I know that I have not been online much visiting my blogging friends. The hot weather has my sleep cycle messing up big time. Yes, it was screwed up before, but now it is even worse. Instead of fighting it, I've just been going with the flow. I've been getting to sleep about 4 in the morning and sleeping until 10 a.m. for the most part. Some days it is more, some days it is less. It is not restful sleep by any means, but I'll take what I can get. 😉
I will totally admit that when the temperatures heat up, my motivation to do much of anything goes straight out the window. I used to feel terribly guilty about that, but have learned that all that does is stress me out even more. I'm giving myself the gift of just taking a break from almost everything and just doing whatever my body and mind feel like and can actually do for the day.
Yesterday was actually a "good day" and I made the last minute decision to drive Rachel and Steven in to drop off the keys to one of their vehicles that was having trouble at the repair shop instead of just loaning her my car. Since it was Monday, we decided to stop at the Goodwill also to find Steven some more clothes. They had just changed over the half off color tag of the week the day before and we could also use my 20% off senior discount. We found him some cute shirts and shorts, Rachel found some Lularoe things for her and I found a dvd series set, a beautiful Brighton wallet and a night light thing for Steven. While in town, we also stopped at Winco to pick up a few groceries before heading home.
Today is a slow day...one where my mind is not clear like it was yesterday. This is a day where I would not trust myself to drive my car, even just a few blocks. We have high heat outside along with haze from the fires burning south of us. The swamp cooler is going and keeping us cool inside though. I am so thankful that we cannot smell the smoke or I would not be able to use the swamp cooler and that would make it miserably stuffy, hot and uncomfortable in here. I'm staying inside until later this evening when things cool down and then I will go out and water the gardens.
Sometimes we all just need a break. It is good for us to give ourselves permission to take some time to just go with the flow and not feel guilty about it. It is a time of refreshing, healing and practicing "self care". I used to be such a "Type A" person and had a hard time now learning to accept my limitations without feeling guilty about it. I still have my moments of self doubt, anger and mourning the "old me", but for the most part, I am learning to just go with the flow because there are so many things that are beyond my control. Life for me is better this way and one that my doctor has been advising me to live for quite awhile now. I feel calmer and actually more in control of my life this way if that makes any sense at all.
Jeff should be getting up here soon so I will end this post so I can spend time with him before he has to head back out into this heat wave again tonight for work. God bless that man of mine for being so hard working, caring, protective and supportive of me. He fully encourages me to do whatever I need to do to be the best me I can be on any given day or even moment to moment. Yesterday he was excited for me that I was having such a rare good day where I had energy and a clear head and that I could go and spend the afternoon with Rachel and Steven running errands. He also understood when I got home and it had all caught up with me and I needed to rest. I am blessed!
Sending gentle hugs your way and cheers that you had a good day yesterday. I too am learning to celebrate when I can.
ReplyDeleteI don't leave the windows open much at night so sleeping has been a challenge for me as well. To run my AC,I have to vent it through the patio door and I'm just not comforatble leaving it unlocked when I'm sleeping. It's made for some yucky sleeps.
On the up side. MrDog has responded well to the antibiotics and he's stopped getting me up in the middle of the night. Yea!
Be blessed. SJ
Hi SJ, I am so glad that Mr. Dog is doing so much better. I have been worried about him. :) I hear you on being worried about leaving the patio door unlocked. I would be worried too. Hopefully now that things are cooling down a bit you will be able to get some better sleep.
DeleteI have a post going up tomorrow about this very same thing!
ReplyDeleteThank you for validating my feelings, my friend.
Some days I can accomplish anything!
Other days...I want to lie on the sofa and sleep.
And you know what?
I do.
Hugs from Pennsylvania!
Billie Jo, isn't it great when God lays things on people's hearts to share and we find out that we are going through some of the same things? Thank you for sharing that with me because it also helps me see that I am not alone and that there are other wonderful friends going through the same thing. We have to be good to ourselves. :) Have a great day!
DeleteHi Debbie,
ReplyDeleteI have not been online visiting much this summer either. Summer has been busy here.
Hope you get back to a better rest pattern soon!
Thank you Rhonda. I'm sure you have been kept really busy with that beautiful family of your's. Sometimes I long for those lazy Summer days of my childhood with no responsibilities. ;)
DeleteGood morning. Fun to see you responding to comments. I hope that means you're feeling a little better, at least for today.
ReplyDeleteThe weather cooled down yesterday and I had a great sleep last night --- in bed by 715 and got up about 7am. I didn't sleep the whole time but almost. Guess that's my new normal for now. I keep telling myself I don't have to like it and am beginning to learn not to fight what my body needs. At least on some of the days.
Was able to run to the store this morning for a few things. Like other things in my life, I shop differently now. Most of the time I go in for just a bag or two and not the big shop of days long gone.
Take good care of yourself.
SJ
Hi my friend! I'm glad you are listening to what your body is telling you it needs. Enjoy the break in the hot weather. It is saying we will be up in the triple digits here again next week. UGH!
DeleteSometimes we just need to be able to take some time for us, Debbie - your body tells you when you need to relax - listen to it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Debbie. I am really trying to listen and learn. ;)
DeleteIt is a very busy time of year, for sure, around here, complicated by the heat as it has been for all of you, as well. Now that it is a bit cooler, we have been harvesting and preserving as much food as possible. I've even gone as far as to pull up some plants in the garden. I hope to re-seed those areas this week, if I can get the little tiller out and go through the area.
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd have my niece and nephew all week, as their parents are out of town, but their big, 25-year-old sister wanted a couple of days with them, and just gave them to me Wednesday morning. So, on Tuesday, Rob and I took Patsy over to the outlet mall at the beach and got her a few things, then just went down and sat on lawn chairs on the sand while she waded and collected rocks. It was so needed.
I'm struggling a bit to get her outfitted for school. I have been trying to get her clothes all summer at yard sales and thrift stores. I've had a little success, but not nearly enough. She needs a different size entirely than what she's wearing, on every single item, even shoes. I've been working on a skirt for her, and am almost done, and hope to make her a couple more. But, there are things I cannot sew, such as underthings. I bit the bullet and bought some for her, and some shoes, then used the rest of the money I had on a couple of t-shirts, a top, and a simple knit dress. Now I will look for leggings, camis and some pants--she tried on at least 4 pairs, but liked none of them. I will need to buy things over time....the budget isn't there for all of it at once, but I will be completely rotating her wardrobe as I find the funds, removing the things that fit the worst, first. The 3 pairs of yard-sale jeans I turned into shorts for summer are fitting well, and look nice, and she can wear them to school for a few weeks anyway, if she chooses. It's always a challenge when they pop out of a size like this:). One year, long ago, I had a daughter who went through 3 separate sets of clothing in one year--one in the fall, one at Christmas, and one in the spring. Yikes!
I'm glad that you were able to get that break Becky and a day at the beach sounds so relaxing. I'm with Patsy, just wading through tidepools and collecting rocks (and shells) has always been one of my favorite things to do and de stresses me to no end.
DeleteAs for outfitting Patsy (and I know how that goes with growing kids), check out Walmart and Shopko as they have so much on clearance right now. The thrift stores also should be having sales at the end of the Summer on the holiday weekend.
Glad you had a nice day with Rachel and Stephen. Sorry about the other days. Your husband is a good man. But you are a great women and he is also lucky to have you. That is what a good marriage is about. Taking care of each other. Sending you lots of hugs and prayers that the heat lets up so that you have more good days. It will be winter before you know it.
ReplyDeleteThank you...you are so sweet. Looking forward to the cooler weather and counting down the days. ;)
DeleteGlad you were able to take a break, Debbie. Those are my hours of sleeping, lately! Take care.
ReplyDelete