MixUp.......
Ever had a day, week, month or even a year when you are wondering..... “What Did I Do To Deserve This?”...... Or “WHY, are things going so wrong for me?” ....Or even simply, “Why, Me?”.
Well, I can certainly relate!
Let me give you just a little taste..... On Thursday last week the 14th September 2006, two days before my Fortieth birthday, my fourteen year old son Jordy, developed an abscess on his front tooth, and despite copious amounts of anaesthetic.... our very gentle and wonderful dentist was unable to do anything to sort it out, except prescribe pain killers and antibiotics, and encourage us to make another appointment for the following Monday. During the same week, one of the staff at the bookshop where I work, decided she needed a couple of days off, so I had to fill in for her shifts plus work my own, despite the fact that I was supposed to have a weeks leave. Also, during that same week, my ten year old daughter Jesse, was participating in her school play - Revue! So, five evenings in succession, she needed to be at school by 6:00 PM for make-up and dress-up, despite the fact that I am working the evening shift at the bookshop.... and of course we needed to attend at least one evening’s performance and collect Jesse afterwards at 8:30 PM. My seventeen year old son Wes, in his teenage rebellion, decided he would just spend a couple of nights with his friend, failing to let us know where he was.... adding to our stress levels and lack of sleep!..... During this very busy time and hectic schedule, my hubby and kids needed to find time to go and buy presents for my birthday.... of course!
So despite our lack of sleep, (because Wes was missing, only he knew where).... the morning of my Fortieth Birthday, the 16th September 2006, dawned bright and beautiful... and I was filled with wonder and excitement. I opened my presents with gratitude and appreciation for the gifts that were chosen with love and care, and especially appreciation and gratitude for the loving husband I have to share in all my responsibilities and who helps carry the load. I spent a lovely day at home with Jordy and Jesse while my hubby filled in for me at the bookshop. One of my gifts was a canvas, and so I spent the afternoon painting my very first ‘Oil Painting’..... and even though it is 20 years or more, since I picked up a paint brush or did any sort of artwork other than graphic work on my PC.... I think it looks pretty good! *Grin* (Since I was covered in paint from head to toe, and some even got in my hair.... you can imagine how much fun I had, just playing like a child, exploring and having fun..... Wes came home mid-afternoon, chastened... and I was determined to have a good day, so all ended well ;o).
Sunday, for some a day of rest, meant catching up on the work I was supposed to do in the previous two weeks.... updating websites, writing articles and replying to the more than 500 emails that fill my inbox.... No, I barely scratched the surface in just that one day! Monday, was busy completing the chores and back to the dentist with Jordy in tow, only to discover that still even with another load of anaesthetic, he was in too much pain for the dentist to try and do anything. So, an anaesthetist was booked for the next day Tuesday. On Tuesday morning bright and early,
7:00 PM - it was back to the dentist with Jordy once more in tow. Even with local anaesthetic, he was completely out of control, Jordy kicked and rolled his head from side to side, accusing the anaesthetist that he had promised this would feel wonderful and that in actual fact it felt terrible, and he was such a damn liar.... how could he lie so blatantly to a child? The anaesthetist unperturbed and despite my husbands embarrassment, continued to chat away to Jordy, while our wonderful dentist worked through the chaos and performed two (Yes, not One, but Two) root canals. Arriving home, Jordy needed constant care and watching for the next 12 hours as he was ‘drunkenly’ out of control, and it took my hubby and I most of the day to keep him in bed while he recovered.
Thank goodness the kids went back to school on Wednesday, and we wrongly supposed the week could only get better. Jesse had a market day at school, so Wes was despatched to help her.... Jordy was writing the two exams he missed, and the teachers knew to call us if anything went amiss. On Thursday morning, I received a call.... there had been a break-in at the bookshop where I work, you see my boss is away overseas on his five months annual holiday, so his properties and business are my responsibility. So it was to work I went with wet hair, and no make-up (even though I wear just a little bit anyway), with my husband at my side, ever supportive.... To discover a dozen broken windows, glass and blood everywhere, a few things missing and a lot of mess. On to the police station we went, to make a report.... taking two hours to have all the necessary paperwork completed. Then it was back to the bookshop to wait for a team of police men to arrive and dust for finger prints, although they only arrived the next day on Friday.... my husband went home to organise and make sure that our kids got home safely. .....There’s even plenty that has happened this week, that I have simply left out.... *Smile*
This morning, Friday the 22nd September, despite the chaos and confusion of my life - home and at work, I feel much better after having my first decent nights sleep in three weeks.... probably because I was too tired last night to do anything BUT sleep!
There are a million reasons why some of us fail to get our full eight hours of sleep every night.... stress, worry, chaotic thoughts, stress, worry..... etc. etc. However there are also some really important reasons why going to bed at a reasonable hour every evening are the best thing we may do that day. Along with the benefits for your skin, stress levels and immune system, sleep can also have an effect on your weight.... According to studies published, people who fail to get enough sleep have been found to have a more difficult time losing extra weight and maintaining their current weight. One reason is that sleep loss plays havoc with a hormone called cortisol, and that can lead to an increased appetite. Plus, poor sleep can negatively affect your metabolism and raise levels of glucose and insulin in the blood; the latter will signal your body to store fat instead of using it.
Not to mention how lack of sleep can play tricks on your tired mind, leaving you unable to function or make the simplest of decisions, depleting your physical energy and even eroding your self-esteem and confidence.
Despite knowing this however, when my life is chaotic, stressful and I am in turmoil..... sleep is the most elusive ingredient in my life. The late evenings when my family are asleep, is the time I review my day, going through what I still need to do.... and sometimes being appreciative and grateful for what I have accomplished and for being able to share so much with my family and friends.
If you have a day of turmoil... a week of chaos.... and even a month of upside downs and mix-ups..... then a little stress and a few nights of a few hours sleep will seldom make a difference, as long as you are pro-active in the way you cope with your increased stress levels and lack of sleep.... [ ‘Stress Makes You Fat’ - Read More ].
For me however..... the last 18 months, and even the last three years, have been pretty much like this last week, (maybe different in events and circumstances, however relatively the same in terms of stress, chaos and hectic schedules), despite my pro-active determination to clear the clutter and chaos and simplify my life. Even though I have positively dealt with my frustration at times, taking my vitamins and getting exercise every week, even making sure that I tried to get enough sleep and eat healthy food.... this last week’s ‘Roller-coaster ups and downs, MixUps’..... chaos, hectic schedule and added stress, I simply felt overwhelmed, unable and unwilling to cope.... and surrendered to feeling frustrated and wondering ‘Why Me?”.... and “When will it end?.... so I can have a rest and catch-up with my life!” ....Realising that I need a holiday or to change my life!
Sometimes, like this morning.... I simply stop and find my centre, (being the calm at the eye of the storm ;o). So even as I write this article, my mouse is on the fritz and my page keeps flitting up and down, I know that even though I struggle to remain calm (I can fake it, until I make it ;o), practising my breathing.... deeply, in and out... (practice, practice until you get ;o), I know that my life is simply a chaotic fit and I need and want to make changes.... and the reasons Why, things are so crazy will only be answered when I am calm and still within... (Funny that, *Grin*.... because that’s exactly what happened ;o).
So, it was while I was writing this article above, with no intention of every sharing or publishing it.... since it was just a rambling of my reflective thoughts of the last couple of weeks, after I had completed writing the September 2006 - WhyWeight email newsletter [ Spring Is In the Air! ], and I was waiting for my hubby to proof read and edit it, before publishing and sending it out that I received an email from my friend Bevskins.... that I received my answer - *Grin* - because I was relaxed and calm......
“Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this?" or "Why did God have to do this to me?" Here is a wonderful explanation!
A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.
Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake".
"Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers.
"Yuck" says her daughter.
"How about a couple raw eggs?"
"Gross, Mom!"
"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?"
"Mom, those are all yucky!"
To which the mother replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!
God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!
God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every Spring and a Sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart. If you like this, send this on to the people you really care about. I did.
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.”
Makes perfect sense.... *Grin* (To me anyway ;o) Thanks Bevskins!
So I decided to take my individual ‘yucky tasting ingredients’ and ‘MixUp’ with some additional items... and discover what sort of ‘cake’ I could ‘bake’.... with a little bit of help from my friend’s Bevskins timely email, who somehow always sends me something I most need at the time....
On Thursday last week the 14th September 2006, two days before my Fortieth birthday, after spending two magical weeks writing articles, updating my websites and writing a long email letter of appreciation and gratitude to four special friends that I have, receiving insight to some amazing lessons that I have learnt and realising some incredible blessings that I have received.... my fourteen year old son Jordy, developed an abscess on his front tooth. However, despite three trips to the dentist and the necessity for an anaesthetist to be present, the procedure went well.... and we spent the day laughing and giggling with Jordy as he ‘drunkenly’ recovered from the anaesthetic and he is now pain free, thank goodness. Jesse our daughter participated in her school play - Revue.... she looked so gorgeous all made-up and dressed in her outfit, and we were so proud of her in her first dance routine... (The photographs of her are so stunning that we ordered each picture in four different sizes as momento's of the grand occasion ;o). Even though I worked some extra shifts at the bookshop, I am fortunate that my hubby, Dave can and is willing to help me. Despite our busy week my hubby and kids managed to find the time to shop and buy me some awesome presents for my birthday.... *Grin* ....the morning of my Fortieth Birthday, the 16th September 2006, dawned bright and beautiful... and I was filled with wonder and excitement. I opened my presents with gratitude and appreciation for the gifts that were chosen with love and care, and especially appreciation and gratitude for the loving husband I have to share my life, and wonderful children who fill my life to overflowing with love and laughter.
One of my gifts was a canvas, and so I spent the afternoon painting my very first ‘Oil Painting’.....
I was covered in paint from head to toe, and some even got in my hair.... you can imagine how much fun I had, just playing like a child, exploring and having fun..... Wes came home mid-afternoon, wishing me a happy birthday... and we spent the evening together as a family ;o) amidst love and lots of laughter.
On Sunday, I had such fun updating the websites and writing an email newsletter for
[ www.WhySpirit.com ] and I even managed to reply to many of my emails.....
Even though my life is hectic, with lots to do and especially busy with three children we are taking steps to steadily clear the clutter and chaos from our lives and make things much more simpler.... We have managed to clear nearly all our debt in just three years, (no credit cards, bank loans or overdrafts, even the Taxman is paid up to date ;o).
Jesse is doing well with her horse riding and brought home an incredible school report. Jordy is pain free and recovered completely from his abscess and all the anaesthetic after-effects, ensuring that he wrote the two exams he missed. Wes helped with Jesses market day and even helped with the chores..... I got a great nights sleep and felt better this morning, even though I feel a little overwhelmed by all that is going on in our lives, I have written my email newsletter for WhyWeight, updated articles to the websites and replied to some emails. Things are changing slowly for the better, and I realised I have worked so hard I need a rest or even a holiday.... *Grin* with some savings in the bank to buy another car, we will probably have a little left over to enjoy a family trip.
I realise that sometimes when things in my life seem to be going wrong, it’s often an indication that things are actually getting better.... or just a reminder to get on and complete and finish things that I have been neglecting, so my life gets simpler *Grin* - Or even just a reminder to take some time out from my busy life to appreciate what I really have.... a husband that simply adores me, loves me in every way and shares every aspect of my life, children who keep me young at heart, challenge me to learn and grow, and accept and love me unconditionally. Work that I love, websites that are developing and a life that is simply delicious and that I share with amazing friends who support and care for me.
Sometimes, I just have to be reminded to ‘MixUp’ the ingredients and all the aspects of my life.... (what seems ‘wrong’ ;o) with what is incredibly ‘right’..... and take a moment to allow things to ‘bake’.... and discover, acknowledge and appreciate that....
My life in essence.... and ingredients is Yummy and Delicious!
So the next time you ask yourself ‘Why Me?’ .....play a little with your imagination and ‘MixUp’ all the ingredients of your life, and you may just discover a delicious new recipe!
Love and Laughter
Mands
PS.... if you would like to share a new ‘MixUp’ recipe that you discover, please [ Email Mands ] with the subject line ‘MixUp’!
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