Sunday, October 25, 2015

The Pursuit of Happiness

Something very odd has happened to me in the past 2 weeks. Something foreign and strange. I believe people call it "happiness". 

I have stated it out loud and in text messages that "I feel happy!" Or that "I am in the best mood today!" Just an overwhelming feeling of gladness that makes me feel the need to say it out loud!

Ever since I started my vacation, I've just had this weight lifted off my shoulders. There could be a couple of reasons for this, but if I'm being honest with myself and with you, dear readers, I believe it has everything to do with being away from work. The past year has been the second most challenging year I have faced at work. I feel like a manic firefighter, running around extinguishing problems all day long. I see frustration in the eyes of my coworkers. Exhaustion in my fellow managers. Two of them have told me they feel the stress is taking a toll on their physical health. Being away from there and putting it out of my mind has been delightful. 

I visited my my primary health care doctor last week. She was rather upset with me for not letting her know about my skin condition. The last time I saw her was just about one year ago, when she walked in, saw me covered in a rash from head to toe, and gasped "You are having an allergic reaction to the antibiotic!". She had no idea of the struggle I had endured since that day. Since my psychiatrist moved away, my primary care physician is now responsible for regulating my anxiety drug. She felt it was time I quit taking half of the dosage the psychiatrist had prescribed for me, and begin taking the full amount. Mind you, this is still an extremely low dose, but in the four and a half years since I started taking it, I chose to only take half a dose, believing less is more. The increase in medication could potentially be another reason for my improved state of mind. 

I will write a separate entry about it, but in the past couple of weeks I have been to introduced to a beautiful young exchange student from Spain. After much deliberation, we became her host family, and she moved in to my home last week. I love being around young people. Especially bright, intelligent, and engaging young people. This young lady is all three. It has lifted my spirits tremendously to have her here. Another possible source of my new found happiness. Or maybe it is a combination of all three things. 

I have less than a week of vacation left. I have made tremendous progress in organizing clutter and removing much of it. My husband and I have detailed rooms. It clears the cobwebs from the mind when you clear the cobwebs from your home.  I just don't have the time to do that on a regular basis. That is why I look so forward to this two weeks in October each year. 

Anyway, it's a quick update on the pursuit of my happiness. I don't want it to go away.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Cleaning Cobwebs

It's the start of my annual 2 week fall vacation. 

A time to clean cobwebs, not only from my house, but from my head. I look forward to the quiet, alone time. I rarely turn on the television, and often I don't even have music. Just me, myself and I, compartmentalizing thoughts and ideas, and restoring order to the chaos which is my living space and my mind. 


Thursday, October 15, 2015

Even Monday???

I was having a text conversation with Kitty a few days ago. One statement she made during the conversation really resounded with me. She said "I want to enjoy EVERY day. Not drag through to the weekend or whatever special occasion". 

Wow. Enjoy EVERY day? Is that possible?

So I bounced the idea off of Sally, and we kind of ran with it. What would it take to have something in your life each day to look forward to? Something that would make you happy or bring you joy? Since then we have both made a conscious effort to focus on one joyful thing each day. It's not always easy, but it is very rewarding. And I think it's important. We spend so much time counting down to the weekend. Life is short, why only enjoy a small piece of it?

If you can't enjoy your job, plan something to look forward to in the evening. Or plan a break during the workday and do something special. Even if it is 10 minutes to meditate or pray, to redirect your thoughts to something positive or productive. 

So many of my friends  have stressful jobs or situations right now. I hope you all accept this challenge and look for some ray of good in each and every day.  Even Monday....