• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Tumblr

Divorced Moms

Online community for divorced women and single mothers, advice on Relationships, Health, Beauty, Sex, Parenting, Finances, Divorce Blogs, Resource Articles and more

  • Log In
  • Register
  • About Us
    • Write for Us
    • Our Partners
    • Divorce School
    • Advertise
  • Blogs
  • The New You
    • Surviving Divorce
    • Work, Career & Money
    • Dating, Sex & Relationships
    • Style, Health & Fitness
    • Financial Help For Divorced Moms
    • Change This Now
  • The Ex
    • Domestic Abuse
    • Infidelity
    • Narcissism and Personality Disorders
  • Family
    • Children and Divorce
    • Co-parenting
    • Single parenting
    • Child Abuse
    • Blended Families
    • Custody and Visitation
    • Handling the Holidays
  • Divorce Process
    • Where to Begin
    • Separation and Mediation
    • State Divorce Laws
    • Child Custody and Support
    • Money Matters
    • Marital Problems
    • In the News
    • Podcasts
  • Video
  • Podcasts
  • Professional Directory
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blogging
    • Blogger Space
    • Guest Posts
    • Giveaways
  • Parental Alienation
  • Women's Issues
    • Beauty
  • Adoption
  • Divorce
    • Parenting
    • Custody
    • Relationships
  • Special Needs Children
    • Mental Illness
  • More...
    • Books and Writing
    • Prayer Box
    • Uncategorized
    • Celebrities
    • Social Issues
    • What I'm Thankful For
Divorce, Relationships

Thank You God for Most These Amazing Days

August 10, 2012
by Pauline Gaines

My last post about working with a 15-year-old cutter leveled me. Maybe it was confronting the depths of this girl’s pain. Maybe it was confronting the limits of what I can handle as a therapist. I woke up today, every cell in my body feeling draggy and wiped out.

So I have decided to take opposite action. I’m not in a 12-step program, but I hear from 12-steppers that this is a good thing to do when you feel like pulling the covers over your head for a week or two. I’ve decided to put my soul-tiredness on a shelf and reflect on people, places and moments that have made my life, and me, better.

Feeling the grasp of an infant’s fingers.

Fotolia_35336758_XS.jpg

Feet. It’s good to have two of them. And I like mine. Even when I need a pedicure.

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-DSC_0156-300x272.jpg

Mantelpieces. One of the best inventions ever.

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-Virginia-Family-photos-104-300x238.jpg

A cool dress on a warm spring day, with a dash of ebullience.

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-Staff-Appreciation-and-Students-41-300x293.jpg

Swings. The essence of childhood. I remember from my own childhood, the exhilirating lurch in my stomach, the wind whooshing over my body.

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-CCS-Beeman-Park-08-32-264x300.jpg

The nape of a neck.

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-Bobcat-Dance-Share-08-8-200x300.jpg

Medical insurance. Sending a silent prayer that everyone will have this.

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-Bobcat-Dance-Share-08-35-295x300.jpg

Harper Lee’s existence.

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-9780061743528-1-202x300.jpg

That I get to write. And people read what I write. And sometimes they write me and tell me what I wrote means something to them. This process is pure alchemy, meaningful beyond words.

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-img_0176-300x224.jpg

Dinner with friends. One of life’s greatest simple pleasures. Doesn’t need to be fancy.

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-DSC00027-300x100.jpg

One of my very favorite memories of Franny’s childhood. She and her friend Hermoine emanated joy running down this sidewalk in San Francisco. I was so relieved they didn’t break their necks.

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-DSC00056-225x300.jpg

Wisteria.

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-IMG_0628-224x300.jpg

Best cat ever.

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-wedding_747-300x200.jpg

The morning Franny knocked on our door and said, “Clementine had her babies in my closet!”

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-IMG_0220-225x300.jpg

Kids and bouncers.

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-IMG_0336-225x300.jpg

My sister and her family.

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-img_0301-300x228.jpg

We all need someone to lean on.

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-img_0148-251x300.jpg

Sunday Morning Ritual: The Big Pancake.

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-IMG_0088-300x224.jpg

Nyack, on the Hudson. I would move there in a New York Minute.

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-IMG_0231-300x262.jpg

My mom.

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-1950s-HenryWilde-MontreatMadness-sm.jpg

My dad.

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-IMG_0045-300x224.jpg

That I met my birthmother, and my kids get to call her “Grammy Diane.” And that open adoption exists today so adopted kids don’t have to grow up wondering where they came from.

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-img_0244-224x300.jpg

Franny’s cards.

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-img_01661-300x224.jpg

The day eight years of Parental Alienation melted away.

the-perils-of-divorced-pauline-thumbnail.asp_-300x106.jpeg

May you all find something amazing in this day. And if you’re inclined, tell me what it is.

i thank You God for most this amazing day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue dream of sky;and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today, and this is the sun’s birthday;this is the birth day of life and love and wings;and of the gay great happening ilimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing breathing any – lifted from the no of all nothing – human merely being doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

e.e. cummings

 

 

More For You

About the Author

I survived a bad divorce. Then I survived a REALLY bad custody battle. My ex-husband, “Prince Machiavelli,” got pretty much everything except for my sense of humor and most of my marbles. Oh, and my name isn’t actually Pauline. I write under a pseudonym because I am always in post-divorce peril and the last thing I need is for Prince to drag me back to court. Don’t you feel better about your life now?

Find me on Twitter

Comments

  1. MutantSupermodel says

    November 12, 2013 at 5:13 pm

    Life is beautiful. I am overdue for a gratitude list myself. Thanks for sharing your happiness, it made me smile.

    Reply
  2. Adventures of a Middle Age Mom says

    November 12, 2013 at 5:13 pm

    I’m very happy for you that you took the time to reflect on what’s good in your life; I was really worried after I read your previous post.
    Regards,
    Darlene

    Reply
  3. Elizabeth Aquino says

    November 12, 2013 at 5:13 pm

    Beautiful post — and I’d concur that you are blessed!

    Reply
  4. Sharon Greenthal says

    November 12, 2013 at 5:14 pm

    Your post came on a particularly difficult day. Thank you for so many wonderful things in life – quite a few of which I would have on my list, too.

    Reply
  5. Gabi Coatsworth says

    November 12, 2013 at 5:14 pm

    I’m grateful for Jessie, my 86 year-old friend, who’s serenely letting go of this life.

    Reply
  6. Lisa thomson says

    November 12, 2013 at 5:14 pm

    Such a beautiful post!! Thank you for the reminder of the simple joys in life.

    Reply
  7. Denise Emanuel Clemen says

    November 12, 2013 at 5:14 pm

    ….and thank you for this amazing post.
    Be well.

    Reply
  8. Sharon says

    November 12, 2013 at 5:14 pm

    Thank you for this post I was just holding my youngest son’s hand. He still holds my hand. Beautiful and fleeting.

    Reply
  9. BigLittleWolf says

    November 12, 2013 at 5:14 pm

    A lovely reminder of how to cut through that soul-tiredness.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Trending Articles

Is Your Marriage Making You Unhappy?

Is Your Marriage Making You Unhappy?

A Woman’s Field Guide To Dating After Divorce

A Woman’s Field Guide To Dating After Divorce

How The “Best Interest” Doctrine Fails Our Children

How The “Best Interest” Doctrine Fails Our Children

Write for DivorcedMoms!

To become part of the DivorcedMoms writing team, click submit below for our guidelines.

Submit

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Tumblr
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Write for us
  • Advertise

©2019 Divorced Moms. All rights reserved. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.