I once read that the best way to stop worrying about a situation is to picture the best outcome and the worst outcome, and then remember that the actual outcome will probably be somewhere in between. This little trick has stopped many anxiety spirals over the years. And, it's also had the positive side-effect of showing me just how lucky I am. For whatever reason, even the worst situations are fixed by a last minute hail mary or some colossal act of bureaucratic kindness. More often than not, I find myself on the "best outcome" side of the spectrum. hashtag blessed.
Until this May. Oh May, you really handed it to me! While I won't bore you with the details, I will say that the absolute highlight of the month was getting caught in freak thunderstorm while walking into town and being so soaked that it destroyed my beloved macbook. Followed closely by our dog eating a pound of brown sugar and barfing up molasses for 24 hours. And then, on the last day of the month, getting food poising from an ecuadorian food cart, while I was already sick with a cold, JUST FOR GOOD MEASURE.
thank gawd it's June.
(photo) iphone | back in action! desktop design from Design Love Fest.
that's the background on my computer too, kindred spirit! i'm over here hoping for your best June yet. :)
ReplyDeleteI love that!! things are about to get really good, for both of us.
DeleteNo joke, that's my background too! Has been since January when my heart finally started to feel a little less broken.
ReplyDeleteLove the title, one of my favorite books as a kid.
June is going to be a good month, I can just feel it. :)
oh, that is such a good sign since (from the looks of your photos) the sun has been shining on you lately Colleen! xo.
DeleteOhmahgahd, this post. Speaking right to my anxious heart today, Sam. Last night was the third in a row where I got less than three hours' sleep, just laying awake worrying myself silly over our plans to move to Nashville on July 1. Ever since we made the official decision back in March, nothing has gone as planned and we've had a zillion freak things happen : my car broke down (2x!), Matt's car broke down, my own Macbook (circa 2007) finally started showing its age when the display light stopped working, my hairdryer AND my hair straightener stopped working (the real tragedy, obv.) My coping strategy at this point is to just keep going with our plans and also read Harry Potter when my brain won't sleep. Expecto Patronum, or something like that. Hope June is a better month for you, friend. <3
ReplyDeleteBethany, May REALLY handed it to you, huh? your month sounds SO awful. thanks for commiserating!
DeleteYour new beginning will be so much sweeter, with all that mess behind you. Hope you're on the upswing by now!
I am making that my background!
ReplyDeleteI love your tip on anxiety. I struggle with it too often and it comes from a deep dark root in my heart that is afraid of failing. Taking leaps and making changes does rocky things to my body and I fear it so much but then when I do find courage to take just a little step forward, I realise it's nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be.
Im sorry May wasn't kind to you :( Praying that June will be better xx
Samantha, it gives me a little surge of optimism every time I open my computer. And, you're so right about moving forward. It's not the change - but the fear of change - that makes me messy inside.
Deleteoh man. i'm so sorry! here's hoping june is (much!) better :)
ReplyDeletethanks shoko! things are already getting brighter!
DeleteMay was the worst! I work at Mount Holyoke and got caught in that flash flood too. Car completely flooded and got stranded in Holyoke for 3 hours until AAA came!
ReplyDeleteLauren, it makes me feel *so* much better to know I'm not the only person in the Pioneer Valley who got completely worked by those thunder storms last month. Hopefully we'll be putting this very soggy spring behind us soon.
Deletep.s. I hope your car is mended!
DeleteI've never heard that advice about picturing the best & worst outcome, but I will take it with open arms. I am a worrier, through & through, & this viewpoint helped me - & will help me in the future, I am sure - loads & loads. Thank you for sharing, & I hope that June is a happier month for you!
ReplyDeleteLauren, with all the changes you have coming up with your big career change (and move!) I'm glad you have that little trick in your tool box.
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