Tag: writing

  • Just because

    Sometimes I want to cry, just because. Sometimes I want to laugh, just because. Sometimes I want to put on music and dance, just because. Does there have to be a reason why we do what we do?

    As I have grown older, I have learned that I don’t have to explain or justify my actions with others. I can feel emotions, do things I like and want just because I want to. I don’t need approval from anyone to live the life that I want.

    Doesn’t that sound freeing? Well it is, and it has taken me this long to realize it. So ugly cry, laugh until your belly hurts, dance until your feet are numb and do it all, just because!

  • New Blessings!

    My first grandchild is on the way. My daughter and son-in-law know the gender, but aren’t revealing it. I am hoping for a little guy, though….stay tuned!

  • You are where you need to be for now!

  • Everyday is a new chance!

    Everyday is a new chance to get it right!

  • Some days are harder than others

    Lately I have been having more questions than answers about life and life decisions. I have been struggling to make sense of it all.

    Mental health and substance use sometimes goes hand in hand. I decided to make an appointment with a therapist and even though I work in the capacity of counseling others, sometimes we also need help ourselves.

    It is so easy to help everyone else that sometimes your needs get put on the back burner. It is challenging to be everything for everyone when you are struggling yourself.

    Suffering in silence has led to so many people taking their lives, turning to substances and neglecting themselves. We walk around with a smile and keep the pain inside until one day……

  • Mind versus Heart

    Sometimes our mind and our hearts do not align. It is difficult to know which one you should follow. It is hard sometimes to know which is correct. When we have a loved one that is battling addiction it is challenging to know when to say when. There are several questions you may ask yourself, there will be some guilt, some shame, some uncertainty. It will not be easy to decide which you should go with, but ultimately a decision will need to be made, right?

    Their behavior is out of control. They are lying. They are stealing. They are erratic. They are irrational. They are destructive. They are not the person you know them to be. How long do you stand for it? How long do you tolerate their behavior? There are so many questions, but where are the answers.

    If I knew the answer I would be rich. What I do know is that there are those of us that follow our hearts and those of us that prefer to follow our mind and both are correct depending on you. When I deal with family members battling substance use disorder I choose to follow my mind to protect my heart that has been broken so many times.

    Some may say that is incorrect, that they should be treated with compassion and that is true…..however I decide when is when. I decide when I have had enough. I decide when it is too much. I decide how I allow people to treat me by what I accept. Making a decision to protect myself is not out of lack of compassion for them, but instead out of love for myself. Rather you choose to follow your mind or your heart, the decision is yours and you should make that decision based on the love you have for you not them.

  • Preparation

    Have you ever tried putting together IKEA furniture? There are so many pieces that it would be damn near impossible without instructions; however instructions alone won’t get the job done, you also have to have tools.

    Tools and instructions are like preparation. You have to have those items to complete the job, without them the job would be seemingly impossible and more complicated. What job do you have coming up? Are you prepared? Do you have the instructions and tools needed to complete the job?

  • Go get it!

  • Time

    As I look towards my birthday tomorrow time seems to be on my mind. We tend to take time for granted. We think we have enough of it. We procrastinate like time will wait for us. We say tomorrow or the next day like it’s guaranteed.

    Yet time is the one thing we can’t control, we can’t stop it and we can’t change it. As I think about time today, I am grateful for the time I have had; sometimes good and sometimes bad.

    Nevertheless I look forward to more time. More time with my children and hopefully grandchildren one day, time with my husband and time doing the things that give me purpose.

  • What’s next?

    Some of us are asking ourselves this question. New year and we want to start fresh, but what’s next? New job, new home, new relationship? Maybe you are new to sobriety and you have decided that this year you will do it and stick with it this time. This time will be different than the previous 20, 10 or 5 times you tried before, but what’s next?

    After you have made the decision to stop and you have taken the first step you have to keep doing the work. Going to support group meetings, avoiding the people, places and things that trigger a relapse and giving yourself grace. Everyday will not be butterflies and rainbows. Some days you will lack motivation. Some days you will struggle. Some days will be hard, but keep going because you will never know what’s next if you throw in the towel.