Last week, I had a moment.
One of those moments where you feel physically depleted and emotionally at your wit's end. It all bubbles up and then-waterworks.
I actually cried-over spilled milk.
Literally!
The details are not important, but needless to say it was one of those moments of "domestic bliss" that you see almost as a movie, in slow motion. Anyone who does not live alone surely recognizes those moments and those feelings.
But sometimes, I think what you need to do-is just to get it out of your system, and then carry on once again.
I'm most often the one giving pep talks to people, pointing out the positive-and I think that one of the reasons why people ask for my advice is because I take my own medicine.
After the spilled milk, and over the past few days, I have been making a conscious effort to remind myself of the many good things around me that I am grateful for and there are so many. There are the small things and the big picture things.
I got the kids out to camp-every day went smoothly. I made mango milkshakes that evening. My husband is able to be with his family in Israel to mark the memorial for his late brother, and my kids have been so good and so well behaved.
I was able to walk around in the blazing sun all week, not dependent on any technology-walking on my own two legs, breathing on my own, eating and drinking on my own-every part of my body working well. So many people cannot say the same-I am truly grateful for that.
I was able to buy delicious ingredients to make food for the Sabbath-everything is available in abundance in this country. I was able be on the other side of the phone for one of my oldest friends when her dad's health took a turn for the very worse, and I will be there by her side for the worst part as well. I'm blessed to have friends that I can support and who in turn, support me.
As the parent of a special needs child, I also need moments where I allow myself to be angry and sad that my child will never be fully independent, and that my nest will never be empty. To try to block that out would be artificial and counterproductive.
These are the ups and downs of life.
It's OK to cry even over spilled milk once in a while. But then you clean up the mess, take a deep breath and carry on.
It's OK to be momentarily angry about the things in life that are hard, challenging and exhausting, but it's not OK to nurse past grievances and to live in a perpetual state of frustration and chippy anger.
Trying to make the most of the present, living for the future and not in the past are the only answers.
Where do you live?
Today, a full day.
Sunshine.
Family.
Good health.
Birds chirping.
A few moments of quiet here and there.
A new week begins.
