First, please familiarize yourself with my post, This Is a Test of the Emergency Rant System. Done? Okay, now let’s get on with it.
Today was the first of many monthly payments on my ex-husband’s debt that I am responsible for (and we won’t even talk about the large sum that I paid last week to get the ball rolling). My hope all along was to be able to settle the debt in a lump sum so that I wouldn’t have the emotional bungee cord of monthly payments that can so easily pull me back into a state of anger and frustration. Obviously, my hope for a single lump sum did not manifest, so now I have to make the best out of the situation in which I find myself.
So, I am practicing what I preach. Each month, as I send the payment, I will add another item to a growing gratitude list. This forces me to steer my thoughts towards the present and the positive rather than getting mired in the muck of the past every lunar cycle. I won’t be sharing all of those on here, but I started with following today:
Brock – the love I never thought I would find
That’s a much nicer thought to be left with than one where I’m cursing my ex or wondering where the money went.
It’s strange. The loss of this money every month will hurt. It means that some things will have to be postponed indefinitely (Two Ladies Going to Verona) and my car better last for another 5 years. But still, it feels good in a purgative sort of way to release the funds. This is the last tangible tie (apart from the gift of crappy credit he left me with) to my ex and his deceptions. For 3 years, my money has not been securely mine as I’ve paid some of his debts and worked to negotiate others. With each payment, my burden of the past is lessened and I am one month closer to ownership of my income.
I’m not going to pretend it’s always easy. Some moments, I wish my checkbook had a special carbon where I could write a “Bad Karma” check to the bigamist at the same time I record a payment for his lies. The reality; however, is that such a check would hurt me more than it would hurt him simply by keeping my thoughts in the negative.
So, instead, I’ll picture a “Good Karma” carbon and I’ll focus on cultivating positive energy with each payment. Besides, I’m sure he’s cashing enough bad karma checks on his own; he doesn’t need me to endorse them.
In about two years, I’ll be free of this last tie to the past and I will have a wonderful list of 24 things for which I am grateful. I can live with that.
HE SUCKS, HE SUCKS, HE SUCKS…there, I did a bit of the bad karma intake for you. You, on the other hand, are awesome. More power to your positive! xxx
Thanks for the chuckles! 🙂
Great reframing. I’m proud of you.
Thanks for this post and the link to your “rant” as it comes at a time when I am also going through a sticky stage with my divorce process as well and – yes – I am also the one left to clean up the mess and the debt. My spirits had been dragged very low over the last week as the immensity of it all began sinking in. Sometimes focussing on the new “me” going forward just isn’t enough compensation for the hurt and pain. Your post has lifted me up and inspired me to focus on the things to be grateful for – and there are many – rather than being sucked down by the negativity that tries to gain a hold of me. Thanks.
You are doing fantastically. Keep on keeping on. I admire your tenacity and determination to succeed in life. 🙂
I’m sorry to hear that you are also left to clean up the mess. It is certainly not a fun situation to be in. I’m glad the post came at an opportune time for you. You may also want to check out Clean Up, Aisle 5 – it’s in a similar vein. It’s not always easy to stay positive, but remember that good karma pays good dividends. Thinking of you and wishing you the best during this sticky time.
Know what you mean been there done that. It sucks if you let it! Tovah
Hi there. I provided a link to this post on my blog today as I am going though a similar frustration and I am inspired by your determination to remain positive. Thanks 🙂
Thanks! I hope you can find a place of acceptance. It sucks, but we don’t have to let it suck the life out of us.