In the wise words of Liz Lemon, "Sometimes, things are just the worst." That's a great description of how it feels to be going through a really difficult season of life. Sometimes, things just suck and its annoying when people try to tell you that your painful experience is actually a super positive thing because blah blah blah. I'm not saying difficult seasons don't have their awesome moments because they do, but I am saying, please don't oversimplify someones dark time by telling them to focus on all the positive things just because you feel uncomfortable with people suffering. If you are suffering, it is okay to feel not okay. It is okay to be sad and to not be able to think of something nice to say about your life. It is also okay to feel joyful amidst all the awfulness. Basically, whatever you feel, it is okay. I think people do more harm than good when they refuse to acknowledge their feelings of defeat or despair or whatever because they don't want to seem like a 'negative person.' Positive moments just don't seem to mean as much if you haven't also experienced some negative moments. God is good all the time, but life is not and that is okay.
Anyways, now my rant is over. Here's a super awesome list of things that have helped me cope during this season:
1. Binge watching TV shows on netflix - (current favorites: Scrubs-the JD and Elliott love story never get old to me, Orange is the New Black-at least I'm not in prison, True Detective- the darkness of the character's lives make me feel better in some twisted way...) I mostly watch TV while I pump because pumping is really boring and can be sad when you don't have your baby at home with you so its nice to have a distraction.
2. Mini Frappuccinos from Starbucks- I like to call them Preemie-cinnos. :)
3. Dustin- He's essentially the best human on earth and I don't know how I could go through this experience without him. Oh, he is also the best dad to Adah and it will melt your heart to see them together some day.
4. Friends that make me laugh- Oh, Lord, I love being able to laugh right now. Its extremely healing. I love, love, love that I have some wonderfully hilarious friends in my life that I can talk to about serious stuff or I can talk to them about re-writing TLC's No Scrubs song to be about babies wearing scrubs. :), or talk about the wide variety of water bottles available, or make up awesome ethnic nicknames like Clover and Sauerkraut. Good friends are such a gift.
5. Family- Family is the best, man. I am fortunate to have a great family and in-law family. They are so precious to me.
6. Being an SLP- Knowing what I know about pediatric feeding disorders and the potential long-term effects of prematurity on development and communication is not always a positive. However, it is nice to know things that can combat those potential negative long term effects and its also nice to be familiar with how to not force feed your baby and things like that.
7. People watching at the hospital- The hospital is an amazing place to people watch. I am always wondering what people's stories are and sometimes people are just so outgoing that they go ahead and tell me some of their life story as we ride the elevator to our prospective destinations.
8. Low Expectations=High Joy- This is a saying that someone told me a long time ago and I have found it to be so helpful. If you go into a situation trying to not have high expectations, or just setting your expectations low, chances are you will find more joy from the situation because your expectations have been exceeded. I know that may sound really cynical and pessimistic but it has helped me 'stay positive!':)
Anyways, now my rant is over. Here's a super awesome list of things that have helped me cope during this season:
1. Binge watching TV shows on netflix - (current favorites: Scrubs-the JD and Elliott love story never get old to me, Orange is the New Black-at least I'm not in prison, True Detective- the darkness of the character's lives make me feel better in some twisted way...) I mostly watch TV while I pump because pumping is really boring and can be sad when you don't have your baby at home with you so its nice to have a distraction.
2. Mini Frappuccinos from Starbucks- I like to call them Preemie-cinnos. :)
3. Dustin- He's essentially the best human on earth and I don't know how I could go through this experience without him. Oh, he is also the best dad to Adah and it will melt your heart to see them together some day.
4. Friends that make me laugh- Oh, Lord, I love being able to laugh right now. Its extremely healing. I love, love, love that I have some wonderfully hilarious friends in my life that I can talk to about serious stuff or I can talk to them about re-writing TLC's No Scrubs song to be about babies wearing scrubs. :), or talk about the wide variety of water bottles available, or make up awesome ethnic nicknames like Clover and Sauerkraut. Good friends are such a gift.
5. Family- Family is the best, man. I am fortunate to have a great family and in-law family. They are so precious to me.
6. Being an SLP- Knowing what I know about pediatric feeding disorders and the potential long-term effects of prematurity on development and communication is not always a positive. However, it is nice to know things that can combat those potential negative long term effects and its also nice to be familiar with how to not force feed your baby and things like that.
7. People watching at the hospital- The hospital is an amazing place to people watch. I am always wondering what people's stories are and sometimes people are just so outgoing that they go ahead and tell me some of their life story as we ride the elevator to our prospective destinations.
8. Low Expectations=High Joy- This is a saying that someone told me a long time ago and I have found it to be so helpful. If you go into a situation trying to not have high expectations, or just setting your expectations low, chances are you will find more joy from the situation because your expectations have been exceeded. I know that may sound really cynical and pessimistic but it has helped me 'stay positive!':)
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