Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts

Thursday, December 6, 2012

What day is it?

As we are now well into the holiday season that starts with Halloween and ends, in my jaded opinion, with the only month that has no official holiday (August), I wake up and think it's Friday when it's Monday; or Wednesday when it's Tuesday and so on. I know many of you do, too.

But looking at it in a more metaphorical sense, the simple question, "what day is it," can be whatever we choose it to be. For example, This day, for me, is a rest and catch-up day. It's also a day when I select to listen to holiday music of my own free will, rather than being assaulted by it in retail stores, supermarkets, or train stations. Music of this season makes many of us sad and constant, unsolicited reminders of holiday time is difficult.

When my children were young and leaving to catch the school bus, I would say 'make a great day' instead of 'have a good day.' They hated it. But I secretly hope it is a phrase they will use with their own children. Or, perhaps, they think of it on their own now as young adults. This is exactly what Dr. Wayne Dyer writes and speaks about, especially when it comes to personal challenges, dreams and/or goals. Each day is in your hands and so are the personal manifestations of health and wellness you seek to achieve.

Delving further into our psyche, The ACE Study (Adverse Childhood Effects) helps me understand why I am the way I am and forces me to choose what to do with a day. This is because I observed firsthand how my own family threw so many days away due to dysfunction, mental illness, and outright self-abuse and abuse of those around them.

But this is just my experience. Those with chronic illness can not and should not try to find definitive links to anything that may have 'caused' their disease. Even in my case - although I think I have it figured out - it is highly possible that I would have been prone to getting cancer and Lupus regardless of how I grew up. Writing my memoir has been like conducting a research project. It didn't start out that way but one day I decided it was. It was a Tuesday, I think.


From http://acestudy.org/



Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Forever Learning

Forget yearning; I long for forever learning. The mentors throughout my life have included not only those smarter or more educated than me, but those who may not even know they have taught me something, allowed me to see a situation in a different light, or just plain pointed out the error of my ways.

Just recently, a dear friend wrote a quick text to make me feel better about a situation. Yet, what I got out of her wisdom was how I was also perpetuating that lousy behavior.

To explain, I am often overwhelmed. Taking care of the numerous items on my ever-expanding 'to do' list that includes work, family, home, finances, housework, etc. plus taking care of my health literally lands me on my back sometimes. It is during these times that I may neglect certain family or friends. I may not return a phone call or a private message or an email or text. I may simply be unavailable for days because I am overwhelmed.

Of course the other party or parties don't know that. Sometimes I don't even know that I'm going under until I'm on the floor; so I might mix up some messages, forget something I was supposed to do or cause grief to a loved one unintentionally. And when I'm feeling 'mornal' again, I simply resume my life as if that bump in the road hadn't occurred. This is not fair to the others.

Interestingly, as I thought about what this very wise friend wrote to me in 20 words or less, I realized that I, too, get hurt, confused or angry when I am on the flip side of this equation. At times, I have incorrectly assumed that those in my life are simply being inconsiderate when I don't receive a return missive when I've sent, what I think, is a message of utmost importance - sometimes more than once!

But they are simply overwhelmed. And that is that.

With the holidays here, I am going to be more mindful of how much we all have on our lengthy lists and how my friends and family still care even though we may not be in touch as often as we'd like. And I will be grateful when they can make time for me, never assuming that they didn't want to in the first place.

Now if they would just all read my blog...


Thursday, November 15, 2012

Suffering & Succotash

Suffering & Succotash

So much suffering: Deaths to mourn; cities, towns and villages wiped out by Hurricane Sandy; rocket attacks in Israel; Benghazi-Gate and hate still runs rampant.

The holidays are here! 

If Looney Tunes' Sylvester the Cat  was around, his catch-phrase - suffering succotash - would mean a lot more than a spoiled corn and bean dish for Thanksgiving. What it does mean, in his words, is frustration. Sylvester doesn't get his way and most of us don't get ours when we approach the most wondrous time of the year. We go. We do. We maintain tradition.

But I am frustrated yet I promise I will remain thankful. I've reached another 'new normal' in my physical health condition and I'm adjusting accordingly. I'm in mourning for a friend. I'm aghast at the news from all corners of the country and the world. Texas wants to secede and I still sit here getting ready to go out tonight to celebrate another friend's achievement.

Stealing another famous cartoon character's best line: "Oh bother," says Pooh, but he pads on with Piglet by his side searching for the honey pot. I will still search for the honeypot. Hopefully it will be sweet and succulent rather than suffering succotash. Will you share it with me?

“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. 
"Pooh?" he whispered.
"Yes, Piglet?"
"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's hand. "I just wanted to be sure of you.” 


― A.A. MilneWinnie-the-Pooh




I just want to be sure of all of you today. Thank you for you.