Arctic Cold and the Winter Blues

Okay – I have to say it.  I’m sick of this brutally cold weather.  Enough already.  And it’s not even February!!  Ugh!  It has only been one week since my post about the Art of Survival and…well…let’s just say I haven’t conquered that Art yet.  I’m crabby.  I’m cold.  I’m not motivated.  There is something not quite right with the world when Ohio is colder than Alaska!  Right now it is 2˚ with a wind chill of -22˚in Ohio; Alaska’s temperature for today was a high of 45˚ and a low of 34˚.  Seriously?!  That is CRAZY!

Besides the brutal cold weather and the gray days, this is also the worst time of the year for the respiratory flu and the stomach 'flu' (as I lamented about in last weekend's blog).  Here is a short story from this past Saturday night:

I was sleeping in my bed with my 8 year old daughter (it was the weekend and she likes the occasional treat of sleeping with mom…and mom feels bad for her because she feels left out from her twin sisters).  At 11:30pm, I hear her cough and swallow a bunch of times.  Then I hear “THE” cough…the cough that is the start of the vomit flowing.  I start yelling for her to get up and run to the bathroom.  She gets up and proceeds to puke all over the carpet. I yell for her to run to the toilet.  She runs in the bathroom and slips and falls on her puke.  I run after her, help her up, inadvertently stepping in her puke with my bare feet.  I have her go to the toilet.  I don’t want to walk with the puke all over my feet…until I realize she is standing up straight at the toilet, puking everywhere but in the toilet…on the walls, on the carpet, etc.  I go to her, hold her puke-soaked hair back, lean her over and tell her to puke IN the toilet. 

When I look at the damage surrounding us, I feel like Eddie Murphy in the movie Daddy Day Care with the bathroom scene.  (On an aside – I bow down to all single parents or parents in which the other does not help with these matters, because I could not imagine having to clean up that mess by myself.  My husband scrubbed the bedroom carpet while I cleaned the bathroom floor and the kid!  This is definitely one of the realities of parenthood that you NEVER think about when you decide you want to have a baby.)

This morning, I thought we were safe from the stomach flu spreading through our family…until my neighbor texted me saying that the remaining 3 members of her family came down with it yesterday (two days after her first daughter had it).  So, of course, the panicky freak that I am, immediately comes to the conclusion that this is obviously one horridly contagious flu, not to mention horribly painful, and that it is going to go through the rest of my family.  Woohoo.

As the famous saying goes, one way or another, “this too shall pass”!!  

Ready for Spring,

Me

P.S. As I was getting ready to post this blog at midnight, my husband made the comment that we are done with this flu and we are not going to get it.  Literally 10 seconds later, daughter # 2 walks down the stairs and starts puking (in the toilet, thank you very much).  And then there were 3!  Let the games begin.

Motivational Moment:

I believe in spoiling yourself with little luxuries whenever you are able.  And it is known that I adore chocolate.  I recently checked out Seattle Chocolates website and fell in love with the Manifesto of the company (listed below).  Owner and CEO Jean Thompson has my utmost respect due to her love of chocolate as well as her understanding that it is “one of life’s fabulous little pleasures”.  J

Here is Seattle Chocolates Manifesto (as found here (link) on their website):

• We believe in surrounding yourself with things you love.
• We believe in licking the spoon.
• We believe in colorful moments and daydreams.
• We believe that looks DO matter.  (SG: Don’t even get me started on going gray naturally…)
• We believe a little bit of indulgence every day is the way to go.
• We believe that truffles help people live in the moment.
• We believe laughter is life’s best accessory – makes you sexy and goes with every single thing in your closet.
• We believe giving something beautiful makes you feel all that!

Jean and Seattle Chocolates – thank you for your outlook on life as well as your love of chocolate!

Wishing all of you plenty of luxuries and pleasures that help you get through this cold (and flu-ridden) winter!  SG

The Art of Survival

The Art of Survival.  This phrase is said near the end of the movie American Hustle and I find it to be an apt representation of life.  Isn’t this what the majority of us do, day in and day out – survive?  And the “Art” of that survival is what makes us interesting and unique; it defines our time here on earth.

At this time of year, I particularly feel like our goal is to survive the flu season.  Everywhere on the news (as well as from those around you), you hear about the flu spreading at alarming levels.  Being the anxiety freak that I am, it reminds me of the mantra: “Lions, and Tigers, and Bears, Oh My!”, except my mantra is: “Stomach Flu, Respiratory Flu, and Strep Throat, ACK!”.  But here’s the thing, the flu season happens every year.  Every. Single. Year.  It takes away a lot of the fear and panic, knowing that we survive this every year and it does not mean the end of civilization as we know it (despite all the scare in the media).

Seasonal illnesses aside, we all have very serious challenges to face at some point in our journey; no one gets through this life free of trials and tragedies.  It boggles my mind when I think of how many hardships people have to survive throughout their lives, such as: deaths, divorce, job loss, money hardships, serious illnesses, as well as addictions.  And the older you get, the more of a survivor you are, the more loss you have endured or witnessed.  It is a shame that the elderly are not held in higher regard in this country; they should be honored and have amazing privileges (the least of which should be excellent health care coverage) for being the survivors that they are! 

There are many diverse survival tactics that get people through their individual life’s journey.  Everyone knows people who have healthy ways of surviving as well as those who have unhealthy ways.  Those struggling with addictions to drugs and alcohol have a very difficult survival; whereas those with healthier tactics, such as a passion for something they love (exercising, reading, cooking, etc.), have an easier survival.  But no matter what your tools are, life can sometimes feel like you are merely surviving the daily drudgeries.  This is where I struggle.  Life isn’t all about good times and having fun.  There are many times when life seems to be endless days of work, housework, raising kids, dealing with illnesses, and being tired.  Apparently those with a strong life’s purpose struggle a lot less.  I wish I could simply buy a ‘life’s purpose’ somewhere; that it was just that easy to find one.  From what I have read, it seems like people who have a strong religious or spiritual belief, have strong life purposes and feel very satisfied with their life’s journey.

One Art of Survival that we all share is Love.  It amazes me just how strong of a motivator this is in human beings.  And it is evident how powerful it is for all of us, by how much it is used as a theme, in everything, from songs, to advertisements, to television shows, movies, and books.  It is all around us, ever present in our everyday life.  Think about how many items are purchased for loved ones; love drives the economy.   And everyone needs love to flourish; we need that connection, that human interaction to thrive.  When people first meet a new love interest, they are literally on a high as if they are on a drug.  They are giddy with happiness and energetic and they see the world through rose-colored glasses.  And isn’t that amazing?  Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone could maintain that happy high?  What a friendlier world it would be!  And outside of romantic love, there is the powerful love between family, such as between a parent and child, as well as between close friends.  It makes us more compassionate and kind towards others.  Love truly makes the world a better place for our survival of our time here.

May your survival tools contain love and laughter; may you have a strong passion; may you have a strong life’s purpose.

Surviving the Drudgeries,

Searching for a Purpose,

Me

Motivational Moment:

Today’s Moment is dedicated to my husband, Doug, who is an awesome dad to our three daughters. 

I came across this blog from a very cool, down-to-earth dad, Doyin Richards, via The Huffington Post.  Doyin posted a picture of him doing his daughter’s hair, which went viral.  Check out his inspiring response to all of the positive and negative feedback he received: Doyin Richards Blog