After a major conflict with my family went nuclear about a week ago, I have completely cut off contact with nearly everyone.

A major battle in my life has ended and now I get to pick up the pieces and process that resolution.

• Who won?
• What does this change for me?
• Can I feel grief and relief at the same time?

I am diving in to learn more about family dynamics and roles and dysfunction and it is helping me make sense of how this has all played out. It is also an opportunity to heal and devote all the energy I was spending on them and focus it all to me and Gina.

There really is a freedom to this expanded estrangement, a tremendous feeling of escape. My shit got bombed pretty good for a lot of years but now the air raid sirens are silent and I get to shift my focus to rebuilding and repairing the damage they caused.

This comes with the knowledge that while they will continue to live with their heads buried in the sand, I’ll be enjoying the beautiful world I am now building without them.

Plus – this all inspired another musical interlude, a fine song by the Average White Band