Last weekend, some friends and I had an unusually deep conversation over brunch, talking about various struggles in all of our lives.
One of the girls said “have you ever noticed just when you think things will never get better is right before they actually do?”
I’ve had a hard time emotionally over the past few months, and last weekend slash that long week between the holidays, I was having an especially hard time and so ready to get back to work and my normal routine this week. (Yes, I am that weird who wanted to be back at work.)
Monday came around, and I was still feeling really down and feeling in need of something to change, even if it was just my perspective. I opened up to family and friends and slowly started feeling better (and, again, so happy to be back to a regular schedule.)
Within a day or so, my perspective and feelings started turning around drastically.
I just came back from a weekend trip out to Shelter Island with friends that included lots of vineyard-hopping (my favorite!), I am going to events with both Jillian MIchaels and Bob Harper (separately, ha) this week, and then I get to hop a plane this weekend to run the Bahamas Half.
While yes, those are amazing highs, I’m also really happy with my normal, too, and this shift in perspective, focusing on what I do have, over what I don’t.
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I've had this epiphany myself recently. I am unemployed at the moment and hanging on to the idea that it will get better and I am not allowed to give up. I am okay with my new normal because I know it's only temporary. Better things lie in wait.
They do :) Just when I had some of my darkest moments the last time I was in your position is right before I found this job that I now love. It's coming!
@Sabrina: Hang in there! I was cut back to 3 days at my job and not making nearly enough to cover my bills. I'm also trying to focus on the fact that this is temporary. A "blip" in the journey.
it really is darkest before the dawn. but, like you said, opening up and telling people who care about us how we're feeling the darkness usually does shed some light and perspective. wishing you lots more light. and also a whole lot of fun with jillian and bob!
SO happy to be back on a regular schedule too. I love the holidays, don't get me wrong, but by the end I am craving normalcy beyond words.
You are doing the race?! Have fun! Can't wait to hear all about it!
P.S. Love the quote!
hope these good things in your near future help to really turn things around for you. i definitely give myself pep talks about focusing on all of the good things and trying not to beat myself up so much over what i don't like about my life or when i make decisions that go against my goals (read: go out both nights on a wknd and die both days). here's to hoping for better days to come.
Great post! I have found lately I have been unable to enjoy lots of happy things in my life because I am worried about other things. I'm trying to let the positive win over and overall to quiet my mind and be present.
Lack of routine KILLS me. I enjoy the time off for a bit, but then I just want to get back to normal so I can feel normal. I hear ya.
And so jealous of the Bahamas Half! Winter hit this week and I'd love me some sun!!
Totally understand, my dear. I've been there too... The past few months have been emotionally challenging for me due to some professional/career issues, and although I've certainly had tougher, darker times in past years (like from breakups or family illness), sometimes even the smaller issues can take a hold and get the best of you bc you feel stuck in a negative zone. I actually started getting chest pain/anxiety from stressing about the professional issues I'm currently facing, which is so crazy pants considering it's not THAT bad in the grand scheme of things (including of things I've dealt w in my own life). It's important to just believe things will get on the "right" track eventually, and to remember there are a lot of great things in the moment, too... not letting the little stuff we can't control get the best of us. Does that make sense?
It makes 100% sense. There's not even anything bad really going on in my life, it's just been some of my own mental health issues — but yes! Not letting the stuff we can't control get the best of us.
@Theodora Blanchfield: Exactly. :)
I am similar with long holiday breaks....even work can be fun, structured and give us that sense of belonging. Plus there's always coworkers who I tend to share my recap of the night before with and on Mondays.....we spend way too long catching up on each other's weekend. Being away from that for a bit can be isolating.
For whatever reason I don't read your blog daily. I tend to pop in every month or so but I ALWAYS seem to arrive when you have a post that really resonates with me. So thank you!
I've come to realize the moment I accept that my outlook is poor or I feel that things aren't going great is when the shift upward happens.
Glad you're on the upswing.
I'm glad you stopped in at a time it resonated with you :)
I really enjoyed reading this; one of the things that I'm trying to do this year is remember all the good and not get bogged down in all the bad. At times, it definitely felt like 2014 was the year where nothing would go right, and I'd really like for 2015 to be not like that. On Insta (#basic), one of my friends posted this quote -- "I have chosen to be happy because it is good for my health," and I'm using that to guide things right now.
Side note, as it is currently still below freezing in DC, I'm super jealous you're going to the Bahamas.