ComputerHunter.org

 

Dont Take It Personally


Many of you already know that I've been divorced for 5 years now (Martinis for Everyone!), but I learned more than a few valuable lessons in those 5 years that I'm going to share with you.

When my ex-husband first left, I was almost literally drowning in thoughts of "What's wrong with me?" I lay awake nights thinking of how I could have been different, and what I could have changed about myself to make the outcome different.

Until one day, a bolt of lightning struck me. I was at home, day after day, hour after hour, minute after minute, caring for 3 children while my husband was at work socializing with other adults, male and female. Treating himself to dinner out with "clients" after work, most often to meals of sushi and dishes like teriyaki chicken, while the children and I feasted on Kraft Dinner. I thought at that time, that being completely wrapped up in who I was as a mother, probably made me a little neglectful of who I was as a woman. I mean, who has time for make-up when you're running to and from ballet classes and piano lessons, along with being literally showered with whatever the baby decided that he didn't want to eat for dinner? Make up? What the hell's that?

My bolt of lightning was this; I was (and am) the mother of 3 children. I did my job with regard to caring for those children, making sure that they had food on the table, and clean clothes to wear. If that job required that I look like a dish-rag part of the time, he would just have to deal with it. His way of "dealing with it" included 'play time' with people outside of the relationship that he had with myself and our children, and that was his decision. There's nothing that I could do about his decision. I could though, start making some decisions of my own.

I first decided that divorce was mandatory here. I went through the various stages. After which time, I realized that this divorce thing could be whatever I chose to make it. It could be my chance to grovel endlessly in self-pity, and beg him to come back. But I didn't want him back. Once he left, it felt as though a huge brick had been lifted from my chest. I could breathe again. My household was much more relaxed. Why on earth would I want him back?

I realized then, that this was actually my chance to make my life what I wanted it to be. I accepted that I couldn't control his actions. I could though, control exactly how I reacted to what he did. I realized that what he did wasn't about me. Yes, it very definitely affected me, and our children, but I had to learn how not to take it personally. What he did, he did for his own selfish reasons, and there's nothing that I could have done to change the outcome. There was absolutely nothing wrong with me.

And that's the lesson for today. Learn not to take the behavior of others, personally. You cannot control the actions of others. You can control how you react to the actions of others.

Martinis for Everyone!

Debbie Burgin

Debbie Burgin is a divorced mother of 3, and owner of two businesses, http://www.warnerdigitalmedia.com, and http://www.debbieburgin.com, who believes that life actually gets better after divorce. "You have to make the decision that a better life is what you want. This is your chance to start over." Read more about getting through the divorce process at http://www.debbieburgin.blogspot.com







Google News - Top Stories

Canada.com

Hurricane Ike sends folks packing
CNN - Sep 6, 2008
MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- People from the Caribbean to the Florida Keys were scrambling Saturday to get out of the way of Hurricane Ike, which forecasters say has the potential to do serious damage.
Video: Raw Video: Ike Pounds Turks and Caicos AssociatedPress
all 3,987 news articles


ABC News

US seizes Fannie and Freddie
CNNMoney.com - 5 hours ago
Historic move would place twin mortgage buyers into the hands of new regulator. Top executives are out. By David Ellis, CNNMoney.com staff writer NEW YORK (CNNMoney.
Video: Feds Take Over Mortgage Giants AssociatedPress
all 4,386 news articles


Biden on Palin's speech: Style but no substance
CNN - Sep 4, 2008
(CNN) -- Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden praised his Republican counterpart's acceptance speech as "incredibly well-crafted and delivered," but said Sarah Palin's rhetoric lacked substance.


Boston Globe

Official says nuclear race with India likely
GulfNews - 31 minutes ago
By Marten Youssef, Staff Reporter Abu Dhabi: Pakistan's defence attache in the UAE says a nuclear arms race will follow the Nuclear Suppliers Group decision to lift a three-decade ban on nuclear trade with India.
India Joins Nuclear Market Slashdot
US Congress seen passing India nuke deal eventually Reuters South Africa
all 2,301 news articles


Rice discusses counter-terrorism in Tunisia
Reuters - Sep 6, 2008
By Sue Pleming TUNIS (Reuters) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice discussed north African counter-terrorism efforts with Tunisia's leader on Saturday in an energy-rich region periodically hit by violence blamed on al Qaeda.
Rice set to make history in Libya WZTV
Pakistan has "good way forward" after poll - Rice Reuters India
Gulf Times
all 504 news articles

Google
 

Copyright © 2006 Computer Hunter - A Division of Arthur´s Job Base