NST September 2024: A Turtle soap opera

apple_muncher

99 sleeps to go...

f0xh0les

Double figures!!! and I haven't even started on the mulled wine yet!

Not got a single selection box in the house, no mice pies, no tinsel, but I was in a pub last week with tinsel and baubles in the window, but they were advertising their C-word event, was still annoying though.

I am enjoying asking people if they have finished their shopping yet, though, but purely out of badness.

hummingbird15

I would hope no mice pies @f0xh0les hehe 😋 

I haven't anything 'in stock' yet either but did pick up a couple gift card card things the other day and my first christmas present was purchased in May 😆😆

Didn't manage an NSD today as we needed cheese and yoghurt but I did stick to my very small shopping list so giving myself a pat on the back for that. 
Have also listed a more expensive item on Ebay so keeping fingers crossed I can make a sale and another dent on the credit card. 

Grateful today for my friend who came round to 'work from home' alongside me 😁

Shrewbie

Happy belated anniversary @apple_muncher!! I need to catch up with posts! 

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for picking another big bowl of rasps, for dh picking up Pip and me from the station, for setting up a small savings account with my bank, for sorting out the child benefit and that now being up to date, for a lovely message from an old friend.

beanielou

Lovely day here. ☀️🤩
Good physio session. 

Cat cuddles 😻😻

apple_muncher

How do we go about building self awareness?

The following are nine steps that can help in improving one’s self awareness.

1.Identify behaviour patterns–

To start with, it is important to identify issues we often get confronted with; and seem to be bogged down with.

• Do we see issues which are repetitive?
• Do we always have similar reactions to the issues?
• Are the issues resolved always in one particular way?
• Or do issues remain unresolved each time?

2. Identify typical thoughts and feelings–

• What are the things that make us happy?
• What do we get disturbed, irritated or angry with frequently?
• What often generates fear within us ?
• What makes us sad?
• What makes us happy and content?

3. Finding the root cause of the behaviour patterns–

• Take each key behaviour pattern and reflect back on when it may have started; what experience triggered it.
• Dispassionately analyse the old experience- be it something with parents or others; accept for what it is and work to move on from there.

4. Identify life goals and aspirations-

• What are our immediate and long term goals in life?
• Can we identify our own behaviour traits that have stopped us from achieving these?
• What changes do we want to bring about to go further?

5. Write out a plan

Work out how you would like to bring about changes in the way you act and react, as well as in the specific direction one would want to move ahead.

6. As a part of developing self awareness, learn to become mindful–

• Be conscious of the present, knowing well that we need to be observant about every situation and
• Consciously change the way we respond. This will ensure the plan we made is actually implemented.

7. Share your concerns with someone

People close to us and who wish well for us, are the best people to share our concerns with; and take feedback as we work to bring about change.

8. Building self awareness is a continuous learning process

• Read articles and watch videos on topics related to human behaviour, mindfulness, relationships
• Attend training programs which help in introspection and behavioural skills
• Observe others, analyse characters in films, to understand human behaviour better.

9. Take Professional help

Lastly, if there are some difficulties in understanding yourself or others; or in bringing change, do not hesitate or feel awkward in taking professional help. Counsellors, Therapists and Life Coaches can help cross the bridge.

The earlier this exercise of building self awareness starts in life, the longer its impact on the overall sense of satisfaction and fulfilment.

infinumgrowth.com

The last line made me giggle - the author must be quite young to write something like that! You can build self-awareness at any time of life!

laura_lau

I'm back from my short holiday! We were back on Monday night (very late) and yesterday I was in the office, it was a bit tough but it went ok. We were doing a team afternoon volunteering at a local food bank, and we all loved it. It would be nice if we could dedicate a couple of hours regularly as a team, how good would that be!

Holiday went really well, although weather was horrible. We still had a good time, and my stepson was super happy, which is what counts. 

The renovation of the bedroom has officially started. New radiator has arrived last week, new floor should arrive tomorrow, I ordered more stick and peel paint samples, and OH has demolished the cupboard walls and started ripping up the carpet. He needs to finish ripping it up tonight and then it's all ready for the builder to arrive tomorrow, They will rebuild the wall without cupboard, remove the old radiator and install the new one, prep the walls, put the new floor down. They are estimating 2 days, so hopefully they have estimated right, so they will be gone before the weekend.

I also ordered a fabric sample of the bed, so once the floor is down it will be easier to choose the paint. I know I want it white, keep it simple, plus it's a small space with low ceiling and white is the best choice, but I found out there's so many whites! I don't want to get the wrong one, so I will take a few days before getting the paint. We do have time, as the bed will be delivered on the 21st October, so that's fine.

I've just finished working for the day, I am going to take the dog out and then get ready for tomorrow, another day at the office. I've spent slightly above budget during the holiday, so I need to be careful until the end of the month. Today was NSD #6.

Today (and the past few days) I am grateful for spending some nice time away with OH and Stepson (who is more of a DS, so I'll call him that from now), for OH being knowledgeable about building works and be able to prep the room ahead of the works, and for finally being able do a first little renovation.

Thrifty_Taylor

NSD#9

Been a busy few days. Managed to take the dismantled settee to the dump before work yesterday. Saw someone selling coal on a local page, at a slightly cheaper price than the merchants, so collected that after tea. Shortened another 3 items after that, so maybe only 12/11 left to do for the one customer... 

Making progress outside, DH has finished the wood store, & today been on top of the shed to seal the roof. Been a scorcher all day, so the towels in the line are bone dry 

DS3 is enjoying his apprenticeship so far, gas 2 weeks of college after this week.

Glad you've had a good day @beanielou.

Grateful for a better morning, a sunny day, getting lots done, laughter

grandmanerd

I'm still slower than a snail wading through treacle and sleeping an awful lot (think that's just minor infections but aware that it could be a dip in my mental health. However I'm keeping going and concentrating on what has been done and not what is still to do.

Yesterday had another visit from a council worker - pleased with my efforts to clean the rubbish from the yard and backs but also offering more help. I am beyond shame, I'm happy to let some people into my house even though it's in a total mess. I'm not coping, I've needed a new kitchen for six years (but only had the money for two). I've struggled with housework for 6 or 7 years - it was a blow when I could no longer clean the windows (my alternative method took a whole day to do one window).

 I might be approaching the point where I could have an understanding cleaner (just for my downstairs) and the man will probably refer me to social services (I had an early intervention visit a couple of years ago but I lost the link for sympathetic cleaners during one of my many phone swaps - I've kept the same phone number but data has been lost).

Listing all the stuff that has come in during the past 2 and a 1/2 years (mum stuff, ex's stuff - boys inheritance) and all the junk that other people didn't want or that I've been afraid of letting go. He understood about either myself or DS3 and Beloved needing to move out - his daughter and her bf moved in 'temporarily' and are still living with him 4 years on.

Anyway, feeling a bit more hopeful (though need to motivate DS3 and Beloved). I did ask if he could gently ask Beloved to stop buying things (I know it's a trauma response to feeling insecure, building  a wall of possessions around yourself) but he's said I must do it (he just feels stuck between us).

Progress - I put the blue (paper) bin out for collection on Tuesday night and asked DS3 to put the green (garden waste) bin out yesterday morning. I sorted through one of the bin bags Beloved had thrown down - it was mostly cans and paper but I've given up on the second (very smelly - pulled a few cans out and then tied it back up very firmly). Took 3 books back to the library and food and toiletries to their food collection point. I went to B00ts for sandwiches (I've been craving a chicken and stuffing butty for days and couldn't get out of the house most of last week). I've used up fresh stuff and things I took out of the freezer and will take more out today - I have some breaded spheres which are either chicken or veggie 'no chicken' and somewhere (I had to put some things in their freezer) I have veggie sausages. I have a fresh cabbage and frozen mash which will go well with the sausages.

I had things for the cs which was on my route but thankfully left them at home - I was exhausted with what I did but very good for a first outing. I have a serious goal of being able to open the front room curtains. This would mean it being okay for people going past the house to see. That might have to be my end of the month goal. My interim goals are to clear the floors (particularly the kitchen) and work on the yard (making space so the available sunshine dries up the soil on the path and flags and getting to the right hand bed, covering it with weed proof membrane and then putting as many medium sized pots on top as there is room for). There's a nip in the air so I haven't got long. I have 2 bin bags which will probably not go in the bins next week. One is garden stuff (small squashed plant pots, broken seed trays and cardboard that is too dirty for the paper bin) and the other is similar items from the kitchen - no food waste but packaging, small broken items or too dirty to be worth cleaning. These will be kept on one side and added to the bins when there is spare capacity.

I'm not sure if I'm on target with any of this month's targets, getting rid of useless stuff cluttering up my life is my priority. I emptied the under the sink bucket (no drainage) and am ready to start on the washing up mountain. I'll get tired quickly as the bowl has to be taken outside to empty when the water goes too cold or dirty. I've decide all the crockery oddments are being donated, I'll just keep the white ones and my new (gifted) teal ones - I asked for white, they bought me teal.  They're beautiful but don't fit my 'simplicity' theme.

Grateful for helpful council workers, getting rid of stuff, more floor appearing.