Guilty as charged.. I am a WAW.

[smartcookie]

Hi Bridge, the emotional outpouring is tiring isn't it.

I think I've had 6 counselors/therapists/doctors over the years. Some had no clue & I moved on quickly. Others, like the one I'm seeing now, seems to have a crystal ball & I wonder how the heck is he so smart about me specifically. Just boggles my mind, how planned out his approach is, how he meets me where I'm at. How he changes as I grow. It's really fascinating. (oops, this isn't supposed to be about my psychologist, sorry)

I love your analogies. I don't think they're silly at all. I think you may want to wrap your bucket in those air bubble plastic wrap protective stuff for a while.

Here's what I realized (or I always knew it, I just didn't "know" it, ya know ?) just within the last few weeks or so. If I fill up my own bucket, & don't "need" anybody else to, I'm better off. Also, if I protect my own bucket, & don't let anybody else's negative crap knock mine over, or shoot holes in it...I'm better off.

Here's a short story to show an example; not long ago we were in a car accident. This other guy hit us. I morphed into a mother bear for a few moments, & wanted to rip the guy to shreds for endangering my 4 cubs who were all in the car. A while later, one of my kids says "mom, that guy called you a witch". I laughed, & said "I could care less what he calls me, he can call me an alien from another planet, I don't depend on my truth to come from that jerk (feel free to insert the name husband, neighbor, co-worker, lol)"

So......why do we push our own truth aside ( & let our bucket take on damage) just because we married the person ?

Do you feel like all the nerves are on the outside of your body ? Like you have 3rd degree burns already, & somebody comes up & slaps you on the back to say hi ?

I know that feeling. I hate that feeling. I feel for you. I care about you.

gentle warm safe hugs, & a nice cup of soothing herbal tea (if you like them)