Life is all about relationships

Of all the lessons I learned in my life, they all come down to this one realization:  Life really is ALL about relationships.  So now that I see everything here as a relationship, the same principles apply as what I was taught in kindergarten.  

 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.  - Matthew 7:12

Some would argue that this passage would give me permission to do evil if people do evil to me.  But I don't see it that way at all.  This is about searching within first and figuring out how I would like to be treated and then treat others in that way.  I once heard somebody tell me that most rapists would not like to be raped themselves.  Most murderers don't want to be murdered either.  

If we are really honest with ourselves, we all just want to be loved, appreciated and prosperous so that we can experience joy, peace, freedom, friendship and family.  The psychopaths, rapists, murderers, thieves and all around bad guys are merely a symptom of broken relationships and we can fix all of that with hard work and honesty with ourselves.  

As I sit here adding two new members to the Stewards of Terra Mater over the past two days, I experience a roller coaster of emotions.  I've delegated over 5000 steem, which works out to 99% of the vested steem in my wallet and I feel like I'm on cloud nine.  Especially when I see tears rolling down peoples faces, tears of joy!  That is how I like to be treated, so it only makes sense to pay it forward and do the same.  

But I also help people with their problems too and I am a witness to the pain and suffering that they experience.  It is very difficult as I am highly empathic, so I have to make sure I have firm boundaries.  That means that it is really easy for me to 'feel' what they are feeling because nine times out of ten, I've experienced the same kinds of challenges they are facing.  

Because of my experiences, many people see me as an elder and come to me for advice, assistance, counseling, guidance and help. My counsel is tough as I don't sugar coat what I see.  I think most people who really do want to change their lives appreciate my approach.  I've called people on their shit and some have walked away as their current behaviour would have to change if they really wanted peace within their lives. I've lost friends as a result of their own unwillingness to learn, change and confront their violent ways.  It is astounding how many people justify violence. 

Being a witness to the ugly side of people is tough work.  I do it because others were willing to do the same for me during my own recovery.  At times, I do indeed feel sad as I mourn the dark side of relationships.  Over the past few days I've not felt like writing at all as I've been experiencing a deep and profound sense of sadness and sorrow.  Parts of me wonder if something significant has swept over the face of the planet while other parts of me recognize that it is time to do some emotional processing.  So I give myself permission to process.  

What ever the cause, I embrace the feeling and find comfort in the sadness and sorrow.  I don't try to run or hide from those feelings but instead I embrace them and give them a great big hug.  I bath myself in those feelings so that I can explore what they mean, process them and let it go so that I don't have to carry it around with me for the rest of my life.  I find comfort in processing sadness and sorrow, much like I find comfort in joy and happiness.  I am not afraid of those feelings which makes it easier for me to embrace them, learn and listen.

It does not seem to matter if my helping people covers recovery from depression, broken marriage, confronting the state, murder, suicide attempt, family violence or any other topic.  I have confronted it all and I've talked to people of all walks of life regarding almost any relationship type issue that you can think of.  

The state did not qualify me to do this work.  Life did.  Creator put me on a path to learn the hard way what it takes to have a healthy relationship.  That experience almost killed me, but I survived and I pay it forward the best way I know how.  I've made my fair share of mistakes and I hurt a lot of people in my life.  

So while I continue to process the energies that are flowing through me right now, I will not be able to interact with people as I normally would.  I'm not asking for sympathy, just patience.  I know that I will bounce back and engage full steem ahead when I am done this processing.  I will do my best to do this in a healthy way and I hope this post helps others who are currently processing as well.  

Vincent van Gogh - Old Man in Sorrow