One Step at a Time May-2016

[Rusty]

Hi Everyone, I wrote a LONG post this morning, highlighted and hit COPY and still lost it!!!! Typing on my phone here so sorry but there won't be any cool icons. :-(

A shout out to ActionGirl- we celebrate 1 day of sobriety, or even a PLAN for sobriety if the previous plan didn't work. You add much positive energy to our thread so I hope you stick with us.

Nora-I have been feeling really blah, too! I definitely need a relaxing vacation where I am not in pain. How kind of you and your mom to retire early so your husband could grab the living room couch to go to bed. You are always putting others first, Nora. Hugs! Good luck at the dentist's.

Mama-I know you have a lot on your plate right now so thanks for taking the time and checking in!

Liz-come back quickly and safely-I miss you!

I am done for the day so now it's working out and retail therapy at The Dollar Tree and Pier 1. :-)

Big hellos to aihfl. Pauly, Mr.G, NE, Skendall, Red67 and anyone I missed....Happy Thursday!'

[Rusty]

Nora, I forgot to add my response to your question about whether any of us was feeling blah. To answer your question, yes, I have been feeling very blah since my neck injury. I know a good part of why I was feeling resentful and blah was because I was trying to take care of my mother on the weekends while working full-time and traveling a boatload. I had absolutely no time to myself. I don't know how you do it Nora, because your mother lives with you. I give you a lot of credit for your patience, compassion, and empathy. Like you, I feel like I need a Real vacation. I also was not taking care of myself because I was putting my mother and my career first. I was not getting the exercise that I had planned, I was not giving myself breaks when I should've been giving myself little breaks. It all factors into that blah feeling. I am hoping to regain some of my spark over the Memorial Day holiday because I have five days off in a row. I was delighted for you that you could get together with a couple of friends over the weekend, and maybe that is your answer. Maybe you need to plan fun events ahead of time with your friends. I had done that for the longest time but since March, I have not done so.

I am making up for a little lost time right now. I got done with work early today, and then I went to the dollar tree, and then to Pier 1, and now I am off for a workout. My mom said she can handle dinner on her own and I will take myself to dinner at a nice little restaurant near here. I am about two hours away from home right now.

Thank you, everyone, for listening, and for your support. Love, Rusty.

[NoraC]

Rusty - thank you for opening up and telling us what is going on with you. Yes - too much on your plate.
You are right though. The stress and always taking care of everyone else but me really helped lead me down the wrong path. Drinking, of course, didn't help.
But, I still feel guilty about going out & leaving Scott to take care of Mom while I go out with friends. BUT,have to remind myself that I deserve it.
Ok - I've got to run. Almost time to leave for the dentist.
I want to talk more (of course!) but can't. I'll be back.............

[techie]

Hello all. I have not read back except last page. Thinking of you Rusty and hope you'll bounce back to your amazing self soon. AG, we are all here for you. Mama, the plate will lighten. I promise I will but just got home late yesterday after spending a week back east. A dear friends son died. Twenty two years old. He died from severe asthma complicated by drug use. Very sad as we use to vacation together. It was several couples and our children. I knew this boy quite well. these tragedies never seem to end. Anyhow, I hope this finds you all well and I will get a deeper dive into the forums goings on tomorrow. xoxo

[Glass Half Empty]

Hey everyone

Oh Techie – that is too sad for words. I hope you’re Ok

Rusty, Nora, I’m so sorry about your blahs. It sounds to me as though you’re both just giving everything to everyone else and there’s nothing coming in to fill your tanks. I hope that knowing we care about you so much can help fill you up a little bit. I’d love it if you could both take some time each day (even if only in 5 minute intervals) to just sit and feel yourselves being surrounded by our love and good thoughts. And most importantly: DO. NOT. FEEL. GUILTY. (yes, I shouted that!)

That goes for all the other lovely steppers, too!

I’m sorry about the cancer Mama – unfortunately they do tend to attack us most where we had most exposure to the sun – right on the most prominent part of the face.

I know the blahs too. I am so *** sick of clomping around with this silly boot and crutches. Work has been really good though, they’ve given me a parking spot (doesn’t sound like much, but where I work in a govt building in the middle of the city they’re like hen’s teeth and would cost way > $100 a day), and they’ve been really accommodating about letting me do short days in the office and work from home the rest of the time. Admittedly they’re doing it for their benefit not mine, but I’ll take it anyway.

Weekend tomorrow, so hopefully I can catch up a bit more.

:heartbeat:

[actiongirl46]

Hi all- I am here. I've been super busy with hosting our German exchange teacher, work, etc. Hope to read back and post this evening. I miss you guys!!

[NoraC]

Morning all. I'll be back later. Heading out for the morning.

I am getting my Be Happy tattoo today. Plus today is 300 days!!!!!! For some reason that has seemed like such a huge number to me. Can't quite believe it. :cheerful:

[paulywogg]

Congratulations on 300 hundred days Miss Nora,I truly love you hon and this milestone makes me soooo happy!!!!

[NoraC]

Thanks Pauly. I seriously can't believe it. And YOU are the one that gave me the strength to try again. I had given up but watching you made me try one more time. I love you.:hug:

[Samstone]

Congratulations NORA!!!!

[Glass Half Empty]

That IS a huge number Nora - well done. :welldone:

[techie]

Congratulation Nora xoxo

[NoraC]

Wow. Thank you all so much. I don't know why this was such a milestone for me, but it feels like I really am doing it.
You all have been so great to me. Never giving up and always offering me encouragement.
THANK YOU.:love:

[Rusty]

CONGRATULATIONS, NORA, ON 300 AF DAYS!!!!!:thumbsup::applouse: Thank you for being such a supportive, kind and inspirational leader!!! So proud and happy for you!!

[NoSugar]

but it feels like I really am doing it.

You are :smile:! Everyone is so happy for you, Nora. Keep doing what you're doing - it works!!! :heart: NS