10/13/19 - Rebuilding
It has been almost exactly five months since my last update here. In this time it feels like both many things and nothing have gone on.
In my last post I mentioned how my life shifted in a big and difficult way. I went on to write how I was beginning a new chapter with renewed focus on my blog, The Motley Experience. while taking a step away from professional wrestling. This has been true and I am very proud of the content I have been able to regularly post that speak to the exploration I have undertaken into spirituality.
For many out there, such a statement often yields various degrees of eye rolling. Spirituality generally evokes images of long haired and hippy-esque people talking about love. What I’ve found spirituality to be, however, is different. For one thing, it is much more personal. It is about plunging into the inner depths of your own psyche to discover what lays submerged there. This involves a lot of very difficult lessons. It can be a great shock to the system to realize that the way in which one views the world is completely distorted.
Much of this distortion is the result of trauma, as well as familial and societal pressures and influences. The purpose is not to find someone or something other than yourself to blame, but rather to realize that these built in notions about how you and life are “supposed” to work are not you or of your own doing. By realizing this, the process becomes easier to forgive, accept, and begin the healing process.
I had hoped that this would be a “one and done”, but am faced with the reality that living this way is a constant and never ending process. Much like going to the gym for your physical muscles, spirituality and wellness require ongoing exercises to continually flex and strengthen your ability to see past the falsehoods and illusions we have grown up believing.
It sucks. A lot. But is also rewarding as you slowly notice how you are able to handle triggers more easily and are able to find the calm at the center of the storm that is your mind.
Enough about that.
Outside of my day job, I have focused on rebuilding and rebranding The Motley Experience into a life style blog. As I mentioned earlier, I am very proud of the content I have been able to write that has been therapeutic for me and (I hope) helpful for readers.
Here are some examples of my work:
I am by no means an expert in spirituality or wellness, but I do write from my own experience. I read a quote that spoke to me which I’ll paraphrase: “People write that which they wish was written for them”. Basically, people are writing what they need to read. That’s where I find myself.
On the topic of reading, I have continued my studies into wellness and spiritual psychology. I didn’t consider it studying or research until recently. Up until then, I was just hungry for a way out. When I noticed how quite a bit of what I was reading and practicing began to help (along with therapy, absolutely cannot discount therapy), I became more interested in the various philosophies and activities that one could undertake to live better.
I can definitely be doing better, but it is good to sit back and observe the progress already made.
Another project of mine that may be of interest to you is my podcast, Stuff Explained. It launched back in August and is uploaded every Monday morning. Tomorrow (10/14) will be the tenth episode! Each episode focuses on an interesting fact, engaging history, or big idea. So far, all episodes have been listened to over 200 times. This may not sound like much, but considering how this is my first time and I’ve done no paid advertising, I’m very pleased with the results.
The podcast is available now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Luminary, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Spotify, TuneIn, Stitcher, and The Motley Experience.
Another fun tidbit is that I returned last week from a one week trip through the U.K. I had a great time with relatives in the Chester, England and North Wales area before doing a solo trip to Bath, Stonehenge, and London. Whilst in London, I took advantage of an AirBnB experience which involved a professional photographer giving a small group tour of London City. Looking forward to uploading the fully edited pics in the next few weeks.
The last 6+ months have been incredibly difficult, depressing, humbling, and insightful. I’m in the process of reparenting, course correcting, healing, and rebuilding. While it sometimes feels nearly impossible, I am hopeful to continue on this positive trajectory to get to a place of peace and fulfillment. I wish the same for all of you.
Until next time.
Sincerely,
Aristidis Marousas
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