Here are some of the helpful suggestions and how I'm applying them:
1. Accentuate the positive: I have been quite successful finding silver linings--the two men who died are at peace and will never feel pain or anxiety again; my son has decided that he'll go to college next year instead of taking a year off to be a ski bum.
2. Sleep, eat whatever you want, and watch the birds: Done. I've been taking naps, eating chocolate (five pounds, according to my bathroom scale), and I've been watching the birds and squirrels outside my office window (instead of working).
3. Go for a walk: I did that today and enjoyed the balmy 45-degree sunshine. Here's a photo of the scenery from a nearby park. (This also gives me another excuse to take another nap.)
5. Read a book or watch a favorite TV show or movie: I started Joy of Man's Desiring by Jean Giono, which is a magical tail of how a couple in provincial France rediscover happiness, "the passion for the impractical, the useless."
6. Sit in a comfy chair with a dog or cat: Done. I took dinner to my parents last night and spent some time on the couch with their cat.
7. Enjoy the sunshine: Done. The last couple of days have been gloriously sunny.
8. Breathe: I'm working on it -- it's surprising how often I forget to do this.
9. Have a glass of whiskey: Turns out, holiday guests drank all our whiskey so I substituted a stiff martini of my favorite atrisan gin from Dancing Pines Distillery.
10. Sort through things and reorganize: I finally unpacked my suitcase and I'm in the process of cleaning my desk.
11. Send a note of encouragement to someone who needs it: Instead of sending a note, I hand-delivered a pot of homemade soup to my friend who lost her husband.
12. Scratch a dog's ears or cuddle a baby: Done. The friend I took the soup to has a dog and was in charge of her 5-month-old grandson when I arrived.
13. Be patient: This is the most difficult, especially as I see deadline approach and my inbox fill up.
In summary, I think I'm doing pretty well and I look forward to finding focus again.
Nobody mentioned it, but there's nothing like fresh flowers to make one sigh with pleasure--here's the arrangement that a dear friend sent to me:
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9 comments:
Seems you have the situation in hand, Ann.
A couple more hugs for ya,
Gerry
You are such an inspiration! Glad to hear you are being so proactive.
I read Joy of Man's Desiring many, many years ago - and loved it. Looking forward to hearing how you like it.
Sounds likeyou are doing all of the right things. Best wishes and keep in mind all of us that miss you and worry when you aren't blogging.
I have a friend who believes that nice flowers are almost as good as a therapist, and much cheaper. They always make me smile too.
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All the best to you and congratulations for pulling up on your own bootstraps! I now live where 45 degrees is considered very cold and we have flowers of one sort another all year round. That being said I lived for most of my life with gray, cold winters. As soon as the Christmas decorations came down, my grocery budget was boosted by the price of a weekly bouquet for the house. I don't think I would have survived otherwise! Money well spent.
All the best to you and congratulations for pulling up on your own bootstraps! I now live where 45 degrees is considered very cold and we have flowers of one sort another all year round. That being said I lived for most of my life with gray, cold winters. As soon as the Christmas decorations came down, my grocery budget was boosted by the price of a weekly bouquet for the house. I don't think I would have survived otherwise! Money well spent.
That list is really great! So glad you are finding some comfort at a pretty awful time. Take good care of yourself. ((hugs))
Just read this - 2 months on - I'm reading Diana Athill's "Instead of a book" and finding that very uplifting.
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