Those over forty can relate-life doesn’t always turn out as expected.
But what would you do if all of a sudden you discover those around you, people you love and hold dear, aren’t what you expected, who you respected or who you thought you knew? We see it all the time in reality television shows, and real-life drama series’-people like Casey Anthony or Bernard Madoff who live everyday life in full view, but have larger-than-life secrets tucked away. Those closest to the perpetrators often are kept in the dark, and when the truth is revealed, may be left questioning, “how did I not know?”
So what would you do? Situations such as these often require we ask, and answer, tough questions even if only for ourselves. Does one remain loyal, offering unquestioning and unwavering support? Stand by the individual, disapproving of their actions but continuing to offer love ala Casey Anthony’s parents? Or does one walk away, disapproving of not only the action, but the person, massaging our own wounds as details of deception are revealed.
It’s easier to speculate than it is to know what we actually would do in such a situation, as many scenarios, details and circumstances often leave participants in a maze of twists and turns that cause emotional, and even physical turmoil in the form of anxiety, weight loss or gain, headaches, nausea and more.
As we age, life throws difficulties our way that often can foster growth, or can make us crumble like sand sculptures in a windstorm. Our role is to decide – to not let situations get the best of us, but to decide where we stand. This, I believe is the answer in the face of such deception. Be the issue minor, or major, once we take a stance and decide how we feel may not make the situation easy, but it may help keep the individual grounded. Choosing neither to cower in fear, nor stand defiantly without acknowledging possibly impropriety, the power stance is to resolve to keep our eyes open, fully aware of and embracing any and all details, no matter how torturous.
Once that decision is made, because it was done with clear conscious, eyes open, heart wide, no one can break you. So life may not play out as expected, but standing in our own power certainly makes it easier to take the lemons thrown in our direction and make our own variety of lemonade.
Doni Luckutt is a lifestyle expert who believes by enhancing interpersonal connection, we can stop simply living, and become Simply Alive! If you have a suggestion on what brings you to life, connect with her on Twitter @SimplyAlive, via e-mail Doni@SimplyAliveWorld.com or on her blog: .
