NST September 2024: A Turtle soap opera

DawnW

((Hugs)) @beanielou - hope you feel better soon.

apple_muncher

Take care, beanie. Those pesky bugs like to spread themselves around.

Today I am grateful for another day with some structure to it, for Pip having a good therapy session, for dh prepping tea, for a friend of pip's coming over for a few hours, for the passion flower flowers turning into fruit - are they edible???

apple_muncher

Scripting the Life Story in the present tense

Life coaches suggest that you write the script in the present tense.  Not as wishful thinking but as a live, palpable life that you are leading currently. It could be a personal achievement, a charitable act. Just word it as if it is actually happening.

“I am writing the first chapter of my book”; “ I am ordering fifteen cardigans to give to the orphanage”; “Having lost five kilograms by doing intermittent fasting, I am feeling so much better”; “I’ve volunteered to help at the home for senior citizens thrice a week for two hours”; I have fixed an appointment with the lawyer to understand the legal details of setting up my consultancy firm”.

Doing this helps in putting urgency and actuality in the script. Believing in your story and having faith in yourself is important. So what follows is to write the script details, such that you take small steps to reach the goal.

Some important actions in the process are –

• Cheer yourself on as you achieve small targets. The destination will not appear impossible to reach.
• Share your ideas with those who wish you well, understand you and will support you. It is most natural to have questions and fears and having supportive voices always helps.
• Ask yourself, if your story was offered to you to write a book, would it interest you? In other words does your own life interest you and does it seem interesting to you?
• Another question to ask is, “What would I not want to regret?” It helps in framing the episodes and filling in the details. An approximate timeframe for each episode is useful.

Given that life has a habit of throwing up surprises, it is essential that we do not get obsessed and fixated with our own script. We need to have the mental flexibility to tweak it as and when necessary. Remember, if we are the authors, we own it.

infinumgrowth.com

'does your own life interest you?'

weenancyinAmerica

As a horror story or as a happy fiction book? My life is tending to the horror story side at the moment. I would hate to write it up as it is. 

Betharooni

Had quite a busy day today, with a few calls regarding payments that Mum was making that needed to be moved over to my name and bank account now, taking some things I got for my team at work in when I went and had a coffee with my boss (which has declutter a tiny bit from my house) and a gig with a friend this evening. Am treating the gig as a bit of much needed self-care as I had a lovely time, caught up with my friend and it helped get me out of my brain a bit.

Tomorrow (or later today) have got boiler/CH service, a ton of phone calls and need to do some more washing and sort out all the washing that’s been done and hand out to put away. Also need to ponder what I’m going to do about work next week as I think I’m due back on Tuesday and will have a call with my boss on Friday to discuss.

NSD=1

@beanielou - hope you’re feeling better soon.

ditty1234

Hi grateful this morning as I had an email from an 'inside source' that a job I have applied for haven't shortlisted for interviews yet! Yesterday I spent all afternoon doom scrolling jobs as I thought I had not been selected, and I really want an interview. What a waste of time to worry so much. 
Yesterday evening I am grateful I convinced myself and ds2 and the girlfriend to go for a lake swim. It was a great refresh and reset. 
Happy Thursday everybody. 

grandmanerd

Hugs for beanie, betharooni and anyone who needs one. Yesterday started with me taking the green bin to the end of the backs for collection - the weather hasn't been great for tackling overgrown garden bits but I wanted the stuff that was in there gone. I then filled a small rubbish bag and got back to the end of the backs just before the binmen took the last black bin. Thanked them and had a chat with one of them (I had to sit on the concrete block before I could walk back).

Next I decided to tackle the bureau - unwanted stationery (record cards left over from doing the ex's albums) and books went on the charity pile. A pack of 6 light bulbs went in the space and other bits were shuffled along - it's not perfect but everything's easier to find and things I no longer need are ready to go out. Several boxes - like the one that held the 6 individually boxed light bulbs - were broken down for disposal. Pulled a large storage box out of the bureau cupboard and sorted through photographs, about 1/3 gone and will do more for my younger niece later.

Post came and then I had a text followed by a phone call from my bank. I needed to phone them anyway so it was another thing off my list. Reassuring phone call, I wasn't a nuisance, I was a victim of fraud and should feel free to phone whenever I noticed suspicious transactions. My throat was sore enough to take a tablet (they are very high sugar so I only use them if I really need to). That plus short afternoon and early evening naps helped with the soreness and swelling. Some small things went into bin bags, recycling bags and into their rightful places (vix for my chest on the couch next to me).

Took 2 books back to the library and picked more but returned home as I wasn't well enough to carry on to the Post Office to pay a bill. I brought a small wallet file with pockets downstairs and more than half of that can be discarded. I think I'm going to phone waste wizards and get rid of the accumulated stuff now and then gather stuff for another collection later. I've just ticked off several garden items that I should let go - the old water butt started to leak and I thought I would saw it in half to make two large planters but I haven't done it so far. I need to get more realistic and more ruthless about what I can do and stop letting old plans make me feel guilty.

I probably have about 6 bags worth of stuff to go to the cs so if I can persuade my wobbly legs to move, I'll do that. More OOD food items binned. Some were mum's, already OOD when she died (the food bank took most of the in date ones) and if I haven't used them by now I shouldn't think I'll be able to persuade myself to use them now.

Grateful for a good night's sleep (last few night's have been patchy), easy food (back on cheese spread on wraps and my hg tomatoes), good books (easy reading, nothing too worthy).

laura_lau

Have spent the last few days getting ready for the month. Looking at the topics for this month's challenge:

1. Health - I started in August with OH to change eating habits, reducing simple and complex sugars as a whole, I found that in just a couple of weeks of doing that my usual IBS symptoms that I have been battling ever since the age of 17 have subsided significantly, and so did the consequent inflammation of the joints. This month I want to continue that way and make it more of a lifestyle choice so that it can be maintained in the long term. I am also committing to moving more: seeing how much I am loving line dancing every Wednesday, I have decided to give up trying to do normal workouts, as they do not work for my brain, and have found short workouts that are repeated dance moves done in time with music, and so far I've been enjoying it. I will be reporting here when I do the workout. I don't want to add too much, as to not feel overwhelmed, so I will stick to these 2, and I will be mindful of any mental health benefits that will come with changing my eating habits and exercising.
2. Wealth - I have done my monthly assessment, and divided money into pots. At the end of August I made a big purchase (new mattress and bedframe with storage) which I had been postponing for way too long, and I found a great offer so I thought it would be a great time. While slowly repaying my debts I've been putting aside a small amount every month for the past year, in two different savings accounts, one easy access (only need 24 hours notice) and one fixed 1 year with a high percentage interest, which is going to mature at the end of September. Of that one, approximately half is going to go to the CC repayments, and half I was planning to keep aside for the house renovations. However, since the new bed is arriving in October, I need to do a couple of changes around the bedroom to make space for it, so I am planning to do a small renovation just for the bedroom, using the remaining amount from the account maturing in September. On another note, I'm well ahead with "that day in December", having purchased a few useful things at the last sample sale offered by my company, I sepnt a very little amount and have a bag full of things I know are useful and/or desired by the few people in my life whom I want to share gifts with. The only expenses that I still have to budget for are something for my nephew (he's 7) and for my godson (he's 1 and a half) and his brother-to-be who is due early December. I have already knitted a beautiful pair of bloomers and I want to make a pair of baby booties and, if I have time, a matching hat. I already have all the yarn I need, so it's only going to be an investment in time. Finally, I am planning 15 NSD in September, as I have a couple of short holidays coming up, as I haven't been on holiday this year yet. It's a few days in Italy to spend with my stepson and then a few days on the mountains with my mum, if everything goes well at her September health check. Then later on I have a long weekend with a friend in York and then I'm going for the weekend in Ireland to visit my friend and godson and then I'm going to Sweden later on to visit another friend. All flights booked on a budget, and accommodation needed only for the first two. Looking forward to be able to unwind a bit, which brings us to the next point, 
3. Life well-lived - as mentioned, from now till the end of year I have a few long weekends booked, mainly to reconnect with friends and family while also leaving the daily worries behind. My intention for these trips is to not stress ahead of time (I always worry too much about the weather, about what the flight is going to be like, about the people, about all the unknown etc etc) so I just want to go with the flow and fully enjoy the experience, trying to find some good moments in doing the things I like the least (for example flying, I hate it, but I can make that forced time in an enclosed space as a much needed "me time", where I will not have anyone disturb me and where I can finally be alone with my thoughts and enjoy a good book or watch a show I want to catch up with). The house is another big point for me: I've been living in this flat for 3 years now and I've been planning and budgeting to finally do some much needed works to improve our life in this space and make it more fit to our needs, and this month I will be working towards that, which is going to bring up some expense but hopefully most (if not all) of it will be covered by the few savings as mentioned above. While planning and working to prepare for the works I will have to empty the room and move things around the flat, so I will mindfully also declutter and get rid of things that are really not needed or not used. At the same time, every time I go to my mum's house I will also have to do that in my childhood bedroom, as I started in August while I was there, but most of the work still needs to be done, as time is ticking and the few months we have before having to leave the house will pass very quickly, I already know that.

Today I am grateful for a new month starting, for the holidays planned ahead, and for finally being able to start planning some of the needed renovations in the flat.

Today is NSD #2!

abundant1972

Evening everyone 🌒

Busy few days with one thing and another. Still trying to get into good habits and be a little more sociable. Yesterday I skipped the gym but had a friend over, which was good. Decided I need to go with the flow - and I made up for it with some exercise today. Watching what I am eating and trying to eat healthy nourishing food. 

Enjoyed the post about monotony apple. My life has slipped into a routine of staying home, playing games and watching tv or reading (with the odd gym visit). Will have to think of some exciting things to do. I think when my job is sorted and my health episode behind me - hopefully the dust will settle and I will see a way forwards. 

Today I am grateful for:

1) Exercising
2) Local supermarkets supplying fresh food
3) An unexpected refund.

03rd and 04th both NSDs. Today = spend day
NSDs = 3 so far.

Have a lovely evening everyone x 

beanielou

Still feeling dire.  Have found a COVID test.  Will do shortly /