family, but thankfully she's healing.  We're healing.

I am so thankful to NAMI -- the National Alliance on Mental Illness -- for their amazing support and education.  They have become my lifeline.  (If you have a loved one with mental illness, I cannot say enough about their Family-to-Family Education Program.  Go, and learn.)

I am so thankful to my therapist, who gave me much-needed validation and hope.

And most of all I'm thankful to my dearest friend D, who patiently sat and listened to every vent, tirade, stream of cursing and crying flowing out of my mouth and who quietly prayed for me through all of it.

I don't expect for a minute that this ride is over (and I pray that the next hurricane won't be a Category 4 like this last one) ... but I know that no matter what lies ahead, my heart and soul and mind are stronger than ever before.