#comparmentalization

Dear child(ren),

I began seeing a therapist when I was 22 years old as a way to process some stresses I was experiencing at the time. And truth be told, it wasn’t so much that I wanted to go as Papa wanted me to go. But, it turned out that I loved having someone to talk to about the things I didn’t think anyone else cared about. She helped me understand that I was so loyal to each of my newly divorced parents that I learned to compartmentalize the lives I was creating with each of them for fear that I would hurt one of their feelings. I didn’t talk to one about the other because I didn’t know how they would react. And because they were both such a big part of my life, the pressure to compartmentalize became harder and harder.

I have a theory that the stress of keeping things separate–which is to say private–eventually got to me and it caused me to want to divulge everything to everyone. And that’s part of why I post photos of my everyday life. And that’s why I feel compelled to share things most folks might keep to themselves. Divulging everything is how I’ve learned to cope with life.

I no longer have to compartmentalize my life, but it still gives me a unique sense of relaxation to have all my former compartments in the same room.

Dad