Today’s prompt and image come from the exquisite circus queen, Rachael Maddox. Rachael is a seeker and a soul-igniter and her animal card readings will connect you to your most primal, vital self.
Rachael writes:
I’m a big fan of muddy experiences. They become our greatest teachers when we’re wise enough to exfoliate with them; roll around in the deep until we finally feel ready to get clean.
Today, identify something muddy that kept recurring for you throughout 2013, and then ask yourself this: What’s the clear truth underneath this damn mud if I finally wash myself clean?
As I breathe in a deep breathe in response to this prompt so many images come to mind.
A time when my sister and I were in grade school and we created our own mud slide during a visit to my Papa’s farm. We slid down the back of the lake damn over and over again squealing with laughter. We had SOOOOO much fun. We had red mud from head to toe and got in SOOOOO much trouble (I think for ruining our clothes). It still makes me giggle and as a mom I also get why that would be a pain to clean up. I wish I had a picture to share 🙂
Cleaning up the messes -that’s what also comes up for me when I read the words “What’s the clear truth underneath this damn mud if I finally wash myself clean?”
What have I been mucking up this year? Two relationships that are very close to me. One a dear friendship and one a teenage daughter.
The clear truth of one is that it was time for change and that even though it hurts some good has come of this. The mud involves a misunderstanding and hurt feelings. It’s time to wash myself clean (why does this always feel more daunting that it turns out to be) by forgiving myself and her and renegotiating our friendship and where we want it to go from here. I’ve been waiting for the “right” time to do this. Through #Reverb13 blogging I’ve been realizing that the time is now.
So I’m committing to myself that I will have this (perhaps tough) conversation by the end of next week. Not sure if all the mud will come out in the wash but if I don’t attempt it will still be there like a stain that was neglected too long.
With my teenager the clear truth is that I have some “more” work to do on myself. Geez. The spiral keeps going around.
I need to ask myself some tough questions, “Where in my life am I shutting down and why?” “What am I resisting out of fear?” “What stinking thinking do I have going on in my head?”
My normally long fuse has been way too short lately as her teenage anxiety and shenanigans trigger feelings from my past of inadequacy. So this morning in addition to supporting her and her journey, I am committing to work on my “stuff.” To use the tools I know work and lead through example. To love myself, to take care of myself with healthy choices and to co-create and manifest in my life joy, laughter and love.
I still feel like I’m in the midst of this mud and it’s starting to get dry and uncomfortable. It’s for sure time to wash it off gently and find the gold underneath.
Wish me luck 🙂
Christine
Christine, thanks for letting me witness the truth in your life right now. I also wrote about relationships but from a different perspective. I have had to let some go without engineering any healing or resolution. This is new for me. To walk away from someone. To move toward the new. With regard to your daughter. She is so lucky to have you as her mom. You are so honest in the way you understand your own stuff in relation to what's going on with her. Wow! You've got my support!
Oh Christine, I raised 4 kiddies and survived it but can so relate to your muddy Teen messes…Just hang in there, it gets better and when it does you an sit back and wonder what all the fuss was about. When you build strong values and set good examples it can only go right and it looks and and sounds like you are on the right path….but going to wish you luck any way. (smile)
Thanks Ruth – I appreciate you and your support 🙂
Thanks Darlene – It's so good to know that those who have gone before have survived 😉 and I need all the luck and good thoughts I can get!!!
This journey is not for the fainthearted, is it? You are such an amazing mama for being able to see where your daughter's stuff ends and yours begins. You are very much leading by example here, by taking responsibility for what is yours. I hope, for both of you, that your daughter is inspired to do the same. x
Thanks Kat – me too 🙂
I often have friends who come and ask me questions when they need a different prospective on their teens. I think children of all ages tend to show us things within ourselves , sometime it is stuff we really love sometimes its stuff we wish we didn't see. my boys are yet to reach their teen years since my oldest is only 8 and half, lol. I hope 2014 is a great year for you and your relationships.
In also wrote about relationships for this prompt and taking responsibility for my part. This prompt was the hardest of all so far and the most rewarding. It is clear from your post how much you love the people in your life and I am sure they can see it.
Thanks so much for sharing these stories as part of Reverb- I learned so much!