What did you do right today?

My boyfriend has been great at helping me, since I'm still not feeling all that great. I have spent some time with the girls, I took a nap, I cooked supper (I'm not that great a cook, but even my pickiest ate it!), now I'm supervising the dishes being washed. And will spend more time with the girls this evening.

Well done everyone

I went on two beautiful, long, nature hikes today and yesterday in places that I don't go to very often. It feels like spring here these past couple of days and it's magical outside.

Being greedy with a 2nd post: This thread made me think today about the Hero's Journey, in Joseph Campbell's sense of it. We're all Odysseus, encountering daily perils of the mind, monstrous cyclops, our inner sirens beckoning us to be dashed against the rocks, and we sail on. Sometimes, the smallest mundane task is an act of courage, heroism. I salute you, shipmates.

Wow, that's beautiful. Thanks! (((((((lavie)))))))

I am very proud of myself today because I made a dentist appointment. This may seem like small potatoes, but I haven't gone in years and I have a serious phobia of the dentist. Even thinking about it makes me anxious, but I did it and somehow feel happy about it. I know I will need to get a lot of work done, but I need to be an adult!

I woke up feeling much better, took a nice LONG hot shower, did laundry, played games with girls, taught one of my girls to sew buttons onto clothing, fixed a pair of pants, helped girls hang up some of their Christmas presents in their room, now I'm relaxing (girls went back to their bio moms), will go to Overcoming SDB chat tonight, will go get meds before then. WOW I did a lot today

thanks for all the posts!

I walked with my dog along a dike by a river and noticed how blue the sky was. I practiced behavioral training as we walked. I tried to listen to a Buddhist talk on anxiety, but couldn't concentrate (too anxious ). I corresponded with PC friends.

This is my first "reply" in the forums. I would like to reply to doing something right today : My mother offered to come help paint a room with me at my house today. Although I knew I could do it all myself, and I knew my mom would slow me down, I chose to say yes to her. I know my mom felt "needed" and "wanted". I know that living alone can really get to her sometimes. I count my blessings that I am such a lucky daughter, to even have a mom who wants to come help out. It felt good to just hang out, chat and paint.

Welcome! ((((snagapuss))))) What a nice thing you did for your Mom. Really glad you enjoyed the time together too

No way is that small potatoes. It's HUGE!! I also have a ton of anxiety around dental visits.......It's a really big deal that you made the appointment. WELL DONE!!! ((((((alias)))))

Really glad you're feeling better ((((((PleaseHelp))))) It's great you got so much done today!

So glad you and Sherman had a nice hike today ((((((((lavie))))))) Well done for doing some behavior training with him!

I cooked another meal tonight!! I'm on a roll!!! It was a mild veggie curry. This time the sauce came out of a jar But all the veggies were fresh and I added some fresh ginger too. It tasted good! And I definitely feel better if I make more effort in the kitchen.

Hugs to all

This thread is such a positive, supportive place, brimming with good intentions and deeds, intriguing thought, and wonderful feelings. Thank you for keeping me holding on, all of you. Thank you for your contributions. I love reading about PleaseHelp's family exploits, snagapuss including Mom in painting, kitty's new job (many congratulations! ), alias' fortitude, lavieenrose's fun with Sherman and offer of hope with mythological symbolism a la Campbell, sundog's hikes and kitchen creations, and Payne taking care of business, if you know what I mean. I hope I have not left anyone out. I simply wanted to acknowledge all the goodness here.

Thank you for the empathy and encouragement, Payne and kitty. One thing a day is about all I can manage recently, when I can even do that.

As for my contribution, I went on my longest walk yet yesterday evening, with my mom. She was really sweet to come with me, especially since I tend to annoy her by reminding her of a patch of ice here, or uneven pavement there. I can't help it. Normally, the grey and blue twilight of a winter day has a sparkling, enigmatic quality to it that's irresistible to me; the softer colors and barren landscape of colder months once brought me a strange comfort. I recognize what I see, when I glimpse it, but I cannot connect with it. This is true of almost everything these days. The walk was helpful nonetheless, and I appreciated the willingness of most every pedestrian to cooperate considering our limited resources in terms of pavement thanks to all the leftover snow.

All the best to you; may your day be full of "right things." Sorry I went on and on a bit there.

Thanks, Sundog!

I just got back from there, and was honest about my anxiety disorder, and he offers treatment especially for people like me to help me remain calm.

Off topic...kinda:

Just a quick welcome to our newest member, snagapuss! Be warned... there's lots of hugging and support here

Nola, you are more than welcome... feel free to PM me if you ever need to talk

Sundog, my dentist will prescribe me valium to take before I come in to help with the anxiety (course then you have to have someone to drive you and pick you up... man was he mad when I drove myself last time)

I'll be back later with my do-rights it's still early.... although I did get up at a reasonable time today (9:30 an hour before my alarm went off).

I read all the posts here and can hardly believe that all these wonderful things, and thoughts have been shared since I have not been here.

~ Alias, I commend you for going to the dentist. I remember when I didnt go for many years. So I commend you !!! you wrote " I know I will need to get a lot of work done, but I need to be an adult! " Been there done that, for sure. And I got through it. It was so worth it. I found that flossing made a huge difference because I have chronic peradontal disease. BUT I have it under control. I am glad you found a compassionate dentist who can help you deal with the anxiety of it. Mine took my pulse the first time I went there. I was so (quietly) anxiety ridden that he was concerned.
~ Nola, I could almost taste that coffee you had for the first time in a year. i too am coffee free, and not pleased about it, lol. Nola, your post about the walk with your mom was so lovely. What a beautiful way you have of writing !!!!! Thank you for sharing that.
~ Lavieenrose, very cewl about the haircut. You deserve it !!! And thank you for the post by Joseph Campbell. I need to read that every day. Wonderful that you went for a nice nature walk with your dog. I would need showshoes to walk with my dog. . Oh yes, and a dog
~ Grumpypa Congratulations on your grandson !!!
~ Pleasehelp, Bless your heart for taking good care of your children. So hard to do when not feeling well.
~ Sudog, the food you made sounds absolutly delicious, the hike sounds lovely. Especially since I am living in a perpetual snowglobe where 12 of the past 15 days have had "measurable snowfall"
~ Payne, I so agree that we should take pride in everything we can get done. If I remembered that, I would come here to post even on those days when I just was barely able to extricate myself from bed.
~ Kitty, I wish you huge amounts of luck with the babysitting job. I bet you are wonderful with babies and chidlren.
~ Snagapuss, welcome !!!!! Its wonderful to read what you wrote. Your mom is also lucky to have a daughter who appreciates her as you do. I hope your room looks great with its new coat of paint.
Whew, that was a lot of catching up to do since I last visited. Lots of good things have been talked about.
I spent days doing nothing productive. So I stayed away. Not a good thing to do. I should have found one little thing. I got out of bed for a while. Etc. Yesterday there was a break in the snowfall. I went out to get some supplies. Then my garbage disposal got stuck again. I probably will have to replace it. Its getting stuck with almost no food inside. After trying to find a neighbor who had one of those disposal wrenches, I gave up and went at 8:30pm to home depot. Then I went to walmart which felt like something from the twilight zone. It was very odd expereince. Someone announcing specials in different aisles. Like blue light specials, lol. But I refused to give up. I needed that little appointment calender I know they sell. I prevailed. Victory was mine !!! I came home and fogured out how to use that wrench and yes, again victory. I prevailed over the garbage disposal. Aahahaaaaa, I won !! (sorry for the length of this post)

sunsetsunrise congratulations on your victory over the garbage disposal...and walmart

Today I interviewed with the second set of parents. I got the job. I will be watching a two year old and an 11 month old. After showing them my house I went to my massage and then to both walmarts in town to get the car seat I wanted (I needed a second one). Now I'm relaxing (that's important too)

Wow, someone else who works with kids, the most rewarding job, to me!! I am tickled pink for your new babysitting job!!!!!

That's awesome!!!! What does he offer?? I need to ask my dentist about that!! My dentist is really nice, but he doesn't do anything special for anxious patients, except kind of talk them through it. I'd love to know what your dentist offers! Anyhow, well done!!!!!

Thanks for letting me know that! (((((((kitty))))))) And CONGRATULATIONS on your new job!!!!!!

(((((((Nola))))))) It's great you went on a long walk with your Mom. I know it's disheartening (to say the least) to do things that used to give us so much pleasure and to find that that pleasure is absent for the time being. But I am a firm believer that it's important to keep doing things anyway (though I should really practice what I preach!) In any case, I hope so much that your enjoyment returns soon

((((((((((((sunsetsunrise)))))))))))) Well done for triumphing over your garbage disposal!!!! I'm sorry the snow is making it so difficult to get out. I hope it stops soon!!! Wish I could send you some California sunshine. I will send you some in spirit!!!

I replied to an email that I have been procrastinating about. I don't know why I do this. I feel so guilty if I leave it too long before I reply. And yet, for whatever reason, there are certain emails that I just can't face replying to right away. And I have no idea why. This one email was so overdue the person had actually sent me a second email to ask if I'd received the first one Anyhow, it's done now!!!!!

I had coffee and cake with my neighbor who is 101 years young!

WOW, missbelle, 101 young! Tell her happy birthday from me

My do rights: went to depression/anxiety group, went to work, still working on getting rid of this darn head cold (I will prevail!), ran some errands - put $ down on my dress and looked into knitting classes for my daughter (wow are they expensive), got supper - didn't cook, and now I'm working on the calendar my girls gave me for Christmas!

Thank you for all the other positive posts. I enjoy reading all "the do rights". Makes me remember to be thankful and that I'm not a total screw up.

Sure, sundog. He offers conscious sedation (I have a fear of being put under as well...). He gives the drug halcion, which is related to valium and used for patients with extreme insomnia or, apparently, dental patients. This allows you to be awake, but very relaxed while they work on your mouth, especially for the larger procedures. I haven't been in so long that I need some heavy work. They made me feel so good about this! I am not scared for the work that will need to be done.

Thanks for all of your encouragement, sundog! You're awesome.

Perseverence (and perseveration?) led to getting justice today. My across the street neighbor kept piling his driveway snow onto my property, causing a hazard. Police told me nothing could be done, and didn't even enter my complaint in the record. By accident, I met another neighbor who witnessed the plow driver pushing the snow across the street, and reported it to police. I was put in touch with the sympathetic police officer who took the report. He remembered the "15 ft. of snow" dumped on my property last winter, and he firmly told my neighbor and his plow service to cease and desist under penalty of violation. They did.

I took, and participated in, my daughter to therapy. Then took her to dance class. I also did part of my homework for DBT group tomorrow night. (Hopefully it won't snow so we can have group.)