As I look back over the past seven days, I’m almost hesitant to admit that it’s been another incredibly calm and peaceful week. I mean, it wasn’t all smooth sailing, but it didn’t make me crazy. I’m confused! Who’s life is this? It can’t be mine! I don’t make it seven days in a row (much less, fourteen) without having some kind of emotional melt-down. In fact, exactly two weeks ago, I was facing the end of a horribly tense and worrisome week. I remember going to bed that night, early, simply wanting to escape. I curled up in a ball and drifted off to sleep. The next morning, something had changed. It wasn’t the economy, or my work situation, or my son’s grades or my husband’s crazy work hours. None of those things that normally weigh on me had gone away overnight. But something had definitely changed. By the end of last week I was very pleasantly surprised to realize how good I had felt all week. I never expected to get a repeat of it.
Oh my gosh! Do you know what this means? I just realized! I have learned to manage stress! Can it really be true? Have I figured out how to stop obsessing about the things over which I have no control? I like this! This is good. This is very good. I am sure this positive shift in attitude can be largely attributed to two things: prayer and running. The running has been good for the body, the prayer, good for the soul. And I don’t want to be overly enthusiastic because I know me. I know that not every day or every week can be this peaceful. But I do hope that the past two weeks have taught me enough that the next time I’m stressing, I won’t try to convince myself, as I usually do, that whatever I am facing means the end of the world as we know it.
That being said, these are just a few of the simple pleasures in my week:
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Several phone calls from my oldest. He can’t wait to come home for Thanksgiving and I can’t wait to have him here.
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Looking through family pictures while loading all new photos to my parents’ digital photo frame. (They somehow managed to damage the internal memory. Thankfully the frame accomodates a jump drive. HEY! Remember the pictures of my kidneys? I put one on the jump drive just for fun. I wonder how long it will take them to notice?)
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The way my daughter confides in me.
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My husband coming downtown and plugging money in a parking meter, just to spend a short half-hour having lunch with me.
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My down comforter.
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A white chocolate mocha.
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My coworker, Shannon. She and I are SO much alike, it’s not even funny. And she keeps me laughing all day long.
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Oreo Cakesters
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This little find that I stumbled across at Target: (and yes, I did listen to it already!) Rick! Sigh!
Have a wonderful weekend, all!
16 Comments
November 21, 2008 at 1:57 am
2 weeks in a row? That is unhead of!
Hope this is the start of something new for you.
I am sure the running is a part of it – I find cycling really clears my head and running must do the same.
Have a great weekend!
November 21, 2008 at 4:57 am
Have a great weekend Terri! I’m glad that you had a great week. Mine was kind blah…haven’t been feeling good all week.
November 21, 2008 at 5:06 am
cool beans. I hope next week follows suit. You still didn’t pick up your award.
November 21, 2008 at 6:06 am
A tuxedo on the beach…with a pine tree?
How does that damned thing grow? And wait…that thing is lit too. Water and electricity DO NOT mix. Hopefully he got out of there before high tide!!!!!!
November 21, 2008 at 6:49 am
Ok, the beach thing with RS just looks cheesy. I’m laughing. But I know the album is probably pretty good.
Second, you HAVE learned it. You learned what 60-75% of the world doesn’t know; you control how you feel. Congratulations, you graduated.
Knot
November 21, 2008 at 10:28 am
please teach me how to manage stress!
November 21, 2008 at 11:26 am
Stumbled on you from Weaselmomma. Enjoyed your last post. I’m a runner and prayer as well. Working for a bank in California the stress level here is just a bit high. The running and prayer keeps me focused and relaxed as well.
November 21, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Nice to see life is treating you right. Keep on doing what you’re doing.
November 21, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Wow! Amazing how a few habits will change up your outlook and emotions huh? I’m happy for you sistah-friend. Yes, it can get crazy again … but you know now what the trick is to overcome it. Exercise, Prayer, and these wonderful posts that we all love to read each week.
Thank you for keeping them up.
November 21, 2008 at 7:42 pm
And a great weekend to you too!
November 21, 2008 at 7:50 pm
I saw Springfield in Vegas a few years back. Still very entertaining.
November 22, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Well, you know I would definitely attribute your newfound peace of mind to the running regimen, but I think Rick had something to do with it too!
November 23, 2008 at 11:29 pm
What a positive post! Glad you are able to shed some “weight” that was getting in your way!
Some of the simplest pleasures in life are more valuable than all else!
I hope you’ve had just an awesome weekend too!
November 24, 2008 at 12:22 pm
So much to be thankful for. Glad for two good weeks and prayers for many more to come.
November 25, 2008 at 5:09 am
I know what you mean. Sometimes I have to stop and remind myself that there are things I can’t change, and that I should just go with the flow. It makes me feel so much calmer. And yeah… Oreo Cakesters are awesome.
December 2, 2008 at 6:45 pm
You inspire me! I’m so glad you had those good weeks…life is such a process isn’t it! Agh!!