Solutions – Moving On From Anxiety

Exploring Patriarchy – Chapter 27

It’s cuddly dog and happy face

and we have to look our best, hair always neat and in place.

Skirt around what’s going down

because talking like it’s okay can turn things around.

Play pretend and let things be

let struggle stop the resistance to ways that bring relief.

Trying to help doesn’t work because they push it away

while they dig a ditch they can fall into on another day.

But I’m OK. Not worried. I’ve given it away

and they’ll fall. And dig themselves out ‘cos there’s no other way.

I’m OK. Positive. And at a distance I need.

And they’re OK too. This alone isn’t lonely. They think it’s happy and free.

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It takes a lot of positivity to break the cycle of suffering and anxiety that is carried down from one woman to the next, within a family. And MM was starting to find solutions. New ways and ideas that changed her perspective. And worked.

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I invite you to read all chapters of Exploring Patriarchy and walk with Microwave Madam as she explores the impact of patriarchy on her life and on society. And looks for solutions.

This chapter was inspired by a wonderful book on positivity – ‘I’m OK – You’re OK’ by Thomas A Harris, MD.

The first few lines of this poem are a reference to the portrayal of happiness and success that we see on social media all the time. I’m looking at that here as a means to positivity and resolution, rather than a display of fake happiness and a denial of struggle.