November Thoughts and Thanks
It is easy to remember during the month of November to give thanks. There are so many things to be thankful for in life. Some are big and some small but all are important to take time to appreciate when we can. Today, I found myself being thankful for getting through a mentally challenging day and pressing on. I gave myself a moment to be sad in a tough situation and then I pulled myself back up because my kids need mommy to be present when I greet them after school and they want to talk about their day. I don’t want the weight of the earlier mental speed bump to distract me from the joy of hearing about the fun Friday they had when the teachers let them watch a movie on the last day before Thanksgiving break. I will have time to be sad after I have tucked them into bed if a need more time to feel those feelings. For anyone who feels overwhelmed at times, you are not alone. It does feel like a juggling act sometimes. You can have tough days working through the challenges of parenthood and at the same time have other challenges in life that make you feel like you are stretched so thin.
I will be thankful and grateful if this encourages anyone to reach out to a friend and just say hi. That is what I plan on doing tonight. It is amazing how just talking to someone can lighten the heaviness that comes with the stress of life. And if it is more than heaviness, then please reach out for help. I have heard it so many times but it is so true that you need to take care of yourself in order to have the ability to take care of others. Oh and if I can share one silly tip, I would say find something quick that can let a little pressure off your chest. For me, if I’m lucky enough to be in the car alone, then I like to sing really loud to a great song (well I turn up the volume really loud because I’m a terrible singer) and that always makes me feel better even if just for a minute or two. Kinda like a power work-out for the body but a power mental release for my stress. Find what works for you or like I said earlier, reach out to someone for help.