Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
today is the first day of summer vacation in our local elementary school. my little ship of fools has stabilized considerable during the almost 3 years since domestic turbulence brought us together as a foster family in august, 2019, but we are still fragile enough that any change, whatsoever, feels like a threat. we held steady --i think-- during the last weeks of school, but are still covidically cloudy on what to expect from the long, unstructured days. we have managed to cobble together a bit of a social network, but still no community support to speak of. just masks and social distance. prayers in progress that we have the family protocols by which to develop that still fledgling network.
today's read from "courage to change" is resonating clearly through the ruminating uncertainties. clearly enough to rate the meditative reinforcement of typing it out to share here.
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i have often tried to avoid repeating mistakes by making strict rules for my behavior. although i can learn from experience, i can't plan for every situation that might happen in the future. trying to do so only limits my options. when i get lost in such limited thinking, my therapy supporters remind me to keep an open mind.
i'm glad it does, because i am constantly changing. i continually need to let go of old ideas when they no longer work for me. if i don't get too attached to any one way to approach life, i adjust to change with a lot less stress and strain.
as i practice keeping an open mind, i tend to cross paths with people who are also flexible in their thinking and we help each other to see more clearly. as a friend says, "we don't see the world as it is. we see the world as we are."
today's reminder
as i grow, i continue to learn and to unlearn, replacing old ideas with new ones and reclaiming others that had been cast aside. today i welcome this flow of information that will nourish and replenish me as i become more fully myself.
"to keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable." ~helen keller
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for me, unlearning is far harder learning. unlearning calls for reviewing the lessons i am trying to unlearn and ? ? ? ouchie mama! ! ! denial has its place in the grand scheme of things, doesn't it? especially for a 67 year old toxic mom fated to a second parenting career?
sigh. . .
sorting. . . attempting to keep my face toward change while behaving like a free spirit in the presence of fate.
again i leave the mood icon on the rapid cycling median. fissuring. . .
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Hey All...I hope that you have a lovely, peaceful beginning of your weekI have a bunch of chores that need doing but may put them off til tomorrow and just hang out with my landlord/roomie todayWhat about you?...Anything special going on?Have a great day and take good care of you!!..Xo
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I haven't written in my diary on my computer since May because I thought that my computer was dying. I got away from writing but my computer is hanging in there. I think that I will start writing in it again. It's so therapeutic.
It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one most adaptable to change.
That to me applies not just in nature but in a person’s everyday navigation of life. Change is scary but inevitable and I know for me if I embrace whatever the change is sooner than later, even if I am just pretending to embrace it sometimes, I can reset my thinking a bit easier.
Letting go of old ideas is a tall order. There is a comfort in falling back on them. But I think sometimes that comfort is a kind of death too.
Thanks for posting this, Arfie. Got my brain working early this morning!
charles darwin often comes up with the subject of famous misquotes and misused science, but i can salute the logic here. the adapt or die theme is common throughout nature. even stagnant water evaporates. as the chinese proverb says, "make friends with change. it is the only thing you can count on."
for what it's worth
here on the farm, i have the job of waking up the roosters. i do my daily meditations before i go to work, specifically to get my brain working before i tackle those bossy old roosters. if i'm translating correctly, they are threatening to talk to the union bosses about more beauty rest for their old hens.
Good morning to you and your family, at this time from me and mine. Too much of the nonsense and bullshi* we all know about will release the prisoner from damnation. We are hopeful when we speak our truth and remain faithful to our own convictions. As you mention above, we cannot change the world outside of us but we can only see the world as we are. Many of us walk by faith and not by sight and you are correct, Science has misguided many into believing a fallacy, man's way of thinking, is corrupt by its AGENDA!!
However, I Love what you mention in your post for daily strength, it makes sooo much sense to me. I have decided to copy and paste your words and the quoted quote remains As-Is without me having to copy and paste. I hope Actions have spoken louder than words and opinions, in a time of uncertainty. And if I am correct, correct me if I'm wrong, I think you previously mention you're a Biologist (Biology Major) hence why you have chosen to use an animal as an avatar for the dailystrength.org site, we, as in many of us, come to use to share our grievances. It's part of community engagement and meets the social distance requirements, masks is optional depending on the atmosphere from either end.
As mentioned, previously mentioned, here is what I am quoting from you!
'today is the first day of summer vacation in our local elementary school. my little ship of fools has stabilized considerably during the almost 3 years since domestic turbulence brought us together as a foster family in august, 2019, but we are still fragile enough that any change, whatsoever, feels like a threat. we held steady --i think-- during the last weeks of school, but are still covidically cloudy on what to expect from the long, unstructured days. we have managed to cobble together a bit of a social network, but still no community support to speak of. just masks and social distance. prayers in progress that we have the family protocols by which to develop that still fledgling network.
today's read from "courage to change" is resonating clearly through the ruminating uncertainties. clearly enough to rate the meditative reinforcement of typing it out to share here.'
Never give up on hope where you see fit!! The truth is, Heaven and Earth will perish but my Word will remain says the Lord of Host. I try to live on daily strength, to bring closure to all of the so-called challenges we are now bringing to light publically. Those changes we tried to correct even before Sept 11 of the year 2001.
Respectfully,
Confessions of a Queen!
The adapt or die theme is common in business too, how companies have to keep evolving due to changing customers' needs, technology, pandemics, etc. It's remarkable how "change" is almost a brand in and of itself for a lot of companies.
I love these dialogs, especially first thing in the morning. It primes me for the day. Appreciate you for always being so open to the conversation so thank you!
i vote we let them live on. misquotes and all. just voting.