The shadows scare us because they represent the unknown and we are afraid of the unknown. We knew torment in our youth that is what we knew.

I’ve been told that we are given 2 chances at parent child relationships. The first is as children. We cannot always choose how our relationship is the first time around with our parents…but we can choose to make it better the second time around as parents to our own children. Something like that. I’m tired.

Have to work with some arrogant and selfish people these days who have hurt friends of mine. Not being able to make it right, hurts me. Not sure if the pain I feel is from them not listening or due to me not asking the right questions so that they want to listen. Am I a arrogant to want to be listened to? I’m not sure, I just know it hurts.

Guess I have some shadows to figure out and learn from.

Kate

I’m learning to be be comfortable with my shadows, without giving them the power over me they once had.

I like to think of them in terms of photography. Can you imagine photographs without shadows?

Perhaps living without shadows would be the same–without contrast and dull.

Taking mental stock might really be the first step of getting vis-a-vis with your demons. By keeping a journal you seem to have found your way for doing so… And to have caring people around that accept you the way you are certainly helps to put your demons to sleep – or at least to live with them. Just make damn sure that you don’t forget your next anniversary!

Being a photographic tree-hugger might simply provide a vital balance or anchor point. At least that’s the case for me when the going gets tough…

I used to keep a journal, written by hand, but that habit disappeared when I started to use the computer for writing, no longer drafting texts first by hand and only then typing them. Writing by hand with a fountain pen felt as if there wouldn’t have been anything between the thought and the text.

I think writing on a computer is not the same, it is much more impersonal. (Isn’t there even a religious sect which says that there is a devil inside each computer?)

I retrospect I feel that there was a lot of benefit in that kind of introspection. A little bit of journal-type writing each day helped to keep things in perspective. But somehow I can’t find the stamina to keep on doing it any more. However, if the (metaphorical) demons keep on pressing too much, I may have to pick up the pen once more. Thanks for reminding of this.