Being Overwhelmed
Overwhelmed: One definition as a verb: "Bury or drown beneath a huge mass."
I always perceived the word to mean, "I give up because there is too much to do." I have always been buried beneath much more than one person could accomplish but I didn't drown. I didn't give up.
I did reach a point about 5 weeks before Ben died where I thought I couldn't take another step but I cried myself to sleep and when I woke up in the morning I was ready to go at it again. That week I had to leave him at the hospital for 3 days and I got some much needed rest. That got me through the last month of his life.
I look back even farther at being a parent of 4 children at seventeen years old and I had to be overwhelmed but I only knew it the day Ben's ex-wife tried to move in with us. I called my mother and she came and got her and took her away.
The day the Land Commander travel trailer fell off of the trailer hitch as I entered the black top was another time that I thought I couldn't do "it" by myself. Luckily I had put the chains on properly. I pulled over to the shoulder as soon as possible, sparks flying out behind as the trailer tongue dragged on the black top, but it was a blind corner. I called 911 twice and even though they knew my location, no one was sent to check on me. Both calls were ended due to poor service. I had a crying 8 year old grandson who was very upset with me because he was my helper and I wouldn't let him out of the truck. Ben could do nothing to help me. I finally decided to pretend I was hitching the trailer up as usual and with a few tweaks, the jack for the pick up, and a great deal of adrenaline I did my best to ignore the cars whipping past me because they didn't know I was around that corner. I got the trailer back on the hitch and with a cockeyed tilt to the entire thing we limped 10 miles up the road to a State Campground. Even though I called for help I didn't get it except from myself. This was the usual way things played out for me.
Right this very minute I am being drowned in dog farts. It is definitely causing me to get to my point more quickly and type a whole lot faster. Even though these fumes might overwhelm other people, I simply find it an annoyance, breathe more shallowly, and light a match a few times.
Today I was expecting a plumber. I didn't think too much about it until I was told that I would probably have a new toilet by this evening. When I got the call telling me the plumber wouldn't be here until tomorrow my heart sank and I lost some much needed energy with it. I pushed myself to paint objects I had set out to clean and paint and I pushed myself to move the laundry along and then dragged myself in here to my bed where I planned research a laundry hanging rack. I remembered that tomorrow is the first Thursday of the month and I felt my spirits rise as I opened this blog and began to type.
The reason I stick to this "Partners in Believing," Mastermind Meeting concept, even though I have morphed it into a blog is to PRACTICE motivational thinking. The key to my good attitude and successful forward movement in my life is due to my practices. I practice my spiritual routines several times daily. They don't require a set time. I practice sitting down and taking time for myself especially when I feel too bogged down. I practice by reaching out and helping those in need with my advice on one of those private Facebook pages. It is not a page of my creation but it is a topic that interests me. I practice, practice, practice. I bring my attention to improving my attitude as often as I can. One of the most important practices that I lag at frequently is to list my accomplishments and take the time to look over them often. Each new accomplishment is to be added to the list.
I want to hear about your experiences with being overwhelmed and how you stepped up to the plate and overcame the moment.
Sincerely, Carmen
I always perceived the word to mean, "I give up because there is too much to do." I have always been buried beneath much more than one person could accomplish but I didn't drown. I didn't give up.
I did reach a point about 5 weeks before Ben died where I thought I couldn't take another step but I cried myself to sleep and when I woke up in the morning I was ready to go at it again. That week I had to leave him at the hospital for 3 days and I got some much needed rest. That got me through the last month of his life.
I look back even farther at being a parent of 4 children at seventeen years old and I had to be overwhelmed but I only knew it the day Ben's ex-wife tried to move in with us. I called my mother and she came and got her and took her away.
The day the Land Commander travel trailer fell off of the trailer hitch as I entered the black top was another time that I thought I couldn't do "it" by myself. Luckily I had put the chains on properly. I pulled over to the shoulder as soon as possible, sparks flying out behind as the trailer tongue dragged on the black top, but it was a blind corner. I called 911 twice and even though they knew my location, no one was sent to check on me. Both calls were ended due to poor service. I had a crying 8 year old grandson who was very upset with me because he was my helper and I wouldn't let him out of the truck. Ben could do nothing to help me. I finally decided to pretend I was hitching the trailer up as usual and with a few tweaks, the jack for the pick up, and a great deal of adrenaline I did my best to ignore the cars whipping past me because they didn't know I was around that corner. I got the trailer back on the hitch and with a cockeyed tilt to the entire thing we limped 10 miles up the road to a State Campground. Even though I called for help I didn't get it except from myself. This was the usual way things played out for me.
Right this very minute I am being drowned in dog farts. It is definitely causing me to get to my point more quickly and type a whole lot faster. Even though these fumes might overwhelm other people, I simply find it an annoyance, breathe more shallowly, and light a match a few times.
Today I was expecting a plumber. I didn't think too much about it until I was told that I would probably have a new toilet by this evening. When I got the call telling me the plumber wouldn't be here until tomorrow my heart sank and I lost some much needed energy with it. I pushed myself to paint objects I had set out to clean and paint and I pushed myself to move the laundry along and then dragged myself in here to my bed where I planned research a laundry hanging rack. I remembered that tomorrow is the first Thursday of the month and I felt my spirits rise as I opened this blog and began to type.
The reason I stick to this "Partners in Believing," Mastermind Meeting concept, even though I have morphed it into a blog is to PRACTICE motivational thinking. The key to my good attitude and successful forward movement in my life is due to my practices. I practice my spiritual routines several times daily. They don't require a set time. I practice sitting down and taking time for myself especially when I feel too bogged down. I practice by reaching out and helping those in need with my advice on one of those private Facebook pages. It is not a page of my creation but it is a topic that interests me. I practice, practice, practice. I bring my attention to improving my attitude as often as I can. One of the most important practices that I lag at frequently is to list my accomplishments and take the time to look over them often. Each new accomplishment is to be added to the list.
I want to hear about your experiences with being overwhelmed and how you stepped up to the plate and overcame the moment.
Sincerely, Carmen
Oh my dear Carmen...you clearly are one of the strongest women I've even known and will probably ever know. For this I thank you! I find myself thinking what on earth could I write that wouldn't sound shallow in comparison to your ongoing "overwhelming challenges" you've written about here! I know you established this group to share and for us to support each of us but honestly I find myself thinking that there is nothing I've ever faced as challenging as what you have faced in your life. I truly dont mean that as anything negative... I just want to say that I am certain now that God put you in my life to keep reminding me how fortunate I am in SO many ways. Yes, it's been hard for me at times but my "hard" is SO different from yours and yet you remain SO positive and supportive to anyone and everyone in your view! You "ground" me in ways I'd never know without knowing you. For this I'm truly grateful and blessed to know you! Again thank you for your strength, your positive attitude, your compassion, your zest for life and commitment to all of us! Love you! 😘💞❤💞
ReplyDeleteThank you, Unknown. I love you too.
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