I think I'll try to blog with greater regularity. I like blogging. I do it for me. I'm trying to do things I enjoy doing, and not do things I don't enjoy doing. Spend time with people I enjoy spending time with, and not spend time with people I don't enjoy spending time with. Sometimes life is simple like that.
On Sunday I finally visited this church I've wanted to visit for like six years. It's a Unitarian Universalist church. I thought I knew some stuff about UU... probably major hippies, kinda fringey, you know... So I wasn't sure if it'd be all patchouli and tie-dye and aggressive hugging. Turns out it was not that at all. It was incredible. I basically spent the entire time holding back tears because I was so happy. I kept looking around and listening and thinking this place actually exists.
Now, you should know that I tend to get really immersed in religions. I go all in. And I haven't done that since high school, when I was all about Evangelical Christianity. That was great at the time, but in the end it was not my thing at all, and it spurred some number of years of thinking that there must be something more.
I've seen some rigid and hurtful religious communities, but I've always understood that faith is a powerful force in the human psyche. Faith communities can offer tremendous support, and one's own individual faith can engender strength and peace. I can see that in clients, in friends and family, in people and it's a beautiful thing. I have hope that I can find my balance now, with some age and experience and learning. I can maintain my own identity and join a community of seekers and lovers and support others and be supported by others. Even though Catholic Chelsea and Evangelical Chelsea would like to remind me that I will surely burn in hell for contemplating this Unitarian Universalism, Real Chelsea* is doing what she wants to do. And loving it.
While I'm on the subject of doing things I enjoy, I have to report that I'm super thrilled to be hitting up the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival in Raleigh this weekend. Free music, food trucks, craft beers, fall weather. Yes indeed.
*Neil says sometimes it's like doing group therapy... and I'm the only one in the room with him. I promise I don't have DID.
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