Posts Tagged ‘stress’

Turn It Off

Saturday, November 23rd, 2013

Everybody has those "off" days, right?  At least that's what I keep telling myself.  Yesterday (Friday – my favorite danged day ever), everything I touched turned crazy.

— My phone wouldn't send text messages.

— I covered for someone in a class of monkeys.

— My mouse wouldn't work for my computer.

— I ordered, waited the 1 1/2 hr wait, and paid for a cold pizza.

— I had no volume on my tv because our DVR box had to be replaced and when I tried to get volume I totally wiped out tv altogether.

— I had a slap of reality and felt the full weight of moving.  MY HOUSE IS FULL OF CRAP!

— I stabbed myself (during my sleep) in the nose, so hard with my thumbnail that I cut myself and woke up crying.

Then after doing the only thing I knew to help (sleeping it off for the night)….I woke up to a rockin' stomach situation.  Hey, thanks 800 mg of strong anti-viral meds 5 times a day for THE STINKIN' SHINGLES!!

It's 1:36pm and I still haven't eaten any food.  I have stepped up to the plate and cooked a big pot of veggie soup though.  So, no more feeling sorry for myself.  Even when I go to rub my nose and remember it hurts like a beast.  I'm working on my Thanksgiving grocery list (isn't that ironic) and cleaning up the house that has no kids living in it.  How did it get so messy?  I'll never know.

I feel it's my duty to let you know…we all have those days.  The ones where nothing seems to go right and trouble lurks around every corner.  The good news is that we can certainly learn to laugh about them.  If not, we are going to turn surly and angry and then bitterness will rule our very being.  Since I'm not one that wants to hang out in that category for any longer than necessary I'm looking back at that list of issues and laughing.

Seriously, I stabbed my nose?  What was I doing?  Hand jive?

 

DIRTY LAUNDRY

Wednesday, June 20th, 2012

When you least need things to go wrong, they usually will.  I'm whining long and hard this morning as I mourn the loss (the FINAL LOSS) of my washing machine.  It's been hanging by a squeaking thread for the last couple of weeks and I knew it wasn't long for this world….but DID IT HAVE TO HAPPEN NOW?

Everyone is scrambling to get out of here this weekend for weddings (yes, I said weddings..2 in different states) so you know what that means right?  Lots of laundry to do in order to take your favorite ______!

I WILL NOT FREAK OUT!  I WILL NOT FREAK OUT!  I WILL NOT FREAK OUT!

Oh whatever!

I AM FREAKING OUT!!

It wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't awoken to the sounds of, "Oh NO!  Gracie threw up on my bed!!".  I can't quite express what words like that do to me.  I am quite literally a WASH-A-HOLIC!!  (Ask around)  I will wash anything that sits still.  I believe it has something to do with my childhood.  Possibly, I'm trying to control everything around me by cleaning it to my liking.

All this happening on a day when my boy is driving off (without me) to Mississippi to stand as best man in one of his closest friends wedding.  Oh and I have NO CAR to drive to washer shop!

"The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him."  Nahum 1:7

How do you cope when you're facing a stack of challenges?  

I've come up with a few techniques or thoughts on how to chill out when you really want to lose it.

Take a deep breath–It's no secret, we hold in much of our stress just by the way we breathe.  Taking a few minutes to cleanse the brain with some deep breathing techniques can open up your thinking and calm you down at the same time.  So, breathe!

Pray–God is not chaotic.  Our problems can overwhelm us but they never catch Him off guard.  He is ready and willing to listen to our plea's for help.  Tell him what your needs are and let it go.  His plan is best anyway, right?

Lean on someone you love–There really is power in teaming up.  When we have someone to talk things through with us it empowers us to face tough issues.  It may not solve the problem at hand but it will make you feel confident that "this too shall pass".

Get proactive–No matter what the problem is there will always be an answer.  Sometimes we struggle because the answer is a hard one and no one wants to do the hard stuff.  Follow through with whatever it is that will bring closure to your issue.  Don't go down without a fight!

Escape–Walk away from the problem.  I bet you thought I was going to tell you to run from it.  Sometimes all we need is a break from the chaos to give our heart & mind a clear thinking space.  Go out and powerwalk or listen to the birds singing from a favorite garden bench.  It will give you a better perspective on all that you're facing.

Trust–Know that "all things work for the good of those who love Christ" (Rom. 8:28).  God really does have a plan and sometimes crazy things happen in the mix of that plan unfolding.  Ex: My daughter totalled my husband's car last year.  We were already car stretched.  Insurance paid much more than we expected and we were able to buy a better car (in cash) which led to the purchase of another even better car for my hubby.  In the end, both of them were able to purchase good cars after sharing one okay car.  We wouldn't ever ask God to cause a car wreck to make such great things happen….but that wreck turned out to be a catalyst to a car problem we couldn't figure out how to solve.

I know none of these take away having to replace a washing machine or a family splitting up travel plans….but maybe they can help ease the stress of it all and put you (and me) on a path of surrender.  God has this….He can handle it!

Signed

Trusting Him Even With My Dirty Laundry

 

JUST IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW—-> June 20th, 2012

cheekySonic has 1/2 price shakes ALL DAY TODAY!

coolToday is the first day of summer.

heartIt's PDA day.  Show someone you love them with a touch!

I Am Not Afraid

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

I’m overwhelmed with “stuff” today. I suppose we all have these days at some point or another. I could use some encouragement. So, I’m going to zip it for your sake.

Prayer and God’s grace are my biggest need right now. If you can spare a bit…it won’t go wasted here. I hope to be back on top of my game soon.

Really, that’s how I’m getting through today. Pathetic, huh?

But I know better! Don’t you?

I know WHO IS IN CONTROL! So, if you’ll excuse me….I’m off to get over it!

Hopeful

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

It’s almost time to go back to school. Yesterday, I received a call from a supervisor who called to give me my new assignment for the upcoming year. It ended up being a different job than what I was told last week {at Wally world} by the head supervisor over our department. Immediately, I felt anxious! It was as if I stepped back a few months and picked up all the burdens and stress that I felt as the school year was coming to an end. So much had happened during the year. It was a rollercoaster of changes and insecurities.

I had prayed that I wouldn’t have to feel that way in the new year. Hopelessness and stress seemed to be my ball-n-chain last year. I couldn’t mentally take it….again! So, I questioned myself. How can you do this? Is there a way to feel secure (even when your job takes twists and turns) and trust that God is in control of everything? He is in control, right? Yes. He has a plan and I want to be a part of it.

I’ve had a little hope infusion thanks to a sweet Proverbs 31 blogger Melissa Taylor. God led me right to her Top 10 Ways You Can Choose Hope and Claim Peace post! Wow, what an inspiring boost for my spirit! It was as if she wrote it just for me. Thanks Melissa! I feel inspired to even make my own list! And to actually refer to it during the tense times that are sure to be ahead.

1) Refuse to worry. God has a plan. Trust Him.

2) Don’t take everything personally. If I feel attacked, refer to #1.

3) Count my blessings. Being thankful changes all attitudes.

4) Capture my thoughts. 2 Cor. 10:5, Proverbs 4:23

5) Rest in Christ. Read, pray & obey!

Satan is a master deceiver. He wants me to feel overwhelmed and hopeless. So, I’m putting on a new attitude. I’m changing my hopeless to hopeful!

Lord,
I’m excited about my future. I know you have a plan to prosper me and not harm me. Help me to live outloud for you. Let those around me see you in me through my words, actions and behaviors.
Amen.

TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE
by Max Lucado

Today’s thoughts are tomorrow’s actions.
Today’s jealousy is tomorrow’s temper tantrum.
Today’s bigotry is tomorrow’s hate crime.
Today’s anger is tomorrow’s abuse.
Today’s lust is tomorrow’s adultery.
Today’s greed is tomorrow’s embezzlement.
Today’s guilt is tomorrow’s fear.

Excuse me while I kick & scream!

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

Do you ever have those days? You know. The ones that make you just want to scream? Yea, me too. I had one yesterday. I really wanted to scream. I used to work at a high school in another town not far from where I live now. I learned of a great stress outlet while there. The librarian had a few boxes that she would hang on to in the back storage room. We couldn’t just scream when we were feeling frustrated at school…..so she reserved these boxes for kicking! 🙂

And man……did we go kicking! It was good therapy! Free too!

Funny, huh? But a fantastic idea! One that I definitely took advantage of! I didn’t have to do it very often….but it was there if I needed it. I just stumbled onto something else that might help if you ever need an outlet. A screaming pillow! Who woulda thunk it?

I’m considering this as a gift giving idea!

Sometimes, life is just hard and all you want to do is kick or scream!

Dear Lord,
Thank you that I can vent my feelings of frustration freely. Help me to do it in a way that is healthy and honoring to you. I don’t want to be some crazy out of control nutjob. I just want to feel peace. Peace that comes from knowing I belong to a Mighty Savior named Jesus!
Amen