I have the unique talent of being stressed and/or depressed about anything. Seriously.
No job? Stressed! I need to find a job to contribute to the household! People will think I am lazy if I don’t find a job quickly! (PS, check out the post I wrote for Lifehacker about what to do when you don’t have a job.)
Job? Stressed! I have to be to work at what time?? Oh geez this commute is horrid!
Dave works too much? Stressed! I never get to see him! He has no time to eat healthy or work out!
Dave comes home way early thrice in one week? Stressed! How am I supposed to get anything done? When will I be able to write my articles?? He will see how long I spend on blog posts and judge me!
No plans this week/weekend? Depressed! I have no friends! Why doesn’t anyone like me? I will have nothing to blog about!
Busy week/weekend? Stressed! How will I get everything done? Will I get any sleep? I will have no time to blog!
See what I mean? This is why I need to remind myself so often to look at the positive side of things– to find the silver lining.
I had a revelation about this on Wednesday. I referenced the fact that I was seeking counseling (you don’t even need to ask why, do you?) in my “You Deserve a Treat” post. (Shameless plug: check out that post for the best pumpkin skillet cookie recipe ever!!)
Well, I made it to the appointment, even though I was having a super skeptical feeling about the whole thing and it was one of those dreary days that I just wanted to curl up and nap. But everything just got weird and stressful.
I arrived and there was no receptionist. Weird. She finally came out and had me fill out the rest of my paperwork while I set the paperwork I had filled out that morning on the desk. The paperwork I sat on the desk had personal details: why was I there, my insurance info, where I worked…but the receptionist glanced at it and walked away. Weird. The papers continued to sit there when a couple came in and stood at the desk waiting to be helped and even after the receptionist came back and signed them in…I did not like that.
Then I sat. And sat. And sat. The more I sat, the more nervous I got. Seeing a new counselor/therapist is like going in for an interview, but you have to talk about painful things. You have to attempt to get them to understand your life and situation in a 45 minute session..at least this has been my experience. I was going over things in my head I would tell her (just like in an interview).
After 15 minutes, I sent a tweet out about my frustrations and texted Dave that I just wanted to go home. (Dramatic!) I also went up to the counter (with no receptionist) and snatched my papers back, not wanting other people to see my sensitive information. Dave ended up calling me after 20 minutes and the receptionist realized something must have been wrong after 25 minutes.
After 30 minutes of waiting, my stomach growing more and more knots of nervousness, the lady who was supposed to be helping me through my stress told me she must have double booked my appointment. She whipped out her planner full of names written in pencil and my name was nowhere to be found. Awesome.
“I’m so sorry,” she kept repeating. Then she asked if I wanted to wait another 30 minutes to see her then. Nope. She gave me some times we could reschedule on a post-it note and I walked off in a huff. I sat in my car for a minute, fighting off the negative thoughts and tears. I mean, I was trying to get better, trying to do something for myself, why was this happening?
As I drove off, I tried to make myself feel better.
Now I know where the office is. This is also the same area as my new dermatologist, so I will know where that is now, too.
I stopped at Target for some retail therapy, but only ended up buying one small thing for myself (a nail polish…I might be addicted to OPI), one treat for Dave and I to split, and some candy for the trick-or-treaters I had just decided we would let knock on our door.
I was feeling a little better, thinking about seeing some cute kids in Halloween costumes that I even passed up the Starbucks coffee I had intended on getting on my way out.
Then I saw the leaves. Oh goodness the leaves!
I was driving back towards my apartment by the trail I usually walk/run on and I saw the prettiest trees ever. I noticed that the gray sky made the trees look absolutely magical. I actually parked my car and took some pictures with my phone because I had an “aha” moment.
There is good in every situation. Yes, I’ve heard that before. But it just really clicked that day. It’s fortunate that I had this post to write when November came around because for the past two years I’ve been using this month to take time each day and think about what I am thankful for.
This series was even featured on the Healthy Living Daily Buzz last year!
So, how can we all participate together?
1. Follow on Twitter and tweet daily to me @SemiHealthNut using the hashtag #30daysofthanks with the thing(s) you are thankful for each day of the month. I will re-tweet my favorites and even share some on the blog!
2. Comment on any of my 30 Days of Thanks posts this month with the things you are thankful for. I will also share my favorites on the blog and/or social media.
3. I will also be posting to my Semi-Healthy Blog Facebook page and you can comment there as well. (I already received a lovely comment on today’s status!)
4. Each Thursday of the month I will have a Thankful Thursday link-up where you can share your posts on this topic as well as one big link-up at the end of the month.
5. Spread the word about the 30 Days of Thanks challenge by pinning any image, or posting one of the buttons below to your blog page/post (let me know if you need help with this!).
200 x 200:
300 x 300:
400 x 400:
So what do you think? Are you in?
Tell me..
How do you find the silver lining in every day life?
What is your silver lining today?
I’m SO in! Sorry about your appt. I guess it wasn’t meant to be.
Good!! Yeah I’m still debating on rescheduling…she seemed kind of unorganized and I don’t want that to happen again!
I’m in!! Funny, I was just thinking about this on the way to work today, that I really wanted to take time to be thankful this month — and then i see your post!! Today I’m grateful for the flexibility of my job. It’s a blessing to be able to get most of my workout done before coming into the office!
Ah I’m so happy I posted this today!! That’s awesome about your job flexibility!
LOVE THIS!! Hope your next appt experience goes MUCH better!
Thanks, Mollie. 🙂
Clearly I’m in…see my post yesterday if you haven’t already. Great minds think alike! 😉
haha I think we did that last year too! We can just link to each other! 😉
I’m thankful for your beautiful leaf pictures! I miss seeing the leaves changing living in Florida now.
Aw I’m glad I posted them!!
Sorry you’re feeling down in the dumps and you had such a frustrating experience. I love this idea and will be sure to share. Looks like you truly live in the perfect place to be in the Fall!
Yes, fall is lovely here! Thanks for the sympathy! 🙂
Good on you for deciding to get help. Not an easy step, and even harder when it all seems to go wrong! I’m sure the receptionist will now remember you next time, and give you the 5 start treatment. Good luck with it!
Let’s hope so!!
How frustrating! There is nothing worse than sitting in an waiting room…and then not being “seen”. But, I hope it doesn’t taint your next experience with her the future (or maybe you can find someone else). But props to you for realizing that you need to talk with someone. (I’m always an email away, too).
As you know, I’ve been stressed out a lot lately as well. I’ve just been letting it run its course, but I decided last week that the majority of my stress was self-imposed. When I realized that, I also knew that I could change it. I could think differently. I could focus on what I’m thankful for. I could focus on what I have to look forward to. It helps. Does it help every day? Do I still have crazy days? Of course, but I now I force myself to relax and its starting to become a habit.
I really want to create this habit! So happy that you’re making it work! Sadly I have worked on this and will have a few good days then one really bad one that makes me feel like a total failure. I hope I can get some solutions/techniques from a professional!!
And most of my stress is definitely self-imposed! Isn’t it crazy how powerful the brain is??
we’d love to have you come link up with us on saturdays!! actually if you’re interested i think we have room for one more co-host towards the end of the month!! http://kelseyhomolka-keepingupwithkelsey.blogspot.com/2013/11/30-days-of-gratitude-link-up-series.html
Oh honey! What a day that was! I would have been just as frustrated as you through all of that! And in MY mind, seeing a new therapist is WORSE than an interview! In an interview, you are only showing off your good side, but with a therapist…A COMPLETE STRANGER…you have to get all vulnerable and share your weaknesses. And heaven forbid they don’t click with you…I went through two therapists in the past before I gave up completely. Luckily I found Jamie through the Intuitive Eating challenge because I really felt she was the only person (therapist wise) who ever really “got” me!
I love the thankfulness linkup! I wanted to bring up something like this on the blog, but I didn’t want to lock myself in to doing something and then end up stressing out over it, so I’ve just been writing things down in my journal…but I’ve forgotten to do it for the last few days so yeah, maybe that’s not really working! Ha! After I read that book The Gifts of Imperfection, it really got me thinking about what is important in life and what UNimportant things I allow to get me all worked up…crazy isn’t it? And that inner dialogue you had at the beginning of the post? Totally me…each.and.every.WORD!
Okay I’m glad you get the therapist awkward meeting thing! I’ve also had a couple that just didn’t work out and it wasn’t for my lack of trying! That’s so great that you found Jamie though! My issues aren’t really food related, but I wonder if she does other therapy haha! And I just added that book to my Amazon cart…thought I had before but apparently not! Thank you so much for your empathy, Heather! It really means the world to me! <3
Hey, what else are friends for other than to make us feel more “normal” about things in life? 😉 xoxo
I love this idea! I wish I would have seen this earlier. Finding the silver lining in every situation has been the theme of 2013. It’s been a learning process.
I feel like this will always be a learning process for me! I hope you can link up this coming week! Also, I miss you! <3
I love reading through a post that will make men and women think.
Also, many thanks for allowing for me to comment!