Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Wearing out my rocker


      Three reasons teachers work: June, July and August. Ha! After a stressful first two months of summer, my face is beginning to show a bit of wear. I look tired. I am tired. I'm usually level-headed, but I have been dealing with birth, deaths, family and friends' illnesses, new car troubles, kids' homes for sale, teens acting out and up, and damned chigger bites that have itched to no end for two weeks.
     Like a midnight locomotive, I awoke with my heart racing, knowing I can't fix it all. Heck, I can't fix any of it some days. I've always been on the right track regarding my looks and life: this is how I look, take it or leave it. This is life; roll with the punches. Somewhere along the way, I got derailed.  

 The one constant that makes me happy is baby Liam. I feel like a teenager in puppy love. But I worry about his colic. See, it never ends.


    
     Today I feel worn out from the stress of dealing with everyday living. During June and July I barely had a moment to myself, and when I did, I could hardly breathe deeply enough because I was so worried about everyone else in the family who had problems. I wasn't able to read a book, wrote very little, and so beginning Monday, I am stepping back for a week, and I am taking time for myself.

     I plan to sit outside and relax, not answer the phone, not check my text messages. I want to read, and I would like to write, but I am not putting that pressure on myself. Sure as I do, I will come inside and turn on the computer intending to sketch a story, jot a thought, and the next thing you know I will be lost on Facebook. 

    
I spent hours Monday readying my classroom for open house, so that is one less burden to have on my mind. Now, I am ready for down time. Today I am going to buy myself a new book or two. I will treat my honey to lunch after he returns from his six week follow up chest X ray after his bout with pneumonia.

Hoping for his clean bill of health.
Hoping my granddaughter can get her new LEMON of a car repaired or replaced.
Hoping her sinus infection clears up with new antibiotics so she can return to work.
Hoping my daughter gets a home buyer soon, as she has found her dream house.
Hoping my son's new home is built before school starts in three weeks.
Hoping my friend's dad recovers from his stroke, and my other friend has an easy grieving day on the loss of her son.

There I go again. Worry-worry-worry.
I once read that worrying is like rocking in a rocker, you can go fast, but you get nowhere. Oh, I know that. I just need to still myself. That is my plan and I am sticking to it. I'll be back though tomorrow to tell you about my book selections. Thank you for sticking with me.
 

 

16 comments:

Kim Lehnhoff said...

I know how hard it is to turn off the worry switch, but we have to do it.

The weather this week is lovely for reading outside, or for taking a stroll where your focus is summer flowers and bees buzzing.

And really, our worrying doesn't get us anywhere. It's like plugging in the vacuum and pushing it on the carpet without turning it on - the dirt doesn't go away.

I hope you enjoy your respite from your cares. Things usually work out as they should, just not on our schedule.

Pat Wahler said...

I come from a long line of worriers. It's an inherited trait.

Pat
Critter Alley

Jennifer Brown Banks said...

Hope things look up for you soon, Lin.
Prayers are with you.

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Hi Linda!! Sounds as if you have been going through a lot this summer. I hope things calm down soon and get better. Only 54 days til autumn :)

Bookie said...

By showing your problems you also showed us your wisdom...you are a leader even in strife! Can't wait to hear about the books! Enjoy them and escape.

Connie said...

I hope your down time will help you get rested up and feeling back on track again. Your plate is definitely full right now. Hugs to you.

Val said...

Baby Liam is so precious! Hope you can put everything else out of your mind for a bit.

Sioux Roslawski said...

Liam IS a cutie-patooty.

I hope everything works out favorably, and I hope that you get some much-needed rest and relaxation...

Lynn said...

Something I've been practicing lately is NOT WORRYING about stuff that really is not my concern. Liam is so adorable... read the previous posts also as I'm catching up again. I've been relaxing too by not being on the computer as much! Enjoy your books!

Unknown said...

Hang in there, Linda. Worrying is like that rocking chair, true. But a good rocker also provides comforting motion, if we let it. Add a book, a cup of tea, and some deep breaths, and now your nowhere is getting somewhere! Take good care. Sending prayers your way.

Julia Gordon-Bramer said...

Oh! He is so precious.

Lisa Ricard Claro said...

Replace the word "hoping" with "I believe that . . ." Prayers are headed your way.

Tammy said...

Enjoy your down time! Sending best.

Tammy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kathy's Klothesline said...

Just hold that baby while you rock and everything will fall away! I worry about my sweet Daddy endlessly, but it doesn't help one bit!

Janet, said...

Late in commenting on this post, but hoping you have stopped worrying so much. I have that bad habit, too. As for the colic, my middle son had colic really really bad. Mom told me to give him catnip tea. It worked - he would go to sleep before he finished drinking it. We sweetened it a little with Karo syrup.