3 things
What should you do when you feel trapped? In a situation, or a relationship, or in your life?
Change is the first word that comes to mind. After all, that being stuck feeling is awful, and you don't want to stay in that situation a minute longer, right?
But we all know that change is fricking hard, and when you're going through a rough time, you usually don't have the energy to keep the house clean, let alone do a major life change.
So, what to do?
Over the last few months, I've gotten more experience with that omg-I'm-stuck!-feeling than I ever wanted to.
My husband has been sick for over 4 months, and it SUCKS. Imagine the man cold, but 100 times worse. I deserve a goddamn medal for putting up with it.
Joking aside, I feel for him. Having constant pain, little sleep and zero energy is nobody's idea of a good time.
He's given enough blood to feed half the cast of Twilight, yet every test result comes back negative; according to his blood, he should be fit as a fiddle!
The good news is that after being in the dark for months, we believe strongly that he has Lyme Disease, and we are going to see a specialist in January. The negative test results and migrating pain are just two of the fun symptoms of this annoying disease, but we have a plan, and hope and support,
But in the meantime, we have to find little ways to make every day not only bearable, but fun - and believe it or not, it's possible!
Enjoy the present.
I'm doing the new-agey thing of saying out loud what I'm thankful for every day, because it's a total game changer. It's physically impossible to be miserable when you feel grateful. Try it - I dare you.
My husband and I have this ritual where we ask each other every day: "Have I told you today that I love you?" Every single day. It may seem silly, but it makes us happy to say - and hear - us say it to each other.
I also tell my corgi Lily every day how happy I am to have her in my life, because I am. She's the best, and a pro at enjoying life.
Once you start finding stuff to be grateful for, you will find more and more. It's like a well-exercised muscle, and the more you use it, the easier it gets.
Here are just a few things I'm grateful for today:
It's snowing!
Our neighbour clearing our driveway for us (thank you!)
I won the wine raffle at work!
I made Rich laugh this morning.
Two of our friends offering to help if we need it
Going to dinner at another friend's place tonight
Having two days off work
Winter hikes
Feeling cheerful despite it all
Being painfree
Feeling loved
Being excited for the new year (I LOVE dreaming and scheming for the new year)
Try it! It's so much fun and a guaranteed mood booster.
Look forward to the future.
Do you know what's one of the things I'm most excited about for next year? The she shed I'm getting myself. Planning how I'll decorate it and picturing myself reading, writing and hanging out in there makes me so happy.
The other big event in 2018 is the release of my first book! I'm really, really excited about that, it's a dream (I've been dreaming for a very long time) come true. Still no definite dates yet, but the pre-sale is planned to start in March!
Create.
Making something is one of the most rewarding feelings in the world. I'm not a DIY-goddess (not at all), but I love to create with words and pictures. Writing and documenting everyday life by taking little snapshots of it makes me feel alive, fulfilled and useful.
It also has the great side effect that it can help to transform a rough patch in life into something that others may benefit from. Take Richard's illness for example: by sharing his story, I hope that I will be able to spread more awareness about Lyme Disease, an illness that's still un- or misdiagnosed far too often.
If you're not into writing or photography, you may get great satisfaction from cooking a delicious meal, making dance-inspiring playlists, sewing, making music, decorating, scrapbooking, or a hundred other possibilities. Everybody is good at something, and creating something that didn't exist before is such a satisfying experience!
I won't talk to you until after Christmas, so I wish you all a wonderful Merry Christmas!
Love and light to you all!
xoxo Miriam
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Vol. 41