Running on Empty - Don't Empty Your Reserves

Taking care of yourself is very important. Taking care of yourself when you have chronic health issues and various mental health issues is EXTREMELY important. This is something I learned over the last few weeks.

I've been super busy working on betting my new company, WRITECOVERY, Inc. off the ground. I've been working with a company in Canada as they create the website and help with the marketing plans.

I also got very sick with a super stomach bug that was making the rounds in my area. Not fun. I ended up in the ER twice, getting hooked up for fluids due to dehydration and loss of potassium.

Again not fun. I was not the picture of fun relaxing in a bath with a book and a smile. That was definitely not me before my trip or after my trip.

Then, I had travel plans to Arizona to visit with my three children and four grandchildren. Number four was born in November. I was originally planning to make the trip in December, but my doctor nixed the idea and said no traveling until my TMJ was healed. It took many months and an arthrocentesis procedure to get the doctor's okay for travel. Once I did, I made my arrangements.

However, I spread myself a little too thin. I worked too hard before leaving on my trip and with it being clear across the country I didn't make any accommodations for the time change, either there or back.

I was a total wreck. I am a poster child for everything NOT TO DO when you have the disorders and chronic illnesses I have and you don't take care of yourself.

I returned home from my trip and instead of taking a few days to ease back into my routine I jumped in with both feet. It took three days, but on the  third day, my body finally ran out of reserves and I collapsed from exhaustion.

I finally got the hint. Take it easy on yourself.  See this happy little piggy? I got the message and became as happy as a pig in a shower.

So, that's what I did for the weekend. My husband took me to the movies, we watched movies at home. I truly enjoyed Malificent at the theater and The Lego Movie at home. Both had the perfect distraction opportunities for me to just relax and enjoy the show.

We worked in the yard, I planted some new plants, rearranged some that were getting out of control, and I walked my dog every day. Boy, did he enjoy that. I'd been sadly lacking in the walking department but he was very forgiving. I haven't given that up, either. We are still walking every day.

But, I have to tell you for the sake of your health, don't do what I did. Take care of yourself first. Your work and other tasks will be there later. They're not going anywhere.

Give yourself leeway to adjust to the time change. I traveled 2,000 miles there and back. Three time zones. I am one who really needs consistent sleep to help me maintain a stable healthy mentality. I should have known. I'm telling you know, don't do what I did.

I didn't have to hear my husband say, "I told you so," to get the "I told you so," part. I was telling myself how much I should have taken care of myself first when I got home instead of working full blast.

What did it really accomplish anyway? I don't think I'm anywhere different than I would have been if I had taken those days off to recover.

So, please. Don't do what I did. I was running on empty, literally. I had no reserves left.

Take care of yourself.

Copyright: zu1u / 123RF Stock Photo

Copyright: ariwasabfi/ 123RF Stock Photo

Eight Question Meme

I found this meme from the Stay At Home Mom blog. I thought it was interesting and wanted to join in. It looked like fun. So, here goes, my 8 Question Meme for May 8th:

1. What were you doing 10 years ago?

I was working on my second book, NOT WITHOUT ANNA. I was finishing it up for my publisher.

Here is the book blurb for Not Without Anna: Katherine, shocked by her daughter's death, too late, realizes she had been out of touch with her daughter and didn't recognize the stranger Anna had become. Charles, helpless to reach his son, watches him slip away. He's unable to comprehend Mike's nightmares and depression as he deals with his girlfriend's death and his own guilt.

2. What 5 things are on your to-do list?

1. Relax

2. Write blogs

3. Complete vacation plans

4. Don't forget Mother's Day

5. Remember May is Mental Health Month

3. What are 5 snacks you enjoy?

1. blueberries

2. raspberries

3. chocolate

4. Sobe Lifewater

5. popcorn

4. Name some things you would do if you were a millionaire:

1. Donate money to my church

2. Travel more to see my children and grandchildren

3. Put money away for my grandchildren's college fund

4. Put money away for our retirement

5. Get my husband whatever he wanted

5. Name some places you have lived:

1. Michigan

2. California

3. Arizona

4. Idaho

5. Wyoming

6. Florida

6. Name some bad habits you have:

1. Worry too much

2. Assume the worst

3. spend too much money

4. spoil my dog and parrot

7. Name some jobs you have had:

1. Marine

2. Data Coordinator

3. Technical Writer

4. Technical Support Consultant

5. Documentation & Internal Training Manager

6. Sr. Documentation Specialist

7. Technical Publications Manager

8. President/Owner

9. Author

10. Blogger

8. Name those you are tagging for this meme:

I encourage anyone who finds this meme interesting to join in and post on their blog.

Holiday Travel

My husband and I recently returned from traveling to WV, PA, and DC. We decided it would be a great Christmas present to his nieces to take them to DC for a couple of days. So, we flew into to the Philadelphia airport, picked up our rental minivan, drove to Buckhannon, West Virginia (5 hours) stayed overnight in a hotel.

Uh Huh, they do have hotels in Buckhannon. A very nice one as a matter of fact. The Bicentennial. If anyone gets out that way, that's my recommendation.

We picked up the girls the next morning from my husband's sister's house. After finding it.

Thank God for GPS and Google Maps. She has no address. Nope. None. Just lives on this little one lane road in the middle on nowhere.

We drove to Washington, DC (5 and 1/2 hours later). Thank goodness for a laptop computer and a movie. It kept the girls occupied.

The first day of our tour we saw the National Archives and the American Indian Museum.

In the rain.

Cold rain. And wind. Oh yeah. Wind and cold rain.

Of course none of us had umbrellas. But, I don't think it would have done any good anyway. But, I digress. The next day we parked at Union Station and walked from there to the Lincoln Memorial and back and saw everything we could in between before traveling back to WV. (Another 5 1/2 miles)

By then it was snowing. And snowing. And, we're from Florida remember? We're talking 20 degrees and under.. Brrrrrr.

We got back to Buckhannon, dropped off our nieces, checked into our hotel again, burrowed ourselves into the covers and blasted the heater.

Ahh, family time.... two days spent with my in-laws. (I plead the fifth here).

Then, it's time to travel back to Philadelphia to catch our plane back to Tampa, Florida.

Easy peasy, right?

NOT!

First, we get there early, because, well, I'm an OCD, and have panic attacks and anxiety, and my hubby can't deny me when I get that way, so we get their early. About 4 hours early.

Then we wait.

He keeps himself occupied with his computer. I walk.

Then, we find out our flight's been delayed.

So, we wait some more.

He pulls out his computer again; I get antsy.

Then, you guessed it, our flight is delayed again.

NO!!!!

By this time, hubby is deep into his computer, and I'm tapping my toes and trying to do a puzzle while eating a turkey sandwich, because now I've missed dinner.

Finally, the plane arrives. They're excuse: Holiday Travel.

Okay. From December 10th to the 15th, they had excessive holiday travel. Hmmm.. Sorry folks, but if that's the case, I really feel for those of you who are traveling right through the holiday.

So, back to the story. We make our connection some how in Atlanta because, low and behold, our plane is late. Imagine that!!??!!

Eventually, we make it back to Tampa, tired and beat.. several hours late.

But, what didn't arrive??? Our luggage!!

After all that, our luggage never made it on the plane!!!

But we were so glad to be home. And, the airlines were confident they would find our luggage and deliver it the next day. (Miracle upon miracle, they did just that!)

And we woke up to 80 degree weather. Can't get better than that.

Here's an article titled 12 Secrets to Surviving Holiday Travel for tips to help you get through your holiday traveling.