There is a sweet lady at our congregation with Williams Syndrome. She lives with her elderly mother and lots of people help take care of her. (Taking her on outings, out to eat, to and from church.) One night the person who was giving her a ride had a family emergency and so she asked me if I could drive her home. I said I could and asked if she wanted to go get a hamburger. (They are her favorite.)
I stopped at Caseys for gas and she exclaimed, “Oh this is my favorite place!” She went inside for donuts while I filled the tank. Afterwards we went to Culvers and she ordered herself dinner.
While we sat and ate my new friend told me about singing in a choir and traveling to NYC. I showed her pictures of my kittens and talked about my nephews and niece. When I dropped her at her house her mother came out on the porch.
I have met her mother a couple of times, but she didn’t remember me. (She is in her 90s and has delicate health, I didn’t blame her.) She thanked me profusely for bringing her daughter home and invited me to come back again and visit. I will have to make a point to go see them sometime soon.
I had a fleeting feeling of, “Oh no!” When I was hanging out with my new friend. I could feel my walls going up because the overprotective shoulder demon was saying, “You have said yes to a lot of things lately. People are going to start expecting more and more from you and leave you trapped…” Is that true? No. I can always say, “No” and I am a capable adult who can set and maintain boundaries. If I don’t do things for fear of being trapped I will never leave my house again. I had a moment of, “I know you are trying to protect me from my fears, but I am safe and don’t need rescued right now” to my anxiety (I call her Maureen).
Redheaded Jill 
Leave a comment