Family Politics and Drama

 

 

 

 I was recently telling someone that Hubby and I don’t do or tolerate family politics and drama – relative or not.

We each have various family units – whether we consciously think of them as that or not – our energy certainly does.

A family can be (but isn’t limited to):

- Nuclear Family
A couple and their dependent children. For me, I include pet, as they are part of the family unit.

- Immediate Family
There are different definitions for Immediate Family and Extended Family. For the purpose of this article, I am defining Immediate Family as including the Nuclear Family, parents and siblings.

- Extended Family
Those who are one household beyond the Nuclear Family (and can include Immediate Family) such as aunts, uncles, grandparents.

Other Families

We also have the following families. You may disagree with my interpretation (and that’s fine), but I think if you look at it objectively and energetically, you’ll probably see it.

- Work/Office Family
- Each In-Person Social Group
- Each Interest Group (hobbies, etc.)
- Each Online Group
- Online Friends

And then we can have:

- Neighborhood Family
- City/Town Family
- State Family
- Country Family

But don’t forget the:

- Actual political association family
- The Human Being Family
- The Inhabitants of Earth Family (including all non-human inhabitants)

And these are just a few of the families we are connected to.

Each family has its own politics. By that I mean each family unit probably has a ... Read More

by Jan Toomer

Don't Compromise Your Integrity

 

 

 This is another way of saying, “Maintain your boundaries, and don’t let others bulldoze over them.”

Many years ago, I had to alter my life and this included setting up and maintaining some boundaries. I wasn’t doing this to be difficult, I was having health issues that required I take better care of myself.

My doctor instructed me to talk with my family and friends to let them know that there would be days I felt pretty good and days when I wasn’t doing well. And it was on those not so good days I would have to say, “No,” more often.

I sat down with my friend at the time and updated her. Her response? “That’s fine, as long as you never tell me...Read More

by Jan Toomer

 

Becoming Feral - Part Two

 

 

 

 ~ Part One ~

I turned and ran. I ran away from the Tracker and from the Complex life. In pure survival mode and driven to succeed in gaining freedom, I pushed myself hard.

The Tracker wasn’t trying to hide his pursuit as we both crashed through the terrain. Though I didn’t think he was moving as fast as he could. Maybe playing with his prey before capture?

About 200 yards in front of me, someone dressed in all black stepped out from behind a tree. “Hurry! Come with me! We can help!”

Ugh! Out of the frying pan and into the fire? No way.

My brain became calm and gently guided me to swerve out of the path of this new person.

As I moved behind a massive tree, my brain said, “Picture a safe place in a clearing, near water, far away from both of them. Now, turn sideways and move to that location.”

Some part of me instinctively knew this was possible, so I followed the directions...and ended up in a...Read More

by Jan Toomer

Becoming Feral - Part One

 

 

 

 This is going to be a bit long – but bear with me. I don’t normally share this much, but I hope you feel its was worth it at the end.

* * *

We lived in a self-contained Complex with nothing but trees and mountains around us.

When you walked into my dorm-like room, you would find a small bathroom tucked in on the left. Next to it was my wardrobe and then came a double sized bed. The bed could be latched up against the wall, like a Murphy bed, to make more space. To get from the door to the bed, you walked along the pathway on the right wall.

Not all of the rooms in the Complex were this small, just those for single people. The rooms varied depending on how many people were in the family. More people, bigger living quarters.

We had a large cafeteria that we all used – eating in shifts.

Every adult had a job, and most of the jobs revolved around the maintenance and upkeep of the Complex.

I wasn’t happy, but I wasn’t unhappy either. I felt kind of stale and a bit agitated.

I left my room and headed for the auditorium to find a seat. It was time for our weekly gathering and community updates. I found a seat at the top level, which made it easier to escape when the gathering was done.

The auditorium filled up pretty quickly, and our Commissioner quieted the crowd and began his weekly droning... Read More

by Jan Toomer

In Love or In Fear

 

 

 “You know my track record for getting married. Five times. Five marriages, five divorces. I just need you to tell me if the man I’m seeing now is going to end up another failed marriage.”

I shook my head. “I can’t tell you that. But I can ask you a some questions. These aren’t for you to answer me. They are for you to think about.

“Is this new relationship from a place in love or in fear? What I mean is, when you think of this man, do you think of...Read More

by Jan Toomer