Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

A new restaurant just opened up in town…

March 8, 2014

…it’s called My Kitchen. :-) Saturday lunches are usually DIY around here so I can catch a cooking break and also because Saturdays are usually grocery shopping days. But, I did most of the shopping yesterday because today was going to be cold and rainy (and indeed it is – bleh), so I needed to make myself a good lunch. None of the prospects thrilled me, so I kept looking around and looking around and found: frozen shrimp, tagliatelle nests, mascarpone cheese, and parmesan cheese (a wedge of the real thing). And I made this awewome meal: shrimp alfredo! I even added some basil for added color and pizazz. Was it good? YES – I’ve learned enough cooking skills to pull this off. To say I was stoked would be an understatement. Of course, I was also stuffed after finishing it too. Now, if I just had some raspberry sorbet for a dessert.

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Worry

March 7, 2014

I was thinking yesterday (probably after reading something about it) how I worry way, way too much. And my next thought was that all this worrying is not productive at all. So I decided to look it up, worry that is, and here’s what I found on Wikipedia:

Worry refers to the thoughts, images, and emotions of a negative nature in which mental attempts are made to avoid anticipated potential threats.

Whew – let’s look at two of those words – anticipated and potential. These words mean I am worrying about things that haven’t happened yet. They may or may not happen, but I am worrying about them nonetheless. That seems…a waste of time and mental energy.

What else, oh here:

As an emotion it is experienced as anxiety or concern about a real or imagined issues, often personal issues such as health or finances or broader issues such as environmental pollution and social or technological change.

Mostly I worry about the small stuff – sometimes really small stuff.

And this is the thing – worry does nothing to help anyone – unless we turn it around into something productive. For me, the bigger stuff can be prayed about, but I also can do something like giving money to causes I believe in to help other people with basics like food and water, and kids who are suffering from cancer. Of course some stuff is completely out of my control and I have to know what those things really are.

Most experience short-lived periods of worry in their lives without incident; indeed moderate worrying may even have positive effects, if it prompts people to take precautions or avoid risky behaviors.

So if I am worrying about those potential threats without doing anything about them, well, as I said, it is a waste of mental time and energy. Time and energy I can use somewhere else in my life.

Excessive worry is the main component of generalized anxiety disorder.

Is that what it’s called? Actually, my doctor and I did talk about it and I realized that he was right. I have to say since being on my meds I have a lot less anxiety, but I still worry too much and that causes stress and long term stress isn’t healthy so it’s time to nip it in the bud. Hmm, how to do that. Oh yeah, here:

“Toxic worry is when the worry paralyzes you; good worry leads to constructive action.”

The above quote is from a book by Edward M. Hallowell called, “Worry”. There are things you can do to help reduce worry, he says, like: never worrying alone, getting the facts, make a plan, taking care of yourself (physically), and letting it go. That last one is the hardest for most of us I’d say.

So, you can read the rest of the article here, hah, don’t worry it’s a very small article. :-) I just wanted to hit the highlights. And I was right – worry is not productive at all. Unless you do something about what you are worrying about or let it go. So I’m going to read the book but I’m also going to start taking the five steps Dr. Hallowell suggests to keep worry from getting out of hand. Little by little, step by step I’m getting to a better life.

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Lent 2014

March 5, 2014

Hey, long time no see! Well, it’s time to pay less attention to Facebook and put more attention on my blog because this is really the space I had wanted for a long time and Matt was so generous in giving his time to make it for me. So I’m resurrecting it in time for Lent and Easter. :-)

I saw on EWTN an app for a 40 Day Read the Gospels Challenge. I didn’t want the app, but I thought that was a doable spiritual practice for Lent so I found this instead – a checklist to keep me on track.

Today, I also found a Lenten Spring Cleaning challenge that went around the blogosphere (mostly among mommies) a few years ago and I probably poo-poo’d it because 2009 was already a rough year for me. However, this year I can do it – I need to do it. You can either follow other moms’ lists here and here to start, OR you can do what I’m going to do: look around in each room to find what needs to be deep cleaned and make my own list. Either way, you can get the job done. A little each day adds up to a lot in the end. This can also apply to giving and saving money, exercise, eating healthy, etc. I think you’ve got the idea.

So, that’s what I’m doing. Facebook fast, Read the Gospels in 40 Days, and Spring Clean in 40 Days. Happy Lenten Season to all of you and let’s pray and fast and make the most of this glorious season. I love Christmas, but I love Lent even more.

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» 2014 » March » Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

A new restaurant just opened up in town…

March 8, 2014

Worry

March 7, 2014

Lent 2014

March 5, 2014

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