Thursday 25 August 2016

The Struggle is Real

The struggle is real - 💙
                         
   
Wow it's been nearly a month since I last found solace in my blog. Poor neglected page, I take from that the fact life has been busy, beautifully so not the boring grown up drudge busy but fun we're on holiday busyness. We are lucky enough as a family to be able to afford a holiday away in the sunshine together. Time to just be a family with nothing getting in the way. In fact three of my children are still basking in the glorious weather in Spain. God I'm missing them so much, can't wait to hug them all. Totally appreciating that on Sunday I'll have them all in my arms again. I'm so lucky to have the four of them I know that. Sadly I have lots of friends who have lost a baby or a child, they'd do anything to receive another hug. 
    

    I'm generally a happy person and I often have a smile on my face. Sometimes I'm just facing the world with a smile and I'm crying inside. I know I'm not the only one who does this. Maybe it's just easier not to have to explain how you're feeling. Those who truly know you will see through this facade though. They can tell you aren't "your normal self !"  When I friend makes this discovery with the fateful words "are you alright?" Then I'll cry, the mask of happiness crashes to the ground and the tears cannot be hidden. Actually it takes courage to face the world and go about your day to day life while you're breaking inside. However I use that strength to its best advantage , knowing that each day is a new day and that my track record says I'm a survivor. I'm a different person now, there's no going back in life. No rewind button, no second chance or opportunities to change what you've been through. 
                                              

  Some days this holiday I've done nothing, if the Sun's been shining I've taken myself outside with a drink, book, deckchair and a few tunes on Spotify and just relaxed. I've had to stop feeling guilty and realise looking after myself isn't a waste of time. I've just had to allow myself this time to simply be. I guess it's been like my bath zone therapy with added vitamin D ! Other things like chores can wait but your mind can't. If it's struggling you have to listen to it and take the time out you need. Some days all I'm doing is coping but that's ok too, it's enough. I am enough, I am ok. I waited five years to be divorced then it arrived and it's shaken me a little. I'm sure I'll find my footing again and get everything organised financially . Things like this also put my mind into turmoil . It's been tough enough for me to welcome my enemy insomnia back into my life. I've still some way to go but I'm proud of how far I've already come. I guess these annoying life struggles have changed me, I think I'm stronger, still need to work on the roar . As to whether I'm a better person, I don't think I can judge that ! I just know I have to do this my way, so I can't blame anyone, or rely on anyone, I have to be independent for god's sake I am nearly 47 !
  Life is tough at times, but can be made easier by having the right people by your side, looking out for you and steadying you when you stumble or helping you up if you fall. I don't feel we have the right to judge people or be negative about them. Are you perfect, go on be honest ? Even I'm only practically perfect.....in every way though. We all have our faults and flaws , things we aren't proud of. We are all learning throughout our lives and you live life through experiences. I've learnt who I want to share my world with, a small inner group of friends. I know they want to be there and in what capacity. They believe in me when I see nothing positive, they love me when I feel unloveable, they spur me on when I want to give up. I hope I pay this all back to them, we should all pay forward, the world would be a better place. Most of the time I'm not a misery, and I hope my friends get to feel my positive energy.
I don't want you thinking I'm not happy, I am. You know how it is with me. I'm living the almost dream with a small black cloud.  Most of my blog posts are the same really, woe is me. I am ok but I also know it's ok not to be ok. I don't have to be all singing all dancing every day , just 99% of the time ! I just see these struggles I'm having at the moment as steps towards a better me, a better life for my family. I know they'll end too. My family is strong and we've overcome many obstacles together so what's a little struggle going to do to us?  All we want is to be happy, well healthy as well ! 
       

    So there you are another random blog post ! For now I'll just accept the few struggles I'm in the middle of. The word acceptance means that you perceive reality accurately and consciously acknowledge it.  So I'll try and do that, sometimes it's hard to accept tough things but struggling with them is even tougher. I need to accept I'm only human and therefore I don't have any super powers. I think by accepting my struggles I won't be swallowed up by them, I'll confidently overcome them. I guess you don't realise how wonderful life is until you face challenges and struggles, in our case Eloise's heart transplant ,extended family health issues and my divorce . Life not always easy but in my opinion always worth it. Appreciate it people.
             So I'm off to bed in a minute to wrestle some demons and try to grab some of that valuable commodity sleep !