Hi there,
As you know, I just moved across the country. It would be an understatement to say that it has been a MAJOR stress on our whole family. We're reinventing the wheel, basically. Trying to find our way around a new town, finding new doctors, classes, restaurants, stores, and everything else. Finding new rhythms, new friends, new ways of doing things. Instead of moving forward with goals like: writing a novel, teaching the kids French, and making homemade holiday gifts... we're pretty much just coping. We're helping the kids with all the changes, and making time to process it ourselves. It's hard, but necessary.
So... pretty much everything else has gone to hell in a hand-basket! I'm trying to be satisfied with making sure everyone eats, is relatively clean, and has something useful to do every day. Beyond that, I suck at everything: writing, blogging, exercising...
I didn't do NaNoWriMo. I had such grand visions for myself! But I realized a few days into November that I needed to keep my focus on my family. I felt like this wonderful magic train was racing by... I could feel the wind it was generating, and hear some of the music and laughing voices inside, but I just couldn't get on it. Not this year.
But it's OK! The beauty is that I know I did the right thing. And I am slowly getting my groove back. We are building a new life, and that takes time. In addition to all the challenges, there have already been lots of blessings: my husband loves his new job. We love our new home and our new neighbors. Everyone is healthy. And the sun is shining today!
Anyone else out there going through big transitions? If you are, hang in there. Know that you have my compassion. I'm trusting that all this will be a catalyst for growth and positive changes.
Take care, everybody! I'll check in again soon.
I'm sorry I'm laughing right now, but this morning was one of those times I called out to the sky, "Aagh! I suck at everything!" (Only I have no excuse for it!) But it's good to know I'm not alone--and the sun IS shining.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your life for what it is now--and force yourself to smile when you fail, because then you can look back at that moment with happiness.
And remember that the rest of the world probably sees you as an overachiever being normal for once, not as someone who sucks at anything! :)
It was so good to meet you in Princeton!! I hope we'll see each other in person again sometime!
:hugs: Been there. When I packed up everything and moved from Michigan to Florida, it was a shock to the system. Finding a new school, new doctors, even a new job. It sounds like you have a great attitude, though. You hang in there, too.
ReplyDeleteFaith ~ Thank you so much! I appreciate the way you always seem to "get it." It was fantastic to meet you and (at least part of) your family in Princeton. That was such a great coincidence! We must do it again sometime. : )
ReplyDeleteB.E. ~ Thanks for the hugs! It is a crazy-huge transition. I have to take it in bite-sized pieces. I appreciate the empathy. : )
You are GREAT, Molly. I know you very well, and I can't think of anything you suck at! Hang in there and keep being you, and everything will turn out well. :)
ReplyDeleteLove ya!
I understand! That's how I felt (for a year) when we moved back to the States from China. Everything overwhelmed me. I felt like I was saying "no" to everything because I just couldn't handle more than the basics. It does get better (and hopefully a cross-country move will be easier on you than a cross-Pacific move) - and you've made the right decision to focus on your family. There'll always be a NaNo next year. Or NaNo in January. :)
ReplyDeleteI sooooo feel for you, Molly. It is so, so, much work to move (and the hardest work often doesn't even revolve around the physical moving of one's stuff). I'm getting ready to move back to the States again soon and although I'm excited for it, I just feel like sighing a lot when I think of all the work involved in the transition. Hang in there!
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