When You Feel You Can't Go On

[deedee]

~ When You Feel You Can't Go On
by Tammie Byram Fowles, LISW, Ph.D ~

I'm sorry that you're hurting so desperately right now.
I know how painful the seconds, and minutes, and days can be, how long the nights are.
I understand how very hard hanging on is, and how much courage it takes.
I ask though that you hold onto one day at a time.
Just one day, and slowly this despair will pass.
The feelings you fear you're trapped in will serve their purpose, and then fade away.
Difficult to imagine, isn't it?
Almost impossible to believe when every cell in your body
it seems cries out in agony, desperately in need of comfort.
When it feels like the only thing in the whole world that can touch
your pain and banish it is beyond your grasp.
And after all this time, the assurance that you will heal
has become an empty, broken promise.
Just let one tiny cell in your body continue to believe in the promise of healing.
Just one. You can surrender every other cell to your despair.

Just that one little cell of faith that you can heal and be whole again
is enough to keep you going, is enough to lead you through the darkness.
Although it can't banish your suffering, it can sustain you
until the time comes for you to let your pain go.
And the letting go can only occur in it's own time,
as much as we would like to push the pain away forever.
Hold on.
Hold on to appreciate the beauty of the earth,
to feel the songs of the birds in your heart,
to learn and to teach,
to laugh a genuine laugh,
to dance on the beach,
to rest peacefully,
to experience contentment,
to want to be no other place but in the here and now,
to trust in yourself,
and to trust your life.
Hold on because it's worth the terrible waiting.
Hold on because you are worthy.
Hold on because the wisdom that will follow you out of this darkness will be a tremendous gift.
Hold on because you have so much love and joy waiting to be experienced.
Hold on because life is precious, even though it can bring terrible losses.
Hold on because there is so much that you can't now imagine waiting ahead on your journey
...a destiny that only you can fulfill.
Hold on although you're exhausted and your grasp is shaky,
and you want more than anything to let go sometimes, hold on even though.
Please hold on.
So much in life can be difficult, even impossible to understand.
I know, I know...So many of us have cried in despair, why? why? Why?
and still the answers and the comfort failed to show.
Survival can be a long and lonely road,
in spite of all those who've stumbled down the path before you.
And it can be a treacherous, torturous journey...
so easy to get lost, and yet impossible to avoid even one painful step.
And the light, the light at the end of the dark tunnel for so long cannot be seen,
although eventually you'll begin to feel its warmth as you move forward.
And forward you must move
in order to get through the hell of remembering, of despair, of rage, of grief.
Keep looking forward please.
Rest if you must,
doubt your ability to survive the journey if you have to,
but never let go of the guide ropes,
although when you close your fingers around them, your hands feel empty,
they are there.
Please trust me, they are there.
When you're exhausted, when all you have to count on is a weakened, weary faith,
hold on.
When you think you want to die,
hold on until you recognize that it's not death you seek,
but for the pain to go away.
Hold on, because this darkness will surely fade away.
Hold on. Please hold on.

[CatsPajamas]

OH Deedee, you are such an angel. This is a great post for me to read today, and I'm sure it will touch many others as well.

Cats

[AbsentFriend]

Wow. That's a keeper.

[indigo]

Yes thank you it is a keeper as AF said.

[Wolfstarr]

((((((deedee))))))) dear heart deedee it is indeed a great post, and I so needed this today...bless you and your kind, loving heart...

[CatsPajamas]

((wolfstarr))

Nice to see you.

Cats

[utopia]

i needed this today. just slipping into thinking how easy it could be to let go of my job, my home, my life and slip into homelessness. release. death..to let go of life.....this has helped me not do that today so thank you...!

[Spiritual Seeker]

Thanks for sharing. Very meaningful.

[debmar]

deedee, Wow, amazing and so heartfelt by me right now, thank you for that!

[deedee]

(((Debbie)))

So good to see you here and thanks for bringing me back to this thread. I'm in the middle of yet another depressive episode and the tears finally flowed as I re-read this. I still need to be reminded to hold on, that there are days of joy and light, but oh how hard it is to remember that when the darkness creeps in. My love and prayers go out to all who struggle with this pain

[CatsPajamas]

(( deedee )))

Anything I can do to help? Sorry you're in a hurtful place.

Hugs
Cats

[splendra]

thanks(((((((DD)))))