I have returned to the family branch. I will admit it isn't my favorite, but the Branch President is nice and so are many in the branch who knew me from before. It is amazing...people talk to me. That was not so much the case going to the GINORMOUS ward. Ok so I know it isn't really a ward, but really a branch as well, just an 800+ people branch. As I was leaving today I walked by the chapel. I looked inside because I am glutton for punishment. My former fiance attends that ward. Seriously did he not realize that I could still live where I do and we would be in the same stake and attend church in the same building? I guess not! That was one of the reasons I went to the Mid-singles ward in the first place. I honestly didn't want to run into him week after week. So as I glanced inside the chapel he was there. He was holding a small baby. At this point I have a few thoughts running through my head:
1. Why do I even care? Why am I doing this to myself?
2. I am proud of myself for not really freaking out. I am stronger than I give myself credit for sometimes.
3. I am happy for him.
4. I am a little jealous because I want to be married and have children.
5. I am so glad he didn't see me.
6. What was that comment from the branch president about? Would he really not call to primary? Hmm who knows? Do I really want to be called to primary? (Ok this one is simple--I just want a calling that helps me feel needed and helps me want to come to church)
Later on today I facebook stalked him--yes I am that person. He posted something in June about wanting a job and asked fb for suggestions of how to find one. He said he wanted to have a job in film or in guitar. He has a bachelors in film form UVU and said he has played the guitar for years. First of all I don't really know about the guitar. He never played it for me and when I asked he would always try to push it off and say later. Does he really know how to play? And film is great and wonderful, my brother and sister-in-law do it, but they have master's degrees and live in L.A. and have a hard enough time making ends meet and finding jobs that are really sustainable.
I then looked up his wife. There were no pics of the baby or should I say babies on facebook. She had twins. Great wonderful...but that made me a little upset because I have always wanted twins. As I have posted before on this blog I have had dreams of multiple births. It almost felt like they are living the life I was supposed to have...before I snapped back into reality. I don't want him. I don't want a guy who is just a dreamer and will have a hard time for years and most of his life finding a decent job. Yes I want someone to have aspirations--but I also want a steady pay check. I value consistency. Sad to say it but I felt smarter than him. I never really liked it. I was willing to deal with it at the time, but that isn't what is best for me or what I want now. I think he just wanted some little wife that was subservient to him as the man and head of the household. I am not that woman. If anything has come out of this Kate Kelly excommunication in my life it is that I will not play second fiddle to a man. Some women seem to be ok with that in the church letting all decisions go to their husband. (Let it be said here--for me Ordain Women isn't just about women getting the priesthood. It is about showing women they have a place in the gospel and it is equal to men. I could also go either way on the priesthood for women. I don't feel less because I don't have it--but there are certainly inequalities in the organization of the church and in Mormon culture that I am not ok with.) I don't want to be more than a man, or less than a man. I want to be equal to him. I don't want to have to rely on him to get into heaven or not to get into heaven. I am still an individual even if I were married. His choices are his own and my choices are mine. We can make some together and help each other. I want us to be help meets to each other. I want us to use our strengths to make a great marriage--not just a so so one. I want us to help each other with our weaknesses and want to make decisions together, but I will still be Rachel. I am not willing to give up my identity for man.
While engaged, I said that I was kinda sad about loosing my last name. He acted defensive to that like I didn't want his name. It wasn't that. Even though I am independent and probably a true feminist, I do plan on taking my husband's last name. I just felt like I was loosing part of me. Part of my rich heritage. I have early American colonial history from New Amsterdam--1623--that is pretty dang good. I have Mormon pioneer stalk. This is just from my last name. There are also so many amazing things from my mom's side of my family. My ancestors were cheated from money as pioneers in Sanpete county by LDS neighbors. They lied to them and wouldn't ever repay the money. What they did was admirable. They chose to forgive and not let them determine if they should remain in the church or not. I have grandparents who taught me to love others and show them that they are important. I am still learning that one. The list goes on and on...I don't want to loose that. I will not give up who I am for someone else.
So I dodged a bullet by not marrying him. I don't think I would be happy if I was. I would feel stifled. I won't say I am happy all the time being single or in any other relationship status in my life. I cried this week about my lack of feeling part of the church, a romantic relationship, a family etc. this week. I have insecurities and I am working on them day by day but I am blessed because I didn't marry him.
No comments:
Post a Comment