Manage, don't banish

"I don't like feeling 'betwixt and between,'" Liam said.

"Nobody does," I said. "But being uncomfortable sometimes is part of life. Do you want to get high when you feel betwixt and between?"

"I really, really do," Liam said. "I don't crave booze so much as I crave being numb."

"You want to banish that uncomfortable feeling. The trick is to manage, not banish feelings. Eating Xanax will banish your feelings. Exercise, meditation, and prayer will help you manage them."

Julie said, "I'd like to banish them too! Why can't they make a pill that banishes feelings without making you an addict?"

"Even if such a pill existed, I'd still say it was better to manage unpleasant feelings. When you manage them, you feel more in control. There's no hangover, and you get the satisfaction of facing rather than escaping your problems. You learn you're tougher than you thought. Besides, unpleasant feelings serve as warning that something is wrong."

Today I will manage, not banish, my feelings.

AArdvarks (c) 2013 by Ken Montrose