My brain was successfully escaping the fact that it is mid-fall. I’ve been in denial, pleasantly so.
That hasn’t been hard to pull off, actually. The beautiful weather would have us all believe it is still summer. I see the warm sun streaming down the window, see clients come in to session with tank tops and shorts, and feel the heat on my face as I leave the office.
Today after work, I declared it a “Big Gulp” sort of day–the rare day in September when it is warm enough after work that I could justify the trek to 7-11 to grab a gulp. This furthered my ability to continue with my fantasy that we are still mid-summer.
Then, I saw it:
Couldn’t believe it. Suddenly I felt like the woman in the KFC commercial who freaks out at the first golden leaf that falls to her feet. This tree isn’t starting to turn it’s leaves…it’s leaves have completed changing their colors. There it was, on my way to capture another summer memory of a Gulp. Couldn’t believe it (said that already, right? Tells you how shocked I was) Well, I still couldn’t–or didn’t want to–believe it.
Wanted to not see it. Wanted to think that maybe if I looked close, the leaves were just really very light green. Not.
Hadn’t noticed it changing colors, so it seemed impossible this tree could have started, and finished changing colors to fall yellow without my noticing. I see this tree every day when I drive by it.
Reminds me of clients that come to see me. People going along in their lives when something happens that is significant and they manage to explain it away. It seems out of context, it isn’t pleasant, and it’s seems more real to ignore it than pay attention to it:
“I’m not happy in this marriage and we need to do something about it”. (She doesn’t probably mean it like it sounds…things haven’t really changed that much over the years and she didn’t say this 5 years ago)
or
Your child’s grades start slipping, at first just a bit, and he seems a little thinner, spends more time in his room, and when the teacher calls to express concern you’re inclined to think the teacher is looking for problems where there aren’t any
or
The lump in your breast (or testicle) doesn’t really feel that big…it doesn’t hurt, and you’re pretty busy right now…your inclination is to wait a while to see if it goes away…it can’t really be real…it would be surreal if it was
Right…ignoring oughtta work. At least it will feel better.
Actually…take a deep breath when something unusual and unpleasant comes up. Take a second sober look, and deal with what it really happening. Look at it straight on for what it is–or isn’t. Gather information, get a second opinion, stay calm–but stay real, and ready to take action.
I think it’s time for me to make sure I’ve got my mittens out. 😉
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