Some years seem to drag on forever, not this one. It’s gone by so fast. I turned 45 last month and got a bunch of houseplants so I can earn my Indoor Gardener badge from the Rebel Badge Club. We’ve made good progress on our homeschooling so far this year, and where I’m nowhere near where I wanted to be on any of my goals, progress has been made in all areas – and with a year like the one I’ve had, that’s something, isn’t it?
A Brief Recap of the Year
January started out with me being sick. And honestly, I feel like I’ve been sick for the entire year. We still don’t know how I got COVID in January or March. When I tested positive in January, I hadn’t left the house in over a month. In March, I had, but I’d been wearing the good mask. In July when, yes, I got it again thanks to picking it up somewhere, at least I’d been doing things? I don’t know. Then I had it twice in one month in November. I had it in Asearly November, then tested positive the 30th after my in-laws tested positive.
If you’ve kept count. I’ve tested positive 5 times, and had my first infection in 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic. Yes, I’m vaccinated and boosted. My body just seems to not have gotten the memo to make any antibodies for it at all. Thankfully, this most recent time has been very mild, and had I not lost my sense of smell, I’d have thought I just had overdone it on doing all the things.
But wait! There’s more. My mom passed away in June. My inlaws have their health issues, but at least they’re back home and close by so they can get their fill of the grand kids and we can make memories while we can. My dad has his health issues, my younger brother is being caretaker. It’s… it’s a lot, I’ll be honest, so I’ve invested a lot in self-care. Which brings me to my next “thing.”
Self-Care Isn’t Just About the Smelly-Good Stuff in a Tub
I mean it’s nice to sit in a hot bath with bath oils and stuff, but that’s not what self-care is about. It’s about finding things that bring you joy and finding out what *you* need in order to be able to decompress more. As a homeschooling parent, it’s about letting go of the extra stuff…the stuff that is nice but not necessary. As a Girl Scouts troop leader, it’s about realizing that simple meetings and activities are often the favorite activities. As a human it’s about realizing that done is better than perfect and that progress is better than no movement.
Self-care is about allowing space for grace – grace for one’s self. My most annoying symptom from COVID is always brain fog and fatigue. I’ve learned that I have to go into complete rest mode or it’s like a concussion… or mono… it just prolongs it if I try to push through. Years ago, I perfected the art of not injuring myself or dropping my donut or coffee when I slipped on black ice walking to class. The trick was in not fighting the fall.
Self-care is about giving yourself the space to get back on track.
Here I am, Getting Back on Track
I’m digging out from digging out at the moment. I have a very long list of reviews I need to get up, roundups I wanted to put together, and other things, so in the coming weeks, brace yourself. Reviews and other posts are coming. It’s my December goal to be able to start the new year with a mostly clean slate.
How has your year been?
