Grounded

I'm grounded. I've never been grounded before....ever. I thought I'd look the word up just to make certain I understood the concept. Here is what I found:

grounded-adj. Sensible and down-to-earth; having one's feet on the ground.

I'm fairly certain that the complete opposite is what got me into trouble in the first place. So really, I'm grounded for being ungrounded. I'm sensing an argument coming on that could by my freedom through confusion. Hmmm.....

Mom is looking over my shoulder and says, "Don't even try it, young lady."

The funny thing is, since it is such a new concept, no one really knew how to approach it--the grounding. I mean, what do I do? Not do volunteer work for a few weeks? Not attend lectures at Berry? Not spend as much social time online? Well, maybe that one...but somehow I need the friends more than ever. Take away my music and art supplies? My parents know I would physically die.

My punishment, at first, seems as kooky as everything about us: I no longer stay at home to do my coursework. I go to Berry. I do my work in an extra office where my mom works. I do research in the library. I do phys ed at the Cage center. It's like day school in paradise. Berry is one of my most favorite places on earth.

It seems crazy, but grounding has really become something intangible. It's knowing that I was given a gift....trust...and I didn't cherish it. It's knowing that I will have to suck it up (the feminist in me doesn't want to say 'man up') and look someone in the eyes and apologize. It's searching for a way to right the wrongs. It's looking at myself in a different way and wondering what need I'm trying to fill and what the more positive course would be. Mostly, it's knowing I received an amazing gift....a person, a heart, a deep soul friend, a love....and didn't treat is as one of my most precious treasures. Perhaps being grounded will help me become more grounded after all.