Tag: stress

Arrived

Things have improved much on our trip. We talked through some things last night and this morning, and cleared up some important points in how we each were relating to the trip and aspects of it. We had a slightly tough start at the Jack Daniel’s Distillery, but ended up having a lovely time throughout it, and then an awesome time visiting with my sister tonight. We both tend to get very defensive, very quickly, so it is certainly a process to stop relating to things as a potential threat or unkindness from which e must defend ourselves… but we are improving as a whole, and I am certainly grateful for that!

I think this will be a lovely visit with my sister tomorrow and Monday morning. Thank you, God, for these blessings so far. Please, help us to continue to honor you through our love in all its forms. In your name, I pray. Thank you. Amen.

Post-a-day 2022

Tennessee

We’re going on an airplane to Tennessee tomorrow morning. I’m terrified slightly, as usual, for the flying part, and I’m excited for the Tennessee part. I’ve never been to Tennessee. So, we’ll be checking out some super famous places that I wasn’t ever sure I’d see, as we’re going to Nashville.

Pray for safe travels for us both, please.

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Meant to be

Naturally, I didn’t want to go to the meeting, as it was so late in the evening (6-8pm) and far away from home, both on a school night.

Naturally, I didn’t leave until almost 8:45pm, because I was having such a great time.

I guess that’s how it goes when we end up where we’re meant to be.

Thank you, God, for such a blessing as this new rodeo committee seems like it will be and already has been so far. Amen.

Post-a-day 2022

Hair care

‘What’s with the Natty Light in the living room??’

‘… It’s for my hair…’

‘….’

‘Beer is a good conditioner.’

‘…’

‘It was the cheapest they had at the time, and the cans were bigger, so I could use one at least twice.’

‘….’

Yeah, well, it isn’t the first conversation I’ve had like this. And not the first time I’d heard the ridiculous nickname for the cheap beer either. Not a good sign, hunny, that you refer to that stuff with that nickname… Not a good sign…

(As though my having the beer isn’t bizarre enough on its own, right?? 😛 )

::facepalm

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Hard Times

It can become extremely difficult to handle tough situations with grace, when our bodies and minds are suffering from a lack or excess of any kind, be it too little nourishing food and too much junk, or too little sleep or too much lazing, too much negative talk and too little kindness and generosity… Life just is harder when we don’t take true care of our bodies and our minds.

And it is a circle of positive feedback – the more we give ourselves the lacks and the excesses, the harder things become.

It is certainly time for me to take a stand and start caring for myself fully again. I cannot care for another or others to any degree truly, if I have not taken care of myself first. If I am not at my best, it will be immensely harder to help others be at theirs.

God, grant me the courage and the certainty that I am worth the efforts of caring for myself fully. Please, that I may do your will wholly. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2022

A day for rest

I think I am finally remembering why I avoided scheduling and agreeing to things on Sundays, why I wouldn’t work Sundays at the shop. You see, by Sunday, I am worn down, sometimes immensely. I truly think that I need Sundays as a day of rest for me in my life. Yes, it lines up well with Church and the sabbath and all, but it really seems like I just end up sick and stressed and feeling inevitably behind and nearly overwhelmed with everything else in life, when I just keep going over the weekend. However, when I take a Sunday like a rainy day restful day, not really going anywhere but Church, and just hanging around at home, maybe doing household chores, if they’re needed and if I have the energy (though, folding clothes is usually quite meditative for me). I think I need to move back to that.

I considered doing it today. But it felt like a wasteful idea, to lie on the sofa and watch a movies or series and, maybe, doze… I think, however, that it is more beneficial to me and to the week at large if I actually do laze around on Sunday afternoons, truly giving myself space to do nothing for a little while. From that, I am able to go to sleep early, and wake up actually refreshed on Monday morning.

I certainly wish that were the case right now… alas, I know how to handle things going forward!

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Birthday week-ish begins

Well, I opted for today for his first gift. It was a laptop, you see – Apple, of course, and certified refurbished, because electronics are quickly becoming a massive part of waste going into the ground (check out Back Market, y’all!) – and I wanted him to have it already for the whole week, but I didn’t want him to waste the entire workday Monday fiddling and playing with it. So, I gave it to him today, so he could start setting it up today, and vie further into it tomorrow, so it can be an asset to his days starting Monday, and not a deterrent from getting his job done. And he absolutely agreed with me on that concern. So, he got the fancy computer today, and I think he is really going to enjoy using it. Of course, I got a two-year extra accidents protection plan for him for it, in addition to the standard one-year flaw and minor things protection plan. So, that’s an extra bonus to the present, in a way. I know him too well not to get the accidental damage coverage…

Anyway, it was a good idea all around, and we had a blast taking Photo Booth photos as comic book pictures (before we had to run for a family birthday party celebration). I’m so glad it worked out so well, including the price. (Original price was $2299 for the laptop new, in mid-2018. I paid $514. And it’s in great condition.) Thank you, God, for such success today. And thank you for the many activities we accomplished together today, too. Grant us good rest tonight, please. In your name, we pray. Amen.

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Prayers answered

You know the story of the man in his home as a storm hits, how the neighbors ask in a truck for him to flee with them, and he replies that God will save him? The flood waters rise, a boat comes, offers a ride, and he declines, saying God will save him. The waters rise more, a helicopter comes to him as he sits on his roof, surrounded by water, but he declines the ride. ‘God will save me.’ He then is sealed up by the waters. As he approaches the pearly gates, he asks God why God never saved him. God asks him what he thought the truck, the boat, and the helicopter were.

I felt a version of that story today, coincidentally right after having a student mention that story in class.

You see, I hit this issue with my part-time job, right? I prayed for clear guidance from God as to what to do. I needed to know if I was staying with the job, and, if so, how to go about picking up an extra shift, in order to meet the new requirements.

I felt initially like it might be to pick up a shift this weekend, today, but it had to work out just right. There was then an open invitation for 7pm to midnight work for tonight. But it just felt like too much struggle for me, staying out and up so late. It was too likely I would end up sick, as I usually have whenever I stay up and out like that.

Then a shift was available for 2pm to 7pm today… still later than I wanted. But let me think on it. It’ll still be there, if it’s meant to be. I trust you… After a bit, I decided to go ahead and go for it; suck it up and make it work. But the shift was gone. I couldn’t take it. I looked into it, and saw that no one had actually picked it up. So, I potentially could reach out to the original person and ask if she still wanted it covered… but that didn’t feel right.

Something kept pulling at me, though… there was something about today, since I was finishing at school so early. There had to be something… please?

Then, in our group message thing, I saw the most recent message from about 45 minutes beforehand. Someone had an issue arise and couldn’t go in. Could someone go in from now until 5pm?

Seriously?!

‘I could go in about an hour,’ I offered. It was true. I could handle enough work to have only a bit left to do before school Monday, and head out by noon, work until five, and get to my man not too long after he would be finishing work for the day. And it would fulfill the extra day I needed to work before the end of the month, without giving up tomorrow or a Sunday.

A manager responded, saying they would love to have me. So, I got my work handled quickly after all my classes ended, and I headed in just a few minutes after noon. I was ready to start working before 12:30, and was blown away when, halfway through the shift, a manager tells me that I’m only supposed to be there until 4:30. Even better! I love working at this place, but for four hours at a time. Beyond that, and it kind of wipes me.

So, I got home feeling really great this evening. Added bonus is that, when I have to work next weekend, my man will be playing golf with his brothers and dad for his birthday. Score on timing!

Anyway, the manager person who had sent me the surprising e-mail the other day talked to me intentionally today, apologizing for how it had been shocking, that she had had no idea that we weren’t aware of the new policy, and that I had not been alone – others had responded similarly when she’d e-mailed them about the same thing. We had a great talk about it all, and I felt quite relieved at having been heard in my shock and upset and concerns. I actually agree that the policy is a good one to have – it was just not communicated to any of us workers, and it was practically the opposite of what we had always been told previously. So, there was a major ball-drop on the leadership side there. She is now working to sort that out, though, fortunately.

All-in-all, it was a positive day, and I am grateful for how lovely it all turned out to be. Thank you, God.

With the whole available shifts thing, it really felt like offerings from God to handle the situation, combined with my own stubbornness, and also standing for my own health and well-being, being my best self. I feel as though, because I never got angry or nasty, but just stood with courage, I was given the beautiful opportunity I was.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for that helicopter. In your name, I pray. Amen.

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P.S. For a birthday on a Wednesday, how soon can we give the first birthday present? Is Saturday too soon, or must we wait for Sunday, so it’s officially in the birthday week? Or Monday for the mostly European one? Or simply Wednesday????? What would you do, hmm??

Let it go…*

And, some days, life is just tough. Things can go up and down and back and forth from high stress to, ‘I can do this,’ and back all day long. Sometimes, too, it can continue into the night.

Dear God, help me to let go of whatever it is to which I am currently clinging that is causing me such stress and pains. Help me to open my hands and myself fully to you and your will. Help me to release, to let go and let God… in your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2022

*Ironically, I’ve had one of the Frozen songs in my head all afternoon and evening today, but not that one! “…finish each other’s…” “…sandwiches!”

What to do…

The part-time job I’ve had almost two years has implemented a new policy – suddenly – that is likely to be troublesome. Put differently, I either have to make some big effort quickly, or I will be forced to leave the company.

I determined that I would pray about it tonight, then see how it all feels. I have been considering leaving the company most of this year, but figured I at least would stay through my two-year anniversary and the special winter discount we get to purchase things for others in late November, early December. Logic tells me that, if I was already thinking that way, I likely do not want to work for the company anymore. However, I’m not going to take the easy route of avoidance simply because it is the easiest. I shall pray about this, and then do as God guides me.

Let’s see what that shall mean, shall we?

Dear Lord, please, give me clarity as to what to do to move forward in my life, such that I pursue your will fully, being who I was made to be, my best self. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2022