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Social Awkwardness

Root Chakra Quilt - photo by Juline Bajada

There have been many times where I have felt socially awkward, and I’m trying to change that. I’m always enamored with people who feel comfortable in most situations. You know the ones who can always speak their minds, no matter what anyone thinks. I’d love to be one of those people!

If you read my blog, you know I have some health issues: fatty liver, IBS, SIBO, degenerative disc disease, vertigo, low thyroid, and gluten intolerance. I don’t have insurance and work on my own behalf with the help of a Naturopathic Doctor towards health. This has brought me to a place where I practice yoga and meditation every night before going to sleep, along with dietary changes, suppliments, and bodywork. I thoroughly believe I can heal my liver, and that will help all bodily systems.

Why am I writing all this openly…? Well, last night during my meditation, I was overcome with a wave of extreme emotion – as in immediate sobbing – I think it was a sort of breakthrough.

I was thinking about how next year is my 30th HS reunion year – which is big. I graduated early in January 1987, and I was kicked out of my family’s house that February over religious differences… locked out, actually. My memory went right to my 3 younger sisters crying behind the oval window in the big front door of my house. My folks locked me out because I spent the night at a friends house who wasn’t a Jehovah’s Witness.

The realization that that was my last encounter with any of my sisters -seeing or talking to them… and it has been almost 30 years! It hit me like a ton of bricks. I worked through my whole routine while crying. I thought I was emotionally ‘over’ all of this stuff – it has been 3 decades after all… but no, all I could think about was the family I lost due to religion. Three sisters, 30 years. I don’t even know their last names since they’ve all been married. So sad. I also have a brother who was born after I left home – I have yet to meet him, but he recently left the religion too! I may have a bit of family after all… but, my real question is this: How do I grieve a family that is not even dead, people who only choose not to talk to me…?

honor collage

It also made me think of my youth, and how separated from everyone else I was. I was 5 when my parents ‘found God’  and we moved to the middle of nowhere in the country. I was isolated just by where I lived. Plus,we weren’t allowed to celebrate holidays, so I had to sit in the hallway at school for every event. I was also not allowed to pledge allegiance to the flag, and many people gave me the stink-eye for that too. I didn’t get to do any extra-curricular activities, or have friends that weren’t JW’s. To top it off, most of the JW friends I did have, didn’t hang with me much due to the fact my dad was an elder in the congregation. I think they avoided me so they wouldn’t get it trouble themselves. So… I’ve always been a bit of a loner.

After a bit of memory flash, I started thinking of the relationship with my own daughter, how wonderful it is – how wonderful she is. And I just can’t, for the life of me, imagine kicking her out of my life – over a difference in belief. My daughter is my life, I love her so much… makes me wonder just HOW my parent’s can hold tight to their “tough love” approach for all this time. I just don’t understand.

It’s important for me to figure this out. The need to vent or release these emotions is intense. Of course what comes to mind is making a quilt. I think I need to make a quilt that will help remember my family with love and forgiveness, and then be able to move on. I had hopes that at some point they would open their eyes and see things for what they are, and leave that religion… or at least be open to respecting my beliefs so we can have a relationship again. Those hopes are dwindling down to nothing, and I have to come to terms with the fact I may never see or hear from them again, which I have to admit, seems worse than if they had died.

I have always been set apart from the group, and the one group I thought truly loved me (my family) has separated themselves from me. I think this is all part of why I feel so awkward and uncomfortable in most social situations, but I’m getting better.  It just makes me think of all the multiple reasons some people are socially awkward… and I have a lot of empathy when I see it. You just never know what someones’ experience might be.

*Heavy Sigh*

Thanks for reading my thought release from this emotionally heavy meditation. Sharing is very therapeutic in ways I can’t quite put my finger on… and it is also inspiring me to start a new quilt project.

It will be interesting to see what visually comes with this release. I did the same thing when I made my Root Chakra quilt as I was dealing with emotions that dealt with fear of death, a need for health, and a foundation to base it all on.  That quilt really speaks to me and I’m proud of the work I did on it, both visually and emotionally.

Root Chakra Quilt - photo by Juline Bajada

5 thoughts on “Social Awkwardness”

  1. I just discovered your blog, through a comment left on another blog….
    Your work is amazing. All of the hexagon quilts should be entered into one of the big shows….. really. I also love your newest triangle quilt.
    You are quite brave for sharing your story here. What your father did was not Christian or even understandable. Insane perhaps. I hope you find your sisters and brother.
    Keep sewing, you have talent

    1. It’s always exciting when someone new finds my blog 🙂 Yes, my parents have a lot of issues – insanity is probably one of them, but I keep practicing forgiveness which helps me to become a better person in my own life. Thanks for all your kind words, I hope to have a hexie show sometime in the future – I want to make a few more first!

  2. Hi, I love your posts! Thanks so much for sharing your life. This Social Awkwardness post made me remember a Moth Radio story I loved…do you ever listen to the Moth? Anyway, Jeffrey Rudell and his story, “Under the Influence” is strikingly similar to your family story. Heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. Thank you again.

    1. Thanks Claire! I’ve heard of Moth Radio, but haven’t listened much – however, the story you are talking about sounds like something I should hear, so I will definitely check it out. 🙂

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