It’s ok to not be ok

It can happen in a blink of an eye, you are doing good, things seem to be running smoothly and then they aren’t. It’s not that you did anything differently, it’s more that life is just a bit off and that is OK. There can be many factors that contribute to the shift, and for the sake of this post digging into the medical conditions (ie depression, anxiety) isn’t somewhere that I feel comfortable going. Depression and anxiety can play huge roles in having off days for sure and if these are conditions you deal with I hope that you are receiving guidance from people who are trained to help. That being said there are other factors that can cause an off day or even week to happen. If you see it as it is: an off day, you can move past it and start to change your perspective which will then start to change the path you are heading.

A few days ago I had just gotten to work when I was given a note from the receptionist to do a “check up” call on a patient. I had just seen this owner and had a good conversation with her so doing this call was no big deal to me. To say there was a shift to my morning after that call was a bit of an understatement. The phone call didn’t go as I had thought it would, I had to take a moment afterwards to think it through and see that it wasn’t aimed at me I was just the person who made the call. The person needed to be heard and I was the one to lend the ear. I had a choice to make after that call: allow it to ruin my day or move on knowing that it was just one incident. Choosing to move on was the obvious choice for me and by doing so I was able to have a good day.

A friend of mine was telling me how it was a bit more stressful in her house right now. She was temporarily laid off due to the pandemic, and with three kids all having to do school from home, her husband was the only one who really got somewhat of a break by going to work. The stress she was dealing with was more due to the unknown of when life will get back to “normal” and the fact that her kids seem to pick on each other now more than ever. I can hear every parent right now groaning including myself. This was a pretty big kink in her life, and at first she was pulling her hair out trying to fix it, then she saw she had to embrace it and see it as it was: the “new normal”. This is what she said she did:

• She sat down with each kid and made a schedule that had times for school, chores, eating, and playtime
• She made a schedule for herself that included time that was allocated for just “me time”
• Each day she and the kids would go for a walk
• When her husband got home from work they would eat together at the table and have devotions afterwards
• Sundays were deemed “no electronic” days.
• Weekends were for doing projects around the house and for going on hikes

After all this was set in place she knew her family needed a bit of a reset button so they went camping for the weekend, read books, rode their bikes and ate s’mores by the campfire. A little get away to get her family back on track.

We are in a time right now that put us in a state of unrest. Some of the control we once had has been taken away even though temporarily. The fear of the unknown is being felt everywhere. Heck if someone sneezes in public or touches their face they are looked upon like they just grew an arm out of their face. During these times it’s OK to break down just as long as you don’t stay there. It’s OK to cry, just as long as you wipe your tears and move forward. It’s OK to need something bigger than yourself. The Bible says in Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. It’s OK to put on some loud music and sing and dance. It’s OK to eat a whole container of Ben and Jerry’s, but when you do make sure do it once and save the other containers for next month. My point is this, it’s OK to not be OK, just don’t stay there. It takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile. Yes it is tough, but darlin’ so are you.

Not once in my life was I told life would be easy, but I was also taught to find the good, see the good and be the good. Smile at someone, what’s the worst that could happen? Until next time:

Only You can choose to allow people’s reactions and opinions affect the way your day goes.