Today was another long tough day. Ordinarily, I can shrug it off trusting that tomorrow will be better provided I have eaten well today and get a good night's sleep tonight. Going more than three days not eating or sleeping well combined with a demanding workload and my ability to bounce back is greatly diminished. More than two weeks of craziness and the results can be disastrous. After struggling with depression years ago I learned that my family is my biggest resource and best asset when I need help restoring a healthy balance to my life. They support and encourage me to practice self care. I appreciate and value their assistance but ultimately self care must be self administered. No one can do it for me. I must do it myself.
Even though my family is supportive, asking for help is still challenging. Today I realized that I must make some changes quickly in order to prevent the downward spiral that has swirled around me the past few weeks.
This evening I told my family that I have been feeling overwhelmed and must make certain I return to my good habits so that I can return to a healthier and happier place in the weeks that lie ahead. About 15 minutes later my daughters asked what I was going to have for dinner. I said I had no idea. They rattled off some choices and I said that they all seemed like too much trouble so I would just have a cup of tea instead.
My daughters then started to remind me that if I want to feel better in the morning I needed to eat something tonight. I agreed they were right but nothing sounded good to me. I started heading for the kitchen knowing they were right. To my surprise my youngest daughter stopped me abruptly and told me to sit down and relax while she made me dinner. Being strong willed like her mother, I knew my daughter meant business!
I had no idea what she would make but I could hear her hard at work in the kitchen while I changed out of my work clothes into something comfy. I then settled into my favorite recliner and put on my warm aroma therapy booties.....and waited. While one daughter prepared my dinner the other streamed Bon Jovi live in Rio. Memories of attending the Bon Jovi concert we saw a few months ago began to replace the memories of a stressful week.
A few minutes later my daughter appeared with a plate. She said she wasn't certain how it would taste but she did try to put together something that combined some of my favorite ingredients and used a flavor profile she knew I enjoyed.
The end result was something I would probably have not thought to put together but it was fabulous! She was delighted that it is actually something I would love to have again. She said that she had better write it down immediately. Since it is not something she would naturally make herself she would not be able to remember it clearly.
In addition to having a tasty, colorful, nutritious, well-flavored dinner I received the best medicine imaginable to help me get back on track. If I had kept my feelings to myself and not shared my difficulties with them I would have missed the blessing of seeing them selflessly nurture me when I was too tired to do it myself.
On a dark and stormy night my daughters brought me a golden ray of sunshine. Tomorrow will most definitely be a good one! After a good nights sleep I will be better able to take care of myself and those who care for me deeply.
Even though my family is supportive, asking for help is still challenging. Today I realized that I must make some changes quickly in order to prevent the downward spiral that has swirled around me the past few weeks.
This evening I told my family that I have been feeling overwhelmed and must make certain I return to my good habits so that I can return to a healthier and happier place in the weeks that lie ahead. About 15 minutes later my daughters asked what I was going to have for dinner. I said I had no idea. They rattled off some choices and I said that they all seemed like too much trouble so I would just have a cup of tea instead.
My daughters then started to remind me that if I want to feel better in the morning I needed to eat something tonight. I agreed they were right but nothing sounded good to me. I started heading for the kitchen knowing they were right. To my surprise my youngest daughter stopped me abruptly and told me to sit down and relax while she made me dinner. Being strong willed like her mother, I knew my daughter meant business!
I had no idea what she would make but I could hear her hard at work in the kitchen while I changed out of my work clothes into something comfy. I then settled into my favorite recliner and put on my warm aroma therapy booties.....and waited. While one daughter prepared my dinner the other streamed Bon Jovi live in Rio. Memories of attending the Bon Jovi concert we saw a few months ago began to replace the memories of a stressful week.
A few minutes later my daughter appeared with a plate. She said she wasn't certain how it would taste but she did try to put together something that combined some of my favorite ingredients and used a flavor profile she knew I enjoyed.
The end result was something I would probably have not thought to put together but it was fabulous! She was delighted that it is actually something I would love to have again. She said that she had better write it down immediately. Since it is not something she would naturally make herself she would not be able to remember it clearly.
In addition to having a tasty, colorful, nutritious, well-flavored dinner I received the best medicine imaginable to help me get back on track. If I had kept my feelings to myself and not shared my difficulties with them I would have missed the blessing of seeing them selflessly nurture me when I was too tired to do it myself.
On a dark and stormy night my daughters brought me a golden ray of sunshine. Tomorrow will most definitely be a good one! After a good nights sleep I will be better able to take care of myself and those who care for me deeply.
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