Thanksgiving

Last week I got a little freaked out being so hyper focused on my symptoms so I decided to divert my attention elsewhere and commit to self-care Sundays.* I have difficulty providing my own structure so any small thing that I can successfully maintain is good. I also decided that my goal for this blog thing is one post a week. [see below - Did I make it?] Anyway, my self-care Sunday is really to address basic needs because I don’t pay enough attention to them. For me they are: in no particular order…

·      FOOD (grocery shopping, prep, cooking, baking, etc.)

·      CLOTHING i.e. laundry (clean towels and bedding, sufficient supply clothing)

·      SHELTER (mandatory home maintenance, living space is reasonably clean – this includes 4 jumbo litter boxes)

·      PHYSICAL HEALTH (sleep/rest, eating, personal hygiene)

·      EMOTIONAL HEALTH (spiritual activities, recovery step work)

Notice it doesn’t include “BLOG.” It did originally, but then it became heavy and unpleasant and one thing too much. So, I tabled it. It’s not likely to stick if I do that. I went and found something better to use my spoons on. Now it’s Monday night and I’m pooped but I’m trying. Which is worse – missing the once-a-week goal by a day or three or whatever (or) quitting entirely because my life is unmanageable and I’m powerless over most everything.  [Did I make it?]

Yesterday morning I read a quote that inspired me. I searched to see who said it and found that it came from really old AA literature.

“There is no situation too difficult to be bettered and no unhappiness too great to be lessened.”

Its Thanksgiving week so I’m called to reflect on gratitude. You can never go wrong with a good gratitude list. I am looking at my “2019 practicing gratitude bliss list” that I must have made last year. It’s been hanging from my bulletin board for quite some time. The categories were: spiritual, social, material, physical, educational, and other. Looking it over I’m struck by how different things are this year. Many of them are things that either a) I no longer do, or, b) have gone from enjoyable to burdensome. I’ll have to come up with a new one and see how it looks. And I don’t even care if I made it.

*Not to be confused with take-it-easy Tuesday – I keep commitments to a minimum and focus on relaxing and enjoyable activities – plants, crafts, baking, pampering, etc. I work early Wednesday mornings.