All I can share with you is that I don’t remember much about it. I know that my parents had been trying for a very long time and were about to give up when I came along. Needless to say, I turned their world upside down in more ways than one!
I was the proverbial tomboy. Mom wanted a “lady” in the making but she got the total opposite! I loved playing around in mud and singing with the ducks! Anything the boys could do, I can do better and that was my motto. I kept true to that until I turned 16 and blossomed and became the Belle of the Ball so to speak. They (the boys) never looked at me the same way again!
I think I was a blessing but I put my parents through a hard time. Those days are done with but a little rebellion still remains!
“I stress about stress before there is any stress to stress about.” Unknown
Does that ring a bell? It does with me and I’m sure there are many others out there who do the same thing. We STRESS before stress gets here. I’ve been stressing for the past week or so and I’ve been putting it down to Christmas. Well yes, this time of the year does bring its stress factors. So much to do and so little time. However, I think that we contribute to that stress and make it a lot worse than it is.
“Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency.” Natalie Goldberg
How true?!! I’ve been rushing around trying to make everything perfect for my son when he arrives home tomorrow for the holidays. The house has to be just right, it should look Christmassy like he remembers it, presents need to be bought and wrapped and food, yes food is important for a kid who has been away from home and one who craves all his favorites! So much to do and there is just too much STRESS! That was my cry until I decided to put the brakes on it today.
“Stress is not what happens to us. It is our response to what happens. And response is something we can choose.” Maureen Killoran
I decided to choose how and what I do to get everything done in time. It doesn’t have to be a mad dash, I can take my time. I’ve slowed down, I’ve taken deep breaths, I’ve given Chachi, the cat, several hugs and kisses and I’m almost done for his arrival tomorrow. The presents are wrapped, they don’t have to be perfect, a stress factor in itself! Let’s just say, they are wrapped and under the tree, the lasagne is done and ready for tomorrow, the house looks festive and I’ve got what I need to make it through Christmas! Dare I take a sigh of relief? I think I will, it is well-deserved.
“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” William James
Choosing carefully is the key. Not everything is an “emergency” and some things can take their time getting there. It is not the end of the world. So what if things are not perfect, you did your best and that is what matters.
“Give your stress wings and let it fly away.” Terri Guillemets
AND
“Everyday brings a choice: to practice stress or to practice peace.” Unknown
I would say that I’m a very good judge of character and sometimes more so than some people would like! I think it comes from holding myself to a high standard and I expect others to follow suit. However, sadly that is not the case.
Quite often I see through someone from the get-go and my intuition tells me to tread lightly or to completely pull the plug and shut the door. However, my other self, the one who has honed empathy to the top of the ladder tells me to give the person another chance. And so it goes. After the second or third try, I finally come to the conclusion that I need to shut the door and never look back.
Yes, I am a good judge of character. I can see through lies, I am attuned to falsehoods, and something within says, “I smell a rat here!” However, being a good judge of character is not the problem, it is “empathy” and it can work both ways. Sometimes it is a good thing and at other times, it puts me in situations I would rather not be in. As with all things, I am working on it.
It is that time of year when there seems to be a certain something in the air. It just feels kinder, softer and gentler. People seem friendlier, more in tune with life and rushing around becomes a “must do” and even though the hustle and bustle is not liked in some circles, it is part and parcel of the season.
Driving home yesterday, I noticed the Christmas tree vendor setting up his booth for the mad dash of Christmas tree buying. Not fake ones but ones that make your living room smell wonderful and out of the ordinary as the countdown begins to Christmas. I’ve always loved the scent of fresh pine accompanying my morning coffee as I go back in time to Christmases past.
However, it is not just about the good times, joyful times, the cozy times, but also about the moments I still hold dear in my heart. Memories of Christmases past where a special someone was there and he made Christmas so much better. The sale of Christmas trees brought back some memories that also brought a ache to the heart. He is gone now but those memories remain. The way he would make his way here excitedly on weekends ready to make Christmas a fantastic affair. A fresh tree was a must, he got the tree and I did the decorating. Menu planning was left up to me but there was always something special on the table, he made sure of that. Presents galore were all his doing and he loved giving. The Christmas tree vendor brought back some memories as I am sure more will come rushing in as we get closer to Christmas. He’s an “angel” now, this friend of mine, having earned his wings and I’m sure he’ll be singing with the rest of the angels welcoming the season in. Have a fantastic Christmas, “my angel.”
“But I am sure that I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round…as a good time, a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely.” Charles Dickens
It is a time to rejoice, to enjoy the sights and sounds of the season, to breathe a little freer and to hug a little tighter. A time to step back, to sit by the fireplace with a cup of something warm and to take in the beauty of Christmas time. Sure, memories will rush in, they will hurt at times, you will shed a few tears, but when all is said and done, it is the most beautiful time of the year.
I’m most happy when my mind doesn’t chatter all the time. My mind has a tendency to feed me both positive and negative vibes. Some days, it does a fantastic job of feeding me the happy hormones and on other days, it goes downhill and stays there.
Happiness is something that I work towards and it takes work. It doesn’t just arrive and announce that it is there. Constant work is needed to get those feel good chemicals, Dopamine, Serotonin, Endorphins and Oxytocin in the right frame of mind, at least for me anyway. Dopamine is the reward/pleasure chemical and I’m not always there. I think I am lacking in that respect. Seratonin is the chemical that is responsible for your mood/well-being and I can tell you that it has a hard time with me! Endorphins are your natural pain relief/euphoria chemicals and it’s up and down with me. Lastly, Oxytocin views me with caution, it is responsible for love/bonding and trust and I think it looks at me as a lost cause! All of these work together to create happiness or at least feelings of satisfaction and motivation
So far they haven’t achieved their goal to get me to that happy place. I guess I am happy in the mornings when I have a clean slate to put whatever I want to on it, however, when something (a problem) comes along to rattle my well-organized world, it blows it all to kingdom come!
There is no specific answer to your question. It could be any time of day and for whatever reason, depending on what it is.
We’re days away and it is picking up speed. Christmas is a time where “magic” is in the air but let’s not forget the modern version of Christmas. It is not about a babe in the manger a long time ago, it is about the craziness that accompanies what we call the Christmas of today. The shopping, the presents, the food fest, friends and family gathering together and of course, the “STRESS” that accompanies the whole shebang!
I’m there too. I feel it as I put the finishing touches to the house, making sure I didn’t forget anyone in the mad rush, last minute menu planning, and everything else that goes with Christmas. I’m sure when all is said and done, it will be wonderful and a time to relax and enjoy! Fingers crossed!
The last thing I did for fun was to take a walk when it was dark and gloomy outside and the wind was picking up speed. It was also very cold. My nose and face were uncovered so they did feel the effects of the cold but I truly enjoyed that walk! I love it when the weather decides to show me a different face, one that is not always accommodating but not too bad either.
I was feeling stressed and even though I had told myself that I wasn’t going to let the Christmas stress get to me, it never fails, it finds me and puts me through the hoops. Sometimes, I don’t know if I’m coming or going!
However, Chachi, the cat, did his best to breakup the stress and it did help but I needed more. I bundled up and ventured out into the cold and wind. Believe it or not, I was the only out there. Not surprising. I did my usual round and halfway through I felt the cold sting my face and nose. I burrowed deeper into my jacket, pulled the scarf up against my face and kept going. The good thing, stress was now forgotten! I was dealing with something else. I let the cold do its thing and as I made my way back, I realized that I actually had some fun. It was an exhilarating walk and I came back with a smile on my face and ready to tackle the day with whatever else it had to offer.
That was the last thing I did for fun. Poor me? Not really, fun is what you make it. I find immersing myself in nature is a fantastic way of having fun. I absolutely love it and it is a great stress buster.
I don’t make lists when I go shopping so I often forget things! Recently, I’ve started doing that and I find it is so much easier to get everything without doing several trips!
Fruits are at the top of the list. Right now, I’m into blueberries, raspberries, plums, mangoes, papayas and whatever else is in season. I love fruits so it is a must have on my grocery list.
Vegetables are next. Just about any vegetable is fine with me. Spinach, eggplants, zucchini, cabbage, cauliflower and beans often top the list as well. Salads are another item that is a must have.
Fish is something I can’t do without. I’ve found this new seafood place which offers fresh seafood and it is fantastic. I am a regular there because the local supermarket does not offer the freshness that this store does. They have all kinds of fresh seafood and the prices are reasonable as well. I eat fish at least three times a week so it is a must on my grocery list.
Meat is not that important, although, I do have it once or twice a week. If I do get it, I go for the not so fatty cuts of meat and if it’s pork, I go for the Iberico variety. Expensive but it’s a treat. The pigs are fed on acorns which gives the meat a certain flavor and it is delicious.
The essentials are next on the list. Water, grains, bread, and whatever else that is needed to get the household going. I’m learning not to like grocery shopping but I find that it is a necessity. Can we come up with something where you’ll have to press a button, put in the items needed and it gets delivered? I’m not talking about the home delivery service, this one will be simpler. Press a button and the items show up with no hassles whatsoever!
Honey and Hubie can’t believe their eyes at the scene before them. Christmas is a magical time and there is a lot going on where they’re at. Santa is busy getting ready for the biggest night of the year, the fairies are sprinkling fairy dust to make it a sparkling affair, the elves are busy filling Santa’s sleigh with presents and tucked away in a house near by, there is a family taking a breather and enjoying The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie. Christmas is on the way and Honey and Hubie think it is the best time of the year as well! The lights, the sounds, the colors, and the magic makes it the most wonderful time of the year!
A blonde, wanting to earn some money, decided to hire herself out as a handyman-type and started canvassing a wealthy neighborhood.
She went to the front door of the first house and asked the owner if he had any jobs for her to do. “Well, you can paint my porch. How much will you charge?”
The blonde said “How about 50 dollars?”
The man agreed and told her that the paint and other materials that she might need were in the garage. The man’s wife, inside the house, heard the conversation and said to her husband, “Does she realize that the porch goes all the way around the house?” The man replied, “She should, she was standing on it.”
A short time later, the blonde came to the door to collect her money.
“You’re finished already?” he asked.
“Yes,” the blonde answered, “and I had paint left over, so I gave it two coats.”
Impressed, the man reached in his pocket for the $50.
“And by the way,” the blonde added, “it’s not a Porch, it’s a Ferrari.”
I’m not going to saying anything although I’m dying to!
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