Member-only story
Self-reliance actually works
My best friend once walked up to me at a coffee shop and asked why I looked so down. When I told her my mom was going nuts again, she rolled her eyes. “Nobody likes their mom,” she said. “Get over it. So anyway, wanna grab some Chipotle?” I declined.
Don’t hate my friend. That’s not the point. She thought I was using the term “nuts” figuratively. Most people do.
At the time, I’d never told anyone about my mom’s mental health problems. So the misunderstanding was my fault. I should’ve used the more precise term, schizophrenic episode.
For a snap, part of me wanted the comfort of a friend. But the other part knew the truth. Nobody can make you feel better about something like that. You’re on your own. You have to manage your emotions.
A therapist or counselor can help. But in the end, you’ve got to own them. Only you can solve your riddles.
So I sipped my coffee and stared through a window for an hour, and then cracked open my Econ textbook. That’s exactly what I needed. Solitude. Caffeine. A painfully dull read to take my mind off things.
I’d just watched my mom escorted onto an ambulance by two police officers. I love the word “escort.” It makes everything sound so civil. People who get escorted places don’t lose a shoe in the process.
