An Old Crone Goes On An Adventure

"Roads go ever ever on, Over rock and under tree, By caves where never sun has shone, By streams that never find the sea; Over snow by winter sown, And through the merry flowers of June, Over grass and over stone, And under mountains in the moon." - Bilbo Baggins

On November 5th 2020, I entered the phase of the Crone, and as we enter the 3rd month of 2021, I begin my journey into the academic world of Psychology as a student of Psychological Science at Deakin University. This old crone is excited because I'm going on an adventure! 

“Don’t adventures ever have an end? I suppose not. Someone else always has to carry on the story.” - Bilbo Baggins

I've always had a fascination with the human mind, the psyche, wondering why we do the things we do, why we behave in certain ways. What makes some people assertive and others passive? Why are events that are traumatizing for some not traumatizing for others? Why are some people violent and others not? Why can some people enjoy certain activities casually or in the moment while others become addicted?

Being a survivor of childhood trauma and abuse can cause one to become bitter, angry and resentful later in life. Not just towards the person(s) who caused the trauma but anyone who comes into our lives and causes us even the slightest upset. Some might say we have every right to be, and perhaps that is true. But living life as a bitter, angry and resentful person, no matter how justified the emotions may be, only causes us greater harm and suffering.

And so, I've decided that it is important for me to live more consciously and to have compassion for all, even the abusers, because they too are suffering and need help. Recognizing our own pain and suffering is easy because its with us all the time. We hear it in our mind and feel it in our body. Recognizing someone elses pain and suffering isn't as easy and takes effort because it isn't always obvious. And sometimes the way it manifests is deceiving.

“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.” - Bilbo Baggins

  This new chapter of my life as a mature age student is exciting and I have already learned so much. I can't wait to dive deeper into Psychology and human behaviour. It took me a while to get here but I finally feel like I am on the right path. And just like Bilbo Baggins, have been waiting for a moment to arrive offering an opportunity for adventure. 

 And so it begins!