I love receiving Holiday cards. It feels nice to be remembered, especially by friends and family we rarely or never see.
Usually, when I do Christmas cards, I feel the joy of the season; the excitement of looking forward to the cards we will receive. This year, sending Christmas Cards felt like a chore.
In fact, most of my “Holiday Cheer” has flown away… to where? I don’t know.
It seems many must be feeling it, as we’ve gotten much fewer cards than in years past. Then again, I’ll be finishing the last of my cards TODAY… 2 days before Christmas 🤦🏻♀️.
I’m in Athens, Georgia for 2 weeks to help family. I love them and I’m happy to have a job that allows me to work from anywhere so I can be here to help when they need it.
Those who are in the Healthcare profession or are caregivers for loved ones know what this means. It’s an act of love, done gratefully and (hopefully) gracefully. It is also emotionally, mentally, and physically draining.
This is a reminder that it’s time to take a BREAK, or as I call it a “Time Out.”
I’ve been here a week and today I needed that “time out.” Luckily, the weather has started to turn for Autumn and the temperature/humidity has let up and cooled. So today, my time is being spent outside.
The Georgia Botanical Gardens has always been a favorite place for me, when I lived here and now when I visit.
Botanical Garden BeautyWater Feature at Visitor Center Entrance
As I sit by this beautiful water feature at the entrance to The Visitor Center, I feel my stress, sadness, anxiety and exhaustion melt away…
I hope you take a “Time Out” if you need it. Remember: you’re no good to anyone if you’re not good to yourself ❤️
I’ve been gone a while. From my Blog, from the “Me” I want to be, from having anything I felt I could share. For this, I am sorry.
I know that the writings of others often help me when I feel low, and yet that is when I am least likely to share. I don’t like to show the ugly underbelly of my depression and anxiety and where it takes me. The flip side of that is that I know these are the things that people need to hear and see… my very HUMANNESS.
I only want to share when I’ve figured something out, or had a new revelation.These are important too. Still, others also need to see the struggle. So again, I’m sorry for not being here to share mine.
I promise to do better at showing up. In the meantime, here’s a bit of wisdom (from elsewhere) that struck me recently:
“filtered” Me
Affirmations
I am posting my picture with this list because:
This picture is not me, and yet… it is me.
The REAL ME needs that second picture. That list of “Reminders.”
I am this picture… sometimes. I am often NOT this picture. I am the same mess you feel like. I struggle to do those “healthy things.”
Some days I can’t get out of my pajamas. Some days I can’t get organized. I don’t have energy or make time for self-care: exercise, Art, journaling, writing that “To Do List” (or doing it!).
Don’t be fooled by this first picture. She looks like she’s doing everything right… all the things you think you “should” be doing.
The ME behind the picture needs people like YOU. You remind me it’s ok to be a “Work-in-Progress” the same way you need ME to remind you that this list of Affirmations are important.
A BIG part of my Power Word for 2021: Balance, is learning to walk away from energy draining experiences.
Gotta be HONEST… this is HARD WORK for me! I’m an emotional person. I feel everything deeply. Discussions about Issues and values I hold dear to my heart are hard to walk away from.
I’m increasingly finding that people (especially on social media) want to drag me into arguments rather than honest discussion of differing opinions, ideologies, and values. These so-called “accepting people” would rather finger-point and yell and scream. This is a useless undertaking. These people aren’t interested in a discussion about the complexity of an issue. They simply want to “Take a Stand” and tell me how I am wrong or even a bad person if I disagree with their cause, ideology, or opinion.
This is a complete waste of time and energy. Yet the drama is VERY addicting.
I must work hard to resist the pull of these futile endeavors.
My mantra: “I am living my life in balance and with healthy boundaries.”
And… BREATHE!
Nothing in today’s world is going to be better if i sacrifice my peace of mind.
Life is hard enough without inviting someone else’s “Crazy” into my consciousness.