Session 36: Balls

bert 1

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How are you?

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Overwhelmed.

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By what?

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The usual.  Work.  Bills.

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therapist-3

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The marriage.  The kids.  The house.

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therapist-4

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Plus a hundred other things.

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therapist-5

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The leak under my sink.  The hole in my roof.  The racoon in my attic.

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therapist-6

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My car needs a tuneup.  My lawn needs reseeding.  My dog needs a vet.

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therapist-7

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I’m fat and should exercise.  I’m anxious and should meditate.  I eat crap and not enough vegetables.

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therapist-7

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And on and on and…

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You do seem to be juggling a lot right now.

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bert-9

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How have you handled this is the past?

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I try to keep all the balls in the air.

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How’s that work? 

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I exhaust myself.  The balls drop.  I get depressed.

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I see.  Want a suggestion?

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Please.

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Drop the balls now.

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Deliberately?

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Yes.  For today.  Drop all but two.

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Which two?

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First, get more rest.  Second, lean on someone. 

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Lean how?  On who?

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Someone who’ll give you permission to be selfish.  

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Isn’t selfish bad?

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No, selfish is essential.  Selfless is bad.  Depression’s worse.

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Can I lean on you?

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Sure.  

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bert

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Now go take a nap.

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