Where has the time gone? Is it really January 1, 2014? How did this happen?
Have you ever been so totally exhausted, mentally and physically, that when you get home, pull into the garage, turn the car off and walk in the house you wonder how you even got there? Like, you cannot even remember driving home? I have more of those days in the last two months than I care to divulge.
I am thoroughly enjoying spending my days at the Orem Senior Friendship Center and find myself loving these people more and more every day. I find so much inspiration, beauty, determination and honor in their actions, words and laughter. They continually teach me to be more patient, more understanding, more gentle and more than what I am today. I am so grateful for those lessons.
There is a wonderful quote that speaks so deeply to me; "When a passion and a career come together, it is a beautiful thing." I have not felt this fulfilled in any other job since being in the throes of raising the girls. It is exciting, crazy, difficult, lightening fast, ever changing, on the tips of your toes, out of breath beauty. 92.7% of the time it is perfect. It's the 7.3% that is giving me a run for my money. Add one little sprinkle of menopause into the mixture and I believe it is what a Weather Man calls "The Perfect Storm".
I find myself asking Heavenly Father to just give me a minute to breathe; please let my brain shut down; please. Unfortunately, these prayers have not been answered quite yet which also signifies that I have not learned whatever it is that I need to learn. Sigh.....
So, how do I catch my breath? That has been the question plaguing my mind for quite some time. I can lay in bed, even with the mental and physical fatigue, combined with a good dose of ambien, and still think of 13 things I need to do in the morning when I show up at work, what will I make for dinner tomorrow and do I need to get something out of the freezer? Pray. Just pray. I decided to try thanking Heavenly Father for everything I have been blessed with. Have you heard that question, "What if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you thanked Heavenly Father for tonight."? So I tried this. Several times. Turns out a bit like this... "Heavenly Father, I am so thankful for Kirk, he is my love and I don't know what I would do without him. I am so thankful for Dani and Steven and Bryn and even my cute grand-dog Hank. I am thankful for Crazy and Jazz and especially Buddy, he just makes me smile. I am thankful for the jobs we have been blessed with and that we are able to live in the Non'ts home. I am so thankful for our ward and the Amazing people we have here. I am thankful for the trees because they give us such beauty and shade and....oh, I've got to remember to put the leaf rakes away.....oh, and bag the patio furniture pillows up for the winter and...wait, wait.... I am so thankful for the blessing of having enough food...crap, did I get that casserole dish out of the garage fridge? I cannot believe I have forgotten that again! I will get it tomorrow, when I start the washing machine for the third time with the same load of clothes in it.
Am I the only one?!!
So......I have started my own mind control program. Have I mentioned that I am a control freak? If not......news flash.....I am. My program consists of me......trying to control my mind. So far things are not really going according to plans. Actually, I haven't been able to stop my thoughts long enough to introduce the "Plan" to myself. Truth be told....I am not even sure there is a "Plan". It all sounds really good....and controlled.....but, it's not.
I have read several articles about reducing stress in your life and the following remedies have been suggested; long, warm baths, aroma-therapy, read, write in a gratitude journal, breathe deeply, go outside.
After compiling this list I realized that I could take a nice, warm bath with some of those Dr. Teal's lavender bath salts wafting through the air providing a sense of calm. While relaxing in the tub I will read this month's Country Living magazine which will inspire me to jot down some wonderful things that I am grateful for. Afterwards, I will take some deep breaths, walk outside and realize that I have yet to cover the patio cushions for the winter. Clearly, this is not going to work for me.
Fortunately, I have been blessed with an amazing hubby, fantastic kids and a couple of furry friends that welcome me home no matter what.
I am so excited for the possibilities of 2014. I am certain I will find plenty of crazy days but I am also certain that everything happens for a reason.
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