Tag: holidays

Keeping Commitments

Posted on by Barb

So I began taking a drawing class last Tuesday. I’ve always wanted to do that, but never did. A few months ago, I signed up for the class but ended up canceling because we had to take one of the furbabies to the vet (I can’t remember why). I got really anxious — I didn’t want to miss the first class. So I dropped it. At least I got a refund. Then I signed up for this one.

The class goes for 5 weeks, and each session is 3 hours long. This went by very quickly. Towards the end, when the instructor had us drawing a still life (of a cube and an egg), I started getting a little antsy because I couldn’t draw the objects properly. I was ready for class to be over because I had decided then and there that I didn’t like drawing after all. Even though I didn’t feel like continuing with the class, I made the decision to stick with it because surprise! I do like to draw. I’m glad that I’m able to follow through on plans since I’ve felt better.

I never would have reacted that way in the past year. I would just quit and be done with it. In fact, in other classes that I’ve tried to take in 2018, I quit them all except a crochet class and the flash fiction class I took.

It wasn’t so long ago that I was always canceling plans. I’m glad that I’m able to follow through since I’ve felt better. If you have a tendency to not keep commitments, that’s okay too. Hopefully that will improve.

Do you tend to cancel plans at the last minute? 

Valentine’s Day 2018

Posted on by Barb
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Photo provided by author

As soon as the stores around here clear out their Christmas merchandise, they put up the Valentine’s Day stuff: pink-and-red wrapped candy, chocolates in heart-shaped boxes, heart-shaped balloons, Valentine’s Day cards, red roses. Have I missed anything? I think it’s kind of gross —  so commercialized.

In fact, Valentine’s Day is actually SAINT Valentine’s Day, and it’s suspicious that these merchandisers even know that. Saint Valentine was a martyr. He tried to convert the Roman  Emperor to Christianity, and for his efforts he was clubbed and stoned — not to death, though. Saint Valentine was a tough guy. They had to behead him.

My guess is that we celebrate Valentine’s Day because Saint Valentine is the patron saint of love and marriage. But do we really think about the guy who lost his head for us so we can celebrate it by exchanging cards, giving presents, and in my case, eating candy? 😉 Probably not.

This year is my husband’s and my 19th Valentine’s, and we no longer celebrate the way we did when we were first dating. We don’t go out to a fancy restaurant, and some years we exchange gifts while on others we don’t. Okay, so we put a heart-covered bandanna on Rudy, who by the look on his face, definitely doesn’t know what Valentine’s Day is, but we love him just the same.

However, I think that this “holiday” can be lonely for some, especially those who don’t have a partner with whom to celebrate, and maybe even for those who do. But take Eve of Revenge of Eve’s advice: love yourself. You can always love yourself. Why not buy heart-shaped candy for yourself? Or flowers? Treat yourself to a massage, or a facial. Do something special for you.

Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day?

via Daily Prompt: Suspicious

New Year’s Eve 2017

Posted on by Barb

3158472560_d13d3a9456_zI am happy and relieved at the end of the year, especially if it’s been a particularly bad one with regard to my mental health, as well as with things that can be classified as “$hit Happens.” Fortunately, 2017 has been an ok year. Though I underwent ECT in February/March for severe depression, I didn’t require it this past fall, and the autumn/winter season is the worst time for me; I also realize that winter isn’t over. That part’s pretty good. My anxiety, however, has really troubled me this year, though I’ve made some progress overcoming my fear of leaving the house alone by walking the dog and walking to physical therapy. Fortunately, no $hit happened this year!

I’m  not one to make resolutions, but I’m looking forward to a new beginning in 2018, which is what I love about each new year.

My husband and I don’t celebrate New Year’s Eve. We don’t go to parties anymore (they make me anxious), and we rarely stay up until midnight because we’re getting old lol! Plus, there’s sleep hygiene to consider. When I was a child, my mom once told me that if you fall asleep before midnight on New Year’s Eve, you’ll end up sleeping through the following year. Obviously, this isn’t true, although there are some years I wish I had slept through!

If you do go out and celebrate New Year’s Eve, please be safe! Happy New Year!

Photo by legalnonresident on Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC

Self-Care: Mental Health Days

Posted on by Barb

IMG_0549As someone who struggles with mental illness, some days I just need a mental health day. I realize it’s easy for me to do because I don’t work, but if I did work, I’d call in sick in order to do this. I imagine that after the holidays, many people need a mental health day.

For me, this means a break from doing my normal activities (except for meditating), cancelling any appointments that day, staying in my pajamas, and resting by reading a book or watching Chopped reruns.

Last month, I took a mental health day after a particularly stressful week during what historically has been my worst week of the year for the past 3 years, and then taking a weekend road trip at the end of that week. By the end of the following week (I hope that made sense lol), I needed a day to rest in order to recharge.

One of the red flags of my depression is lethargy. Since I began taking Prozac last October, my energy has improved, but I still need a day here and there to recharge in order to continue being able to do my regular daily activities.

The thing my therapist has warned me against, however, is to not extend that mental health day into the next day, which could lead to that same lethargy that I feel while depressed; I may end up having a setback. And sometimes, it’s really hard for me not to extend, so I try not to take mental health days very often, even though it’s important for me to do once in a while.

So if you’re exhausted from celebrating the holidays, take a mental health day! 🙂

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