The Final Mile
When a friend's celebration doesn't feel right
“I did it. I biked all the way across the country. It was amazing.”
She was so proud. She told me about the miles in the rain, the tent next to the highway, and the many times she wanted to give up. It had been hard.
“I want to honor my body for getting here,” she said. That made complete sense. A nice massage. A warm bath. Maybe a walk along the beach. She deserved it.
But then she told me that to honor her strong, trustworthy legs, the same legs that had pedaled mile after mile, up hills and down, she wanted to pierce her skin with big metal hooks and hang from them. She wanted to do body suspension.
What?
I clutched the phone harder. My stomach clenched and my lips pursed. I felt nauseous imagining the skin on the back of her shoulder blades stretching between the metal hooks and her hanging body. She continued but all I could think was that it was an elaborate plan for self-harm.
“…. friends who have done this. It’s sacred, really. I want to honor my body. It’s been through so much and this will mark the end of my journey in a very special way. I’m so excited.”
When I caught up to the conversation, I could hear her joy. She was ecstatic and… she was so sure. It was right for her. She couldn’t celebrate in any other way.
Somehow, I choked, “I’m happy for you.”
Contemplation
Is the feeling that something has the Glow—that it is just “right” and perfect for the moment—is that feeling universal?
Contemplation
When a loved one does something that is right for them but wrong for you, how do you react?
Threshold Podcast: How To Be With What's Unresolved
Humans like a trajectory. We like to know if we're at the beginning, middle, or end of a project. We like to know where we "stand" in a relationship. But what happens when the map or spreadsheet of your life gets lost or burned or tossed? How can we, as Rilke says, "live the questions"?
Join Emily Conway and myself as we discuss ways of being with what's unresolved.
Monday, May 18th at 11:00 CT
To catch up on all the old podcasts, click here.
