Hi Dave!!!
I often refer to myself as a recovering dramaholic. It's amazing but you truly don't realize it when you're in it. Even more frighteningly, I have relapsed a couple of times since my divorce. Dating two girls that weren't born when I graduated high school probably didn't help much. But I digress!
The reality is there's a subliminal high that you get from the drama. The problem is that it causes this spiral that is really difficult to cut yourself loose from.
But I have. This time I truly hope for good. I mean, I still get caught up a little. Everyone does. But I won't allow it to rule my life.
It's amazing. My ex-wife and I hit the ground running when we got married. We started a record label, had a regional hit record, had a huge wedding, bought a BMW, went to St Thomas, bought TWO houses and a baby grand piano all in the first year of our marriage. The drama was intoxicating and it never went away in seven years. We owned 4 houses about 9 cars, went all over the US and owned three businesses. That was until I was out of the house for 6 months training with Red Robin all around Atlanta. Then the drama was over... As was the marriage.
Two more failed relationships later and, at long last, I genuinely enjoy the time that I get to myself and the lack of something "exciting" going on in my world.
So I still have big goals. I still have ambitions. I still have dreams of a great relationship and maybe even starting a family. Nonetheless, I am going to do it without the drama. Believe it or not, that may mean sucking it up and dating a grownup.
The best part of being in recovery is that it has become increasingly easy to identify in both myself and others. I can hear a story from a friend and, in my head (often aloud as well), I will say "wow... too much drama for me". I have also gotten pretty good at hanging up the phone or leaving the conversation when it happens.
So, do I think that it's a permanent recovery? Well if I'm honest, probably not.
It's like any other addiction... Day by day. Today... Was a good day.
Very well said.
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