I want to adopt them both! The sheer cuteness!
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This week hasn’t been great as I’ve had a cold, but I’m looking forward to going to visit my family soon 
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Sorry I’m late to this weeks check in question! I’ve been out of town and got back today. So my good thing was being ‘not at work’!
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That is A-OK! You’re just in time for the next one 
2 parts:
Think back over the week, or longer, and consider something that frustrated you, where did you struggle or even fail, and how did you deal with it? What did you learn from it?
What about your recent experiences brought you a sense of satisfaction, grace, and/or gratitude?
You don’t have to share the answers if you aren’t into but I do encourage you to take a moment to reflect for yourself.
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This weekend Rob was away hiking and for a few days and I took a sick day on Friday. I thought I’d have enough time with that extra day to get some stuff done around the house. Weed the yard, do some organizing and cleaning, sort my closet, get creative.
Instead, I spent the entire 3 days doing next to nada, not even really feeding myself very well. It was a struggle not to feel wasteful of the time and even ashamed at my laziness. But I am trying to treat myself with the same level of kindness and acceptance I’d give to anybody else so I accepted the need for rest and the doing of nothingness, because that takes some doing when you are an active person. It can be a challenge to just Not Do. I know you feel me, sisters.
I’m a bit less frantic and stressed out at work this week. I mean, it’s still too much and I know I need to change things here but at least I’m not completely bonked from working all weekend sandwiched between wicked weeks, ye know? I’m grateful for the time to rest and recoup. Maybe I’ll even get into the studio this week. I hope so, I could use some creative time.
How about you?
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I learned that people can be very selfish and self-centered when they are not feeling well or in pain. As a caregiver, it is hard not to become short and angry for having to do things for that person and feel like your time is wasted or being used up.
I learned that being patient is hard and trying to imagine being in another person’s shoes is harder than I thought, so it is ok to vent and to have those feelings of frustration, anger, depression, etc. The key is to find positive ways to deal, either by talking it out with others, punching a pillow, immersing oneself into a book or project, etc.
I have been hard on myself as well as my husband as he navigates his health issues. I can’t help him if I don’t help myself, so yeah, maybe the house isn’t perfectly clean or I missed doing a few things, but I need to sit staring out of the window at the sunset sometimes to re-energize and rest.
That being said, I have found most of my needed crafting supplies and am ready to make two lovely things to send out into the world!
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This whole post speaks right to me. I’m currently caring for my mom who has dementia. I often need to remind myself to be patient with her and the whole situation.
Thank you for posting!
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I totally understand caregiver support groups now. Guilt and feeling like a failure is very common. Having taken care of my mom really gave me a good perspective. I can now look back at that time and know that I did my best and have fond memories of caring for her. It does get rocky at times but knowing it is “normal” to have all sorts of feelings, good and bad, about the situation really helps. With my husband, it is harder because he is a constant complainer and downer so it is hard to remember sometimes that I love him and know that things will get better. I have had thoughts of just quitting and leaving him, but I know it is the fear and frustration speaking so I find ways to calm myself until I can be rational again. It is a roller coaster ride that I signed up for, but I really didn’t know it was going to be such a bumpy ride. Things are improving daily and I feel lucky for that…and grateful for my friends and family for helping me get through this.
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Hugs for all that need them! I’m in treading water mode this week, but hopeful that things are about to improve.
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I had approximately a million things to do last week, and then I got sick with a cold and did almost none of them. That was super frustrating, but I’ve learnt over the years that it’s counterproductive to battle on through and then not get better. I do need to learn how not to let worrying about all those undone things get to me though.
I’m grateful I can still make time to do art and creative stuff, it’s so important for my wellbeing. And also I did manage to get one little envelope on its way for this swap 
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I had the past week off work (actually more than a week thanks to an unexpected sick day). Thought I’d take a trip (failed to plan). Figured I’d instead go gung-ho on housework/ organizing/weeding out junk. Didn’t. But I got a lot of reading done. Sleeping. Cat cuddles. A little sewing.
Coworkers said sometimes doing nothing is what you need. I’m back to work tomorrow.
What I’ve learned? Nothing, really lol. Just I’ve decided to give up. This year is all chaos, lack of plans, failed plans, and surprises of varied sorts. Don’t stress, just keep on keeping on.
And feed the cat.
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Hey team, just waiting for access to the swap spread sheet to update our first sender, yay @jemimah !
How is everybody else doing with their crafting? I’m not gonna lie, I have too many ideas to narrow it down to a choice right now. And too little time to sit and ponder anyhow. We’ve got dinner with friends Friday after work, a road trip this Saturday and the usual housework to squeeze in on Sunday. I am feeling the time pinch so much these days and I am really not sure how I ever got any crafting done at all! Super weird.
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I’ve had the past week off work. THOUGHT I’d have it all done. Other than brainstorming I’ve got nothing yet 
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Nothing too serious has happened in my life, but I have learned to not mess with bees while doing yard work! Now to work on other flowerbeds while I try to convince them to move away from the stump they’re living under. 
I have tentative crafting plans. I just need to finish a project for another swap so I can pull out my supplies for this one. 
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Ideas brewing. Supplies at the ready. After this busy weekend wraps up, I plan to get something started. It’s been a busy week!
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Life has been so chaotic the past couple of weeks. I’ve been training a new person at work. Trying to get my backyard ready for fall/winter and just daily life. I was able to finish one project and I like the way it turned out.
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It’s nearly noon & just about time for second coffee. There’s laundry piled up & my desk (& surrounding area, let’s be real here ) need cleaning but after that if I still have energy maybe some crafting? I hope so, I need something fun.
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Question time:
Anything good planned for soon?
I signed Rob & I up for an incense making class! That should be interesting.
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I’m supposed to do a pottery class Satutday…if it isn’t canceled for lack of participants (which is a possibility right now). Really hoping I get to go.
Even if that falls through though, friends and I are doing an ice cream social on Sunday! Yum!
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Well that’s cooler than anything I have planned. Lol. I hope you share some process photos. How interesting!
We have a goth themed wedding at the Detroit Masonic Temple this weekend. Should be fun and interesting people watching for sure.
Now to throw together an appropriate outfit… 
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