A Time of Change

As my silent inner war rages, I am forced to put on a happy face and try to blend in. The struggle inside is exacerbated by daily stresses I am trying to control. My little blue helper has finally quit making me sick… is it working? The fact that I have to take any chemicals in order to keep on an even keel haunts me everyday as I screw off the bottle’s cap and swallow the blue pill inside. Why have I lost the ability to control my outbursts? Why am I so angry inside? My life is good yet these demons rage on inside in the recesses of my brain… my very soul.

I studied with a shaman last time things got this out of control. For a year we met 3 days a week. For the first six months he never spoke to me. We would walk through the woods in silence. We would sit in silence in the sweat lodge, the only sound was him singing and playing his hypnotic drum. We would sit around the fire at night and stare into the flames, not making a sound. Little did I know, this was all part of my healing. Sitting in silence makes you face your demons head on, with no human outside influences. Finally, one Saturday evening around the fire, he spoke in the softest voice… “you are no longer angry, now we can begin.” Six more months he taught me all he could.

That was back in 1987/8. Today I remember the feelings I felt, the inner struggles that waged on. I remember the serenity I finally achieved after months of hard work and those weekends in the woods. In the end he gave me a native flute and told me that this would be my avenue to sooth the angry beast inside. Even though I long for that serenity again, I can no seem to find those tools I learned. I find myself seeking out guidance in the form of meditation, Thai chi, maybe I should just become a Buddhist. There are people out there that feed on people’s longings, but only for profit. Then there are places that really do sincerely cater to the desire to become whole again, to find peace, to nourish the tired, battered soul. I have determined that this is what I must do.

I spoke of my struggles with depression in my last post. I hate being so selfish and dragging those around me into my torment. I wish that this would just all go away and I could just go back to being happy go lucky, not a care in the world. I am caught between a rock and a hard space. The more I feed into this, the more out of control I feel. When I was younger, and not as responsible as I am today, it was easy to just blow off things in the pursuit of eternal happiness…if there really is such an animal. I did find a moment in time of devine serenity and having tasted it once, I am in search of this elusive butterfly again.

Author: Two Travelin' Chicas... A Grand Adventure

Welcome! My name is Johnna, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve been captivated by travel, writing, and photography. I’ve always believed that the world is far too beautiful and fascinating to stay in one place for long. In 2017, I began the third chapter of my life—a chapter defined by adventure, discovery, and the pursuit of experiences over possessions. Alongside my soulmate, Chris Williams, and our faithful Pembroke Corgi, Gandaulf, I set out to explore the world one destination at a time. This blog is a collection of our journeys, stories, photographs, lessons learned, and memories made along the way. My hope is that through these pages, you’ll travel with us, find inspiration for your own adventures, and discover a few hidden gems of the world. So grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and come along for the ride. The road ahead is sure to be filled with unexpected turns, unforgettable moments, and stories worth sharing. Welcome to our grand adventure. View all posts by Two Travelin' Chicas... A Grand Adventure