Melancholalia

Years ago, when I was with some friends at the pier in Hobart, buying freshly shucked oysters straight off the boat from a fisherman, I came across a woman who was a little bizarre. She was on her own, and seemingly speaking to no-one in particular. Only she wasn't having a conversation in her head - or maybe she was - but instead she kept repeating the same phrase over and over again. "Wouldn't have a clue... wouldn't have a clue... wouldn't have a clue..."

It seemed she perhaps had some mental problem, but in any case, this was my first and only encounter with someone who appeared to suffer from echolalia, often associated with autism or Tourette syndrome. People with this condition involuntarily repeat snippets of something they've heard someone else say.

It's been about two and a half months since my relationship with D ended. While in many respects, I've come to peace with this, and for the most part I'm ready and eager to move on with my life, I often find my mind wandering back involuntarily to my relationship. I well up with regret, resentment, and melancholy, and what I know to be futile and irrational feelings of inadequacy. Then after a while, I brush them off, think of happier things, and surround myself with friends and find an equilibrium again.

Part of me wonders if this melancholalia might be a sign that I still haven't resolved my emotions, and dealt with the breakup properly; that in maintaining my composure and control, I've somehow emotionally wounded myself. Or perhaps not wounded, but rather poisoned. The poison seems to well up, and then when things might otherwise become toxic, the overflow valve is released...

melancholalia.

Playlisting as the dust settles

I'm a little at a loss when it comes to blogging at the moment, if you couldn't tell... so I thought I'd juat post a playlist of the music I've been listening to a lot lately. It's mostly to do with processing the end of my relationship with D (surprise surprise). I've always found music to be somewhat cathartic, even when it's in amplifying or resonating whatever pain you might be going through.

Mayonaise - Smashing Pumpkins
Breakeven - The Script
Last Goodbye - Jeff Buckley
How My Heart Behaves - Feist
Irreplaceable - Beyonce
How to Disappear Completely - Radiohead
I Forgive You - Darren Hayes
When You Were Young - The Killers
Free - Destiny's Child
Details in the Fabric - Jason Mraz