Uncomplicated boredom

I was bored at work today. Not sad, or lacking confidence. Just common or garden bored.

It's quite nice

Climbing a rope ladder

Recently I went with my daughter and a friend to Go Ape. I hadn't considered I'd be afraid but as we moved onto the first off ground activity I was filled by with trepidation... The rope ladder.
I've had anxious dreams of these, clinging on swinging and afraid.
As I was suddenly faced with this reality I gritted my teeth and climbed. Not as bad as the dream but unpleasant. I did it for my child and told myself each run, I don't like this. I don't have to do this, I'm not going to keep doing this.
I did, of course and I climbed the next 8.
The reward was experiencing something special with my child and the zip wire at the end of each section.

This week I've had a similar experience of this trip. Elements​ of it have been less than fun.

It's made me realise how much I like to do these things with people, with my family.

Karen Country Club

A number of firsts for me over the last 24 hours.
- flying on my own
- riding in a golf cart
- watching men play golf while sipping lemonade
- being in a Country Club

None of this would be happening if I'd even been 10% more content at work. If life hadn't gradually started to make me feel sad, most of the time.

Make lemonade

Forced sadness

It is that time of year. The memory of the years without him. Grief is often the empty gaps.
Self made grief is a hideous self harm.
And now I need to stop that.
I'm quitting work.
I'm leaving.
I'm stopping the self harm.
I feel so much better knowing I'm going. To the point where I'm sleeping better and I'm enjoying my free time.
I'm smiling and I'm not falling apart.
I haven't cried as much this week.

Let the fates decide

It's holiday time... I'm on holiday at the in-laws.
All very pleasant and relaxing.
I'm happy not to be at work and to be healthy at the same time. It feels like a long time since I've been well and now I'm here I'm having a bit of a re-think about my next few years.
VHL put me into a place where I was clear I didn't want to miss any life. My brother dying and his eulogy made me very determined to ensure I lived my life and didn't turn any opportunities down. Mostly that's always worked for me but lately I'm wondering if I've got the balance wrong.
That's probably got more to do with other life experiences and a freakish cyst around my brain tumour. I've said it before but I lay there, day after day, suffering in ways I can't describe and I didn't feel I regretted any choices I'd made.
I wasn't proud of everything I'd done, but I didn't regret it.
After being back at work and being back to my normal self I've been struck by how much I've let work consume me. People have seen my stress. I wonder if much of it is because they expect me not to be coping, that it is natural to be stressed. But truth be told I feel like there are other things I enjoy that I'm not getting the chance to do.
I love my job, I want to love it like I used to. That might mean taking a step back.
I'll let the fates decide... If I get on the course I'll do it. If I don't I'm not going to worry about it.
If I don't though, I'm going to have to get better at saying no.
If I'm guilty of being weak, then it's at saying no. I'm full.
Life work balance.