THE CARD
A thought for the day.
How much longer do I have to suffer before I’m allowed to be happy?
“Well, remember 1998?”
Oh, hell. Are we going year by year?
Want me to get a group together? We’ll get all this flogging knocked out Saturday. Maybe you can enjoy Sunday.
I’ve acted miserable because I thought looking happy meant I wasn’t sorry enough.
Today, I can own what I did, respect somebody else’s healing, and still enjoy being alive.
Accountability has work to do. Misery just keeps adding paperwork.
Am I taking responsibility—or just extending my sentence?
THE LESSON BEHIND THE LESSON
Responsibility doesn’t require a life sentence.
I’ve confused looking miserable with proving I was sorry. If I could just suffer long enough, maybe that would show I understood what I’d done.
Making amends and respecting another person’s healing matter. I can take those things seriously without making joy a reward I’m never allowed to collect.
Happiness doesn’t erase the past, and accountability doesn’t have to erase today. I can keep doing the work and still enjoy being alive.
Can I make room for a little joy while continuing to do my part?