I am so thankful for each one of you who has offered your encouragement. It truly means much to me. I honestly don’t find it easy to share my struggles with others, I tend more toward the pull up your boot straps and take a positive outlook side of things, but I know that we weren’t created to walk alone. So I thank you for sharing my struggles as well as my joys.
I am finding that it is really helpful for me to have a plan for ways to help make the bad days…better. Mind you, these aren’t cure all ideas nor do they get to the root (I won’t even get into that:); these are more what I suppose could be called ‘coping’ strategies and my hope is that I will be able to cope well until everything else levels out.
Exercise: I have been forcing myself with Dan’s help to go for a brisk walk at least once a day. Even when I don’t want to, I find that it does amazing things.
Fresh air and sunshine (Vitamin D): With Aneliese, I basically lived outside in our yard and garden. Here because there is a lot less sun as it is winter, I am upping my vitamin D a lot in addition to getting outside.
Music: Generally, I really enjoy a varied style in music but on bad days some styles and even keys send my nerves through the roof so I have specific artists and songs that I know won’t jar and that are particularly hope filled for me.
Thoughts: Often I really have to force myself to think of other things and to not obsess about how I am feeling or lies that I am believing. It really helps to replace those with truths that I know.
Time alone: I am finding that if I take time to recharge that I can often catch myself. Lately, I have been using that time to write or walk.
One goal: Because I tend to set the bar high for myself in terms of what I want to accomplish in a day, I have been choosing one goal and allowing that to be a success.
Beauty: It is so important to keep seeing beauty in life even if that is drawing simple pictures or playing fairies with the girls. My camera has been such a blessing lately because it is simple set up (many of the things that I do aren’t), it is something new, and has no pressure. It has been really refreshing how taking pictures often helps me view things differently.
Meal Plan/Snacks: This is something that I have said many times that I need on a good day especially when I am pregnant or nursing. For me, inconsistent eating or hunger leads to blood sugar levels spiking and dropping; simply put, it just doesn’t work for me not to have food planned regularly through the day.
Sleep: I am learning to go to bed if I am tired, even if it means going when the girls do!
Internet/Computer: Sometimes, I just need to turn it off and that is almost an instant mind clearer.
Smile, Laugh, and Play: It may sound silly but sometimes I just forget. I don’t see it as being fake because I am making a choice to do what I know really is with in.
Prayer: This is what I turn to through out all of the above; even if all I can ask is a simple, “help”, that is most often how I get through.
And just because this brought joy today:
She is soooo cute!
Great tips. I used all of those and they do help at least survival:) I am so glad you discovered what works. All excellent things to incorporate. Wise reminders:) I see so much beauty in what you do with your life! Keep going and I hope it gets even better as each day passes. Coping is a testament to endurance. You are strong!
Haha Missy is she supposed to be an original fairy or a strict queen? Such a confident look in her eye. Love it. It makes me laugh:))
Well she was a flower fairy and unfortunately, I didn’t video her dancing because it was pretty great as she waved her streamer wand, stopped to change skirts and continued on! She is a confident little thing, that one. I love how much she makes me laugh.
Thank you Kmarie, I know that they aren’t rocket science, but if I can remember, I am really helped by those things.
Oh the joy, sweet picture!It’s an incredible moment when we realize there is a community of friends & family who offer encouragement, prayer, love, support who just ‘get it’ through trials and low times. Your alone time, vitamin D, being outside in the brisk fresh air, imagination… all such good reminders. Love You.
It really is amazing Alicia, just in these last few days, feeling just a little less alone has given me an extra boost.