I was sitting, with a small group of friends, having coffee the other day. None of the bunch was in a particularly good mood that morning. I was the worst. I opened the conversation with the remark that I had come to the point where I didn't care if I lived or died.
One friend jumped on this, "oh my, you have just found out that you have a terminal illness". "No", I replied "my arthritis is bad right now but that's about it". "
I'll bet you were sexually molested as a child", another friend, who has a degree in sociology chimed in. "Good grief, no" I replied, "I didn't even know what that was until I was a grown man".
Another friend almost yelled, "your father was a drunkard and beat you daily" I was a bit insulted at this remark as both my mother and father were fanatic teetotalers.
"Ah", a fourth friend was sure he had it, "your kids are on drugs and are in or going to be in prison". "Oh Lord no, I replied, my two daughters, both grown, never really gave me a serious problem.
"Well, the first friend asked, "just what is your problem"? "It can't be that you have no friends because we are sitting here and listening to your negative thoughts and not leaving"! "Oh gosh", I replied, I have so many friends who love me and are loved in return. "I don't know what I would do without my friends".
Just what is my problem, I wondered? It must be something buried in my childhood. I do know that I was forced to do so many things I didn't want to do. My parents forced me to go to school. They forced me to go to church even. They insisted that I be respectful to teachers, older people, and just about anybody I had contact with. They taught me it was important to be clean not only of mind but of body also. They taught me idleness is a sin that's for sure. I was forced from an early age to help with chores around the house and yard. I had very little choices of my own as a child. I wonder if that is the root of my problem today. But then, why as a long time adult am I always so thankful for the parents I had? My friends are so intelligent, I do envy them. They always give me the very best advice.
