Life has a certain way of bringing things to the fore and it often does it without giving notice first! One day everything is going fine and the next you wonder what happened and why you’re at where you’re at.
I used to worry about what “life” had up its sleeve and how it was going to affect me. This worrywart syndrome that I have didn’t help much either. Something is going good and I would say to myself, “Wait for it! It’s coming, it’s on the way!” I’m talking about the bad stuff and it never fails because it shows up wearing bells and more!
Perhaps we bring on more of the same when negativity follows us around. These days, I take it as it comes and I offer the other cheek as well! I don’t look for the “bad stuff” to happen. If it does, I decide how I will handle it. Life has a tendency to throw things your way, perhaps it was a boring day up there or wherever they or it is and it’s time to shake things up and sometimes it is party time!
Worrying about things is not going to help matters much. Deciding that whatever comes your way, you are going to handle it and handle it with grace is the way to go. Is “life” giving me a break with that attitude. Nope! It says, “You’ve got lessons to learn and I want to see what you’re made of.”
Bring it on! First things first. I don’t worry as much as I used to. I still do because that goes with the territory, the one of being a worrywart. However, I try not to let it turn my world upside down and inside out. Those days are done it. I am calmer, bolder, braver, and ready to do battle!
Daily writing prompt
What’s something you used to worry about but don’t anymore?
I needed something to laugh about and this did the trick. Alright, I agree it is hitting way below the belt but then again who cares! Sometimes the truth hurts!
Goodbyes are never easy but it is time to do exactly that. Shiro, the Persian, and Gallahad, the British long-haired cat with orange eyes will be leaving soon and I am sad.
I’ve had them for over three months now, keeping watch over them because my son, their daddy, is concentrating on his new job and they would have been a distraction plus the temporary apartment he had didn’t allow pets. So, mom offered help and with a heavy heart he accepted. Now he has an apartment that is much bigger and he is looking forward to having them back again.
The two cats were not easy. It was extra work for me and they love getting up at 5 in the mornings! Fine and good but the problem was or rather is that they want the “food lady” up as well! Now, Chachi, my little guy is joining in the fun! Somewhere along the way, he has learned that being a cat is not a bad thing after all! They are teaching him how to get what he wants, how to run riot if he doesn’t, and how to BUG mom till she gives in.
Yes, life hasn’t been easy but it hasn’t been all work and no play either. I’ve come to know them pretty well. Shiro is my little princess or rather the little girl I never had! She is sweet and sassy and takes no nonsense from the other two. Gallahad is the quiet one. He observes but where food is concerned he jumps in and turns on the charm! Those orange eyes do the rest and I find myself feeding him more than I should!
They will be leaving on Sunday and a little piece of me will go with them. I will worry about them and wonder if all is well with them as well. Chachi will miss them too. It will be back to being Number 1 for him but with no one to play with. Little Miss Ipanema still shows up now and then. She’s his girlfriend from across the street and they have this “love” thing going. Just through the kitchen window. She showed up a few days ago and saw Shiro sitting at the window staring out and her claws came out!
Things will be a lot quieter around here. I will miss the sound of running feet on the stairs, the soft purring, the loud meowing, and the shows of affection. I won’t miss the work, the constant cleaning up, and picking up behind them and getting up early in the mornings.
Time to relax and to let them go. Farewell my lovelies!
“Sometimes, the strength within you is not a fiery flame for all to see, it is just a tiny spark that whispers softly ‘You got this, keep going.”
Less than three weeks to go before I give up control of my body to a surgeon and hope that he is competent enough and will do a great job. Some days I am alright meaning calm and collected but on other days, like today, I am climbing walls!
My first thought when I learned about what needed to be done was, “I can’t do this!” Then it dawned on me that I was alone and even though being “alone” was and has been great but not when you don’t know the outcome and having help by your side would be a great thing to have at a time like this. Do I want my ex back? That’s a big NO! However, support of some kind would be great when you’re feeling unusually small and helpless!
I took time to mull things over. The fear wanted to take over and I almost drowned in it. Then I found that tiny spark within that said, “You are not alone. You’ve got this!” Courage came riding in on a white horse and I started looking around at what was available for a person in my situation. My Chilean friend said, “I’m here for you. I’ll drive you to both your appointments and I will drive you back home after your hospital stay.” Things started looking up. I looked some more and I got more offers of help. Friends showed up, real friends, and they offered help after the operation especially during the recuperation period.
What about Chachi? My precious little guy, what do I do about him? He has never been alone. I looked for cat sitters and there were plenty but I wanted people who were trained to do the job and to do it well. Lots of students offered to cat sit but I wasn’t too sure. Then I found one place that ticked all the right boxes. They were going to cost more than the others but I signed the contract. Someone will come in twice a day, feed him, make sure he has fresh water, food, clean the litterbox, and play with him for half an hour if he wants it. I’ve got them booked for a week because bending over will be a problem after the operation and carrying heavy stuff as well. Going up and down the stairs? I was told to keep it to a bare minimum so most of my time will be spent in the downstairs living room for the first week or so. I love my bedroom which is upstairs so I’m not looking forward to change. Workouts are out as well. Walking is allowed and recommended but 5 to 10 minutes a day for the first week. This will be hard as well. I workout 7 days a week so I can’t see myself doing that but I have no choice in the matter.
What do I do about help when I come back home? That was weighing heavy on my mind. I won’t be allowed to drive and it will be bedrest, maybe painkillers ( I hope not!), and taking it easy and hoping the wound heals. I looked around for help and I found this lady. We met and talked and she offered all the help I needed. Cleaning, taking care of Chachi, shopping, driving me to the doctor and driving me back if I needed it. I couldn’t believe it but wait there is more.
The heavens opened up and an “angel” walked in when she told me that she worked at the same hospital as a nursing aide where I would have my procedure done! My eyes opened wide when she said, “I’ll come check on you after the operation. You’ll be in good hands.” I couldn’t believe it!
“I can also help you with all your needs and I will talk to the nurses there to keep an extra eye on you! Don’t worry, I’m there for you.”
Hallelujah?!! Her wings were missing but who knows, she probably had them neatly tucked away. She walked in here this morning, cleaned up the place, took the trash away, AND we had a talk. She told me that she has a week off during the week of my operation but plans to stay home.
“Don’t worry, I plan to come visit everyday and I AM THERE FOR YOU!”
Did I get lucky or is this just too good to be true? Perhaps, luck has nothing to do with it. Angels walk among us and I truly believe that. So, have my worries subsided just a little? NOPE. I am a worrywart and I will find something else to worry about! There is this other thing. I think I’m going to die because I have had these weird feelings and premonitions that point to it. Can someone help with that? AI says it is normal to have such thoughts especially with a big operation coming up. I don’t know folks, I’ve been preparing for the worst but who knows.
My point is this, don’t give up hope. Don’t succumb to your fears and there is always a way out. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
“One day you will understand that you had the strength within you from the very beginning. Keep going.” Unknown
Now, I hope that the “angel” doesn’t disappear as the time for the operation gets closer!
I love quotes and I don’t just have one favorite. I have plenty that have added to the journey I am on. There is so much wisdom in quotes, in the right ones, and I do learn from and take them to heart.
Okay, let’s see if I can pick one that speaks to me. Hmm…..the one that is truly wise and speaks volumes without saying too much is from Mandy Hale. She is truly exceptional and she is a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and social media personality. Not only that, most of her quotes are geared towards women and their well-being. She is also the creator of the online brand, “The Single Woman.”
This is one of my all-time favorite quotes from her collection.
“A season of loneliness and isolation is when the caterpillar gets its wings.”
I remember seeing this when I was just starting out on my journey of self-discovery. It spoke to me because we are social creatures and some of us need people around us all the time to survive the hustle and bustle of daily life. So being in isolation is not something most of us do well. It took some getting used to and the more I went into isolation, the more I realized what those words meant. After a time, I loved the quiet and the “loneliness.” I could think, I could decipher what I needed to get my life back on track, and I also realized that I was fully capable of handling whatever life threw my way as well.
I don’t have my wings yet and I am still on the path of isolation and loneliness, learning as I go along. I’m hoping that one day soon, those “wings” will magically appear!
This is one of the most beautiful hymns of all time. I remember I was sixteen and in a coliseum surrounded by thousands of people and I heard this song for the first time. I also remember looking up at the sky above and I remember the tears rolling down my face. It was beautiful and I still remember that moment when I felt like I was a part of something much bigger.
Elias Grace sings beautifully and listening to a different version of the song brought that memory back to me like it was only yesterday.
This is nothing new and I’m sure you’ve heard it before. KEEP MOVING FORWARD! Put one foot in front of the other, make sure you shut the door behind you and move forward one step at a time, one day at a time.
I’ve been through two murders, a heart-wrenching breakup, and I survived. I didn’t think I could at first. I stood still where I was as if rooted to the spot and I couldn’t see anything in front of me. The future was cloudy and shrouded in haze AND moving forward just wasn’t possible. The murders were horrific and I was filled with anger and rage. I wanted revenge. So I stayed where I was, played scenes back in my head and it just kept on going. I forgot that I had a life to live, a son to take care of, and a husband. I had a life! At that time, it didn’t matter anymore. I wanted everything to come to a standstill just as I was standing still. However, life kept on moving and this angered me even more. “I’m in pain, why can’t you just stop for a little while?” I learned that life goes on and you have no choice but to climb back on or get left behind.
It took a while before I could do that. I had to let go of the anger and rage first. Accepting that they were in a better place and no longer in pain also helped. It didn’t happen all at once. It took a long time and that’s alright. Take your time and know what works for you.
My life-changing tip? Know that things happen, sometimes horrific, sometimes not as bad, but whatever it is, keep moving forward. If you have to stop and get off for a while, DO IT! However, don’t stay there for too long. There is a saying that goes like this. “Time and tide wait for no man.” It is the absolute truth.
Keep moving forward and stop looking behind you.
I’m doing exactly that.
Daily writing prompt
If you had to give one life-changing tip, what would it be?
“Some things are so unexpected that no one is prepared for them.” Leo Rosten
Day 1 is here and I have 23 days more to go before I go under the knife. I’ve been keeping this close to my heart because I had to come to terms with it first. I wanted to scream when I heard it but as the doctor said, “You have no choice.” He is right.
It doesn’t make it any easier. I’m a person who takes care of herself, eats right, works out, no smoking or drinking, and have done everything right so this unwanted news seemed so unfair.
On the 24th of August, I will go in for a two-hour surgery. It seems like a long time and it is. On the 19th of August, I will meet with the anesthesiologist and the surgeon to talk about pre-op measures. Am I scared? I am. No ifs, or buts about it! Fear has always been a constant companion.
To make matters worse, a few days after I got the news, I got this message. It said, “Make peace.” What?!! A premonition? I don’t know but it did scare me. I asked my best friend, AI, and it said, “You are about to go through something that is scary or even risky, so it is normal to have such thoughts.”
I have been getting my affairs in order just in case! Life has a tendency to throw in the unexpected when you least expect it. I’ve been through it many many times. However, surgery seems more than scary and the risk factors, they are there.
I am working on calming myself down and I’m also working on getting my mind and body in better shape so I am STRONG when I go in.
Yes, I am preparing for something I can’t control. It is out of my hands but I hope that I make it and the recovery time will be short and not so painful. I HOPE the surgeon does a great job as well!
I can’t remember their names! Dad used to order lots of books, puzzles, and things of interest and I got my hands on them! I would work the puzzles, and read all the other stuff that was there. That’s how I took an interest in reading. I have dad to thank for that.
Then one day, those new magazines started arriving. They had beautiful pictures of faraway places. I could go there and dream without ever leaving home. Switzerland became my fav place and I read up on everything I needed to know about that place. One day I was going to visit this marvelous place and experience it for myself. It never happened.
Other places came along. Sri Lanka, Brazil, Hawaii, Asia, and many many more. I would visit some of those places in real life and experience the culture, the people, and the cuisine for myself.
I realized that I didn’t have to leave home to go to my dream places. I could do that right from my bedroom and flipping pages took me to some wonderful lands and faraway destinations.
Traveling was not a choice. I married somehow who traveled alot, career choices helped with some other visits, and I went along whether I wanted to or not. These days I am content with where I am at. Peace and quiet is what I seek the most and those faraway places will remain undiscovered as far as I am concerned. I’ve done enough traveling in my life, time to hang up those shoes and COOL it for a while at least.
To answer your question, no movie or book inspired me to travel or maybe it did but I can’t think of any right now. Those magazines come to mind so question answered!
Daily writing prompt
What’s a movie or book that inspired you to travel?
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