January Jewels - Week 4

[Chillgirl]

January Jewels - Week 4

Evening gemsters

Very late here and I need to be in bed but I wanted to come here 1st.

Our dear diverse group is a great example of a group of human beings from all sorts of different lives, circumstance and places showing that when it comes down to what really counts in life we are indeed all the same. We want to love and be loved, we want compassion and to be compassionate, to be supportive and get support. We want peace in our lives and in our hearts. If they could make a movie about us it would sweep the boards and there wouldnt be a dry eye in the house.

Dill - thanks for the song, I used to play that a lot in the early days.

Star - I crave to experience so many different things, I have never lived without a TV so now im having that experience.

Cyn - I have signed up for the Chopra meditation, like Lav I did all the ones in 2011, I always love it and it brings the discipline back.

Sooty - We had torrential rain for most of the day mixed with sleet and towards Glasgow there has been a lot if snow.

Dewdrop - I hope you enjoyed the meditation group tonight, the collective energy is always peaceful.

Im heading off in the morning to my 3 day reiki course and praying the 3 hour drive is not hampered by snow. Its been a roller coaster of a week for me, I have experienced tremendous highs and lows and my moods are swinging all over the place.

However the Universe made an extra special effort today to make me feel loved and I am so very grateful. Out of the blue I got an email from a very special friend of mine who had heard I was struggling which was incredibly caring and offering me some great and very sound advice. This is someone who knows me well and therefore understands the type of therapy I relate to, he has recommended a workbook on working through depression and I have already ordered it on Amazon.

Then my Mum sent me some tiny "Guatemalan Worry People" who you place in a bag under your pillow at night and they take care of all your worries while you are sleeping, isnt that sweet!

Goodnight guys :l

[Chillgirl]

January Jewels - Week 4

oh and I want to share this beautiful verse with you all after the chat about missing our departed four legged friends:-

Before humans die, they write their last Will & Testament,
give their home & all the have to those they leave behind.
If with my paws, I could do the same, this is what I'd ask......

~ My happy home.
~ My bowl & cozy bed, soft pillow and all my toys.
~ The lap which i loved so much.
~ The hand that stroke my fur & the sweet voice which spoke my name.

I'd Will to the sad, scared shelter dog, the place I had in my
human's loving heart, of which there seemed no bounds.

So when I die, please do not say "I will never have a pet again,
for loss and pain is more than I can stand."

Instead go find an unloved dog, one whose life has held no joy
or hope and give MY place to HIM.

This is the only thing I can give.... the love I left behind.

your Dog

[sdlovespackers]

January Jewels - Week 4

Hi Jewels!

:lDill:l Thank you so much for your kind words...its strange I guess, and maybe that's what I'm having such a hard time with...having a "stranger" tell me "I'm proud of you" and for it to have such a profound affect on how I feel...because it does feel good to "hear"...and honestly, I don't hear it from anyone here (other than my counselor if I decide to bring up my drinking)...it just makes me realize how more and more little anyone really knows and understands me....and I don't really think I care if anyone really does...if that makes sense? Dill...I came back here, after I made it a month sober because I just knew if I waited long enough you'd come back too..I just knew it!! :l AND that song...it's been the ringtone on my cellphone for over a year now!!! LOL!!!!

**And I would never consider any of you "strangers"...I hope you know what I meant when I used that term.... Mi casa es su casa!! LOL!! (or something like that)

And to the rest...yes, I'm very aware I need to find an outlet to my job...to de-brief, de-stress....de-whatever....unfortunately, which is sad, I feel as though I've become quite numb to most of what I see and hear anymore....it takes a lot to rattle me.

Alright..I'm gonna go do some spelling words with my son...big test tomorrow!! I'll catch up with everyone on FRIDAY!!! YEA!!!!!!!! Sleep well!!!!!
SD

[cyntree]

January Jewels - Week 4

Wishing all a good beginning to the end of the week -- I'm proud of myself tonight because I stopping working at 6 p.m. and went to a Knitting Group...have wanted to many Thursdays, but was too busy, or too scared or whatever. A nice group of women, all generations...all I did was wind 2 balls of yarn, but that was OK, I got over the 'hump'. Then had a nice long chat with a dear old friend that I haven't spoken to for a long time. So I'm behind on work, but happy that I put myself out there to connect.

Chill - BEST on your Reiki class, I can't wait to hear about it. I couldn't swing it this month - hopefully in February. Be careful driving! Sorry it has been such a roller coaster for you, but glad you have had some gifts coming your way.

All gems - talk to you more tomorrow --

[Lavande]

January Jewels - Week 4

I remember those Friday spelling tests with my kids SD
I'm trying to make my DIL social work major understand that (just like in nursing) you need to maintain a certain professional 'distance' with your clients/patients. You'd burn out in a year if you you took everything & everyone to heart My DIL still has the 'save the world' stars in her eyes.....

Dill, I sure hope your son & DIL can work things out. Wonderful that you were able to help him out last night. It can't be any easier for the kids these days than it was for us. I know I have done a lot of changing these past few years & it's definitely a good thing for me

Dew, I hope you are cozy & sleeping well!Yay for friday!

Chill, hope you get a lot from your reiki course - can' wait to hear.
I'm not familiar with the worry people but if they help......why not??

Hi sooty, hope you are warm & cozy.

Have I missed Shelley this week?

Can't believe it's almost Friday!
Have a great night one & all.

Lav

[papmom3]

January Jewels - Week 4

Evening Jewels!!

Chill-that is so cool about the email and the worry dolls!! See what happens when you ask of help? You get it!! Also, your mom IS taking your depression and anxiety seriously now isn't she? Your mom loves you GF!!
Loved your last will and testament from the dog. brought tears to my eyes and I promise to honor those wishes when the time comes. Hopefully not soon tho!)
I'm so excited for you about the Reiki course! Can't wait to hear all about it!! I think its going to be the chink in the wall you've been looking for.

Cyn-good for you for finally getting to the knitting group! You are going to love it I guarantee! happy to hear the laser treatments were successful.

Dew-Hope your lunch tomorrow is good news!! Positive thoughts!!

LBH-Yorkies huh? They sound very atypical from the ones I've known. They do sound like lovebugs tho and I'm very glad they are in your life. Would post some pics someday?

Dill- I hope your feelings of isolation are very temporary. I do understand what you mean tho. That might be why I keep myself so busy these days. I don't know what to do with myself when I get home from work before 7 and feel at a loss. That's when I know why AL had a place in my life for so long.

SD-the weekend is almost hear and hopefully next week will be calm by comparison for you. Keep searching for that new position. It's waiting for you to find it.

Shout out to Rusttop, Rusty (glad you're home for a few days), Sooty, Lav (how was dinner last nite witih YB?) and anyone else lurking or who I missed.

busy day at work today, dealing with a coworker who has some major resentment towards another coworker. Totally justified but nothing can be done to rectify the situation so I say let it go. She can't and it's killing me watching her getting eaten up by the resentment and anger. I've got to figure out someway to help her let it go.

OK, time to hit the hay so I can tackle the mess of a commute tomorrow. It might be tough driving but I'm hoping for once the ice/sleet will miss us and we'll get the rain instead. Fingers crossed!!

[rustop59]

January Jewels - Week 4

Good morning everyone

Hard to believe that it is Friday already and that January is nearly over. In some ways I am glad, I always look forward to Spring and even if we have bad weather you know its only for a short time.

Chill and Pap, take care on the roads.

Cyn - glad that you made the effort to get to the knitting group. That is something I would like to try out at some stage. I joined a 'Get the most out of your home computer' course on Monday nights. A lot of it I know but hope to learn something about downloading music, skype etc.

Dill - glad that you were able to be fully there for your son. Its not easy watching our children suffer, all we can do is be there.

Dew - enjoy your lunch with your boss.

Everyone else big hello and have a great week-end. I am off to get my hair done this morning. Walk first, then hair, then school pick up so again it is all go.

Rustop

[Chillgirl]

January Jewels - Week 4

Good morning guys

SD - love that you have "Sober" as your ringtone! Funny you mention "strangers", I read a lovely line on FB yesterday which said something like, "just because we have never met doesnt mean we are strangers, the best and most loyal friendships can form & exist without physically being together, I havent yet met God but my love for him is paramount."

Im just setting off now on my trip and will catch up with you all again on Sunday. My "worry people" slept under my pillow and I think they must have been restless & busy tackling all my issues as I didnt have a great nights sleep. However, I did indeed awake worry-free

[Guitarista]

January Jewels - Week 4

G'day Shining Jewels!

Just a quick check in to say hello. I haven't read back yet, but did catch a quote from Cyntree, and i quote......'Embrace l'jour'! Carpe diem, seize the day. Great stuff.

Hope everyone's okay. All good here, and i reckon the kryptonite has left my neighborhood.

Take care all, and have a great weekend.

Safe travels Chilli!

G man.

[Chillgirl]

January Jewels - Week 4

Hi Mr G :h sure miss you around here......

talking of great quotes, this is going to be my new signature one as it perfectly describes my journey:-

"In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer ."

[Guitarista]

January Jewels - Week 4

Chillgirl;1251434 wrote: Hi Mr G :h sure miss you around here......

talking of great quotes, this is going to be my new signature one as it perfectly describes my journey:-

"In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer ."

I like that! Beautiful.

Take care :h

[Stargazerlily]

January Jewels - Week 4

Good morning to all...

Chill, loved your quote. Your reiki weekend will be interesting and I know you will soak in every experience you can. Sometimes people are so kind and contact us at just the right time. Your mother giving you a surprise gift made me miss my own mother who often was so thoughtful and loving to me. I bet you'll sleep better tonight.

SD, I too have often thought of these cyber relationships. In some ways we know each other more than people we see face to face. It is a new phenomenon. Kind of like the old fashioned pen pals.

Lav, the professional distance you talk about is hard to maintain, as I am sure you know. Sometimes it works better than other times. Self-care is so important, time off, healthy activities, support people. Finding that balance of compassion and distance is the challenge. Of course your soon to be social worker has stars in their eyes! Helping others is such a great vocation and really gives life meaning.

Cyn, how cool to have a knitting group, I would love to have a cool project to work on with others. I need something to do to get through the winter. How are you liking the winter? Is it what you expected? You really made changes in this past year.

Dill, I know what you mean about the isolation...it is hard at times. I too have been struggling with my kids life challenges and it hurts to see them struggle but that is life! Your son is so lucky to have you to call.

Rustop, busy as usual, have a great day. Thanks for the weather report.

Mr. G, so glad you stopped by.

Papmom, it is such a pain commuting in the winter, be careful.

Thanks all for sharing, it is wonderful to know that although we live all over the world, we have the same needs and emotions. I think going through this AF journey has helped us to think more about what life is about, the silver lining in the dark cloud. I had a horrible sucky day yesterday, yet did not even contemplate drinking, just watched American Idol (it is really good this year) and went to bed early. That is why I am up freakishly early. However, I feel good and clear headed, which means everything to me. Hopefully, today will be better, I don't have to go into work. My husband has been really negative and actually rather mean to me, he always gets this way in winter, I hate it. So all you singles, enjoy not having to deal with a grumpy man!!

To all, have a great day.

[Lavande]

January Jewels - Week 4

Good morning Jewels & no sign of a grumpy old man in this house Star :H

The longer I am alone the more I come to appreciate the fact that I no longer have to deal with someone else's mood swings

Dark & very damp here this morning but quite mild. Will take off for Curves shortly.
Papmom, it must be colder in your neck of the woods - be careful

Chill, enjoy your weekend & wishing yuo safe travels as well.

Hi Mr G! I was afraid we had scared you away again :H

rustop, enjoy your class! There is so much that our computers can do.....we have no idea until someone give us a clue!

OK, better get going!
Have a great AF Friday one & all!

Lav

[ladybirdheart]

January Jewels - Week 4

Hi Gems. I know that ?wandering in the desert? feeling that surfaces sometimes, Dill. Those complex blendings of sober emotion can leave me really melancholy. SD, my heart really went out also to you regarding your work, I sometimes felt in the job that I retired from that I could barely breathe as I was carrying around the weight of so many things gone wrong, so many secrets. I remember a couple of occasions in which I excused myself, threw up in the ladies room, and then went back to the task at hand. In retrospect I feel really good about my career, but I am also glad that I followed my financial plan to the letter (not much of a free spirit) and could bail at an early age.

Pappy, I think your observations are correct and my Yorkshire terriers are unusually quiet and steady; I have been told that they are the way the breed ?used to be fifty years ago?. My dogs are distant cousins, ?Isabella? and ?Tootsie?, five and three years old. Hi Lav, Chill, G., Rusty, Rustop, Dew, Cyn, Shelly, Cassia, Star, et. al. Love, Ladybird.

[Lavande]

January Jewels - Week 4

OH my goodness LBH -
my Maxie could inhale those two dogs for a snack :H :H
I'm glad you found two calm, contented doggies - how cute

Thought I was going to have some time to myself today - NOT SO!
I ended up with my grandsons all day so my son could run around & find parts for his broken, aging heating system & get them installed. I guess you would call that emergency babysitting
Just glad he was able to get the job done.

I think I am ready for winter to end. I could use some fresh, new springtime thinking & feeling myself. Kind of tired of the same old things.....

Well, on that happy note I wish everyone a good night!
Lav