I am a good listener. To everyone but myself. My body has protested the wrongs it has witnessed. And I have:
– pushed through
– worked harder
– been resilient [to the point of maladaptation]
– survived
– succeeded
– routinely felt like a failure
I started reading When The Body Says No by controversial west coast Canadian MD Gabor Mate. Okay, listening. My broken brain/eye needs less reading. It has been a self-reflective and jarring ride.
My body has been saying no for a long time. I was about to write “I’ve only recently really started listening” but that doesn’t feel truthful.
The truth is, I trust my gut in work and parenting a child whose needs and challenges are special, high, whatever we call them. I trust my gut most of the time in friendships.
I don’t listen to my body tell me no. Enough. Stop. You are good enough.
I cannot seem to hear those messages, or couldn’t until my brain and eyesight broke in September. Now I have little choice but to listen. And more than that – I want to listen.
Starting over at this age and stage seems so misguided. Sad, really. Yet here I am, ever the late bloomer.
I am also struggling to learn to listen to my body. It’s hard! But you sound like you are doing a good job!
Late bloomers bloom the strongest. You can do this!