Dysfunctional behavior is a habit that is just as hard to break as any addiction. At the age of 38 I went for counseling and was made aware of how I was allowing behaviours that were inappropriate towards me. One of the concepts our support group was introduced to was the concept of agressive, assertive, and passive behaviours. We spent many sessions learning to recognize the difference between these three types of behaviour. I have learned to shape my life over time in a way that works for me.
This past while I have lived with my elderly mother and clearly identify many dysfunctional behaviours that she clings to. When I try to suggest possible solutions to some of her problems that have been with her for many years, she makes excuses why she cannot try my ideas.

I honestly believe that she has become so comfortable in her negativity that it fits her like an "old shoe" and she won't go through the process of putting up with any emotional "blisters" in order to break in the new shoes of new behaviours.

The difficult thing for me is that she expects me to sympathize with her, but the fact is I don't, because I know several things she could change in her life to eliminate these ongoing problems, but she refuses to do them.

I suppose my mom isn't going to change and I will have to humour her along. I would like to get involved with some new people in my community, but I am not sure how I am going to go about this. There is one lady in the writing club I recently joined and I would like to see her once is a while over coffee. I will have to attend the next meeting in order to arrange this and hopefully she will be there. We do not meet over the summer, so this may be my last chance to see her until September.

It's getting late and I am getting tired, so I will end this blog now.