“I’ve Been Thinking…”
May 26, 2011 § 1 Comment
…a common Polly phrase that often elicits chuckling, eye-rolling, and “uh oh’s” from the familia. I believe this is because of what typically follows such a Polly utterance – a plan.
shethinksthenscoops
I suppose I am famous (in my family) for my plans. It is my sincere hope that the plethora of plans I typically make are ones that my fellow-family-members find enjoyable (if I am having a good day, I get at least one person with an outburst of genuine excitement at my idea; on a bad-day – silencia).
Now the plans that have gone down well in the past include fun activities such as a movie-going expedition, going for a walk in the fresh-air, playing a board game or something equally neat. I have also learned that, with my at home British team in particular, if Polly includes food somewhere in the plan then she is statistically more likely to get a positive response. Not that my British lot are big eaters. Oh wait. We are.
Still, I enjoy planning. I self-define as a Planner.
Unfortunately, there is a rather unpleasant side-effect to Polly’s Planning: what if the plan fails?
Here is an area of my personal human experience that I am actively developing: coping mechanisms for the times when something untoward or unexpected happens to a plan. Now, I am about 85% better with this stuff than I used to be (read: tears before bedtime…). But I am not ‘cured’ by any means.
Case in point – this house sale situation (we are in month FOUR of the proceedings). If you recall, since the start of February, when my husband and I agonized over the decision to (try and) sell our lovely cute home and move – we have been in: 1) is this really the right decision land; 2) yes, it is land; 3) we live in a show home land; 4) offer back-and-forth drama land; 5) pacing up and down and the deal is 99% done but then we have last minute dragged-out drama again land; and 6) will it ever end (Polly is living here right now) land.
It’s important to note that The Husband deals with this stuff differently (and, dare I say, tremendously). As such he is my inspiration and mentor in forging a new Polly Planning ‘when it goes slightly or even completely array’ Path.
My current health status is a classic example. Yesterday, my whole body felt like it was at the end of tether and so physically exhausted that I went to bed at EIGHT.
Oddly, I realize that stress-causing topics are not literally ‘on my mind;’ I seem quite capable of mentally side-stepping stressful issues to keep them out of my conscious brain. I am still productive in my workplace (at least no complaints thus far) and willingly giggle away with my husband while watching the latest Sopranos DVD at night. If you walk up and ask me about the house sale; you will receive a lengthy pause while I try to recall the current state of house affairs (not because I am about to cry due to your uttering the word ‘house’ within my earshot but because I have to dig deep to recall the latest house-related scoop).
Yet, with its tense muscular structure, physical exhaustion, increased desire to be asleep, and compounded hormonal issues; my body (and its associated cells) are anything but detached, stress or care-free. This needs serious attention. As someone who also self-defines as a wanna-be health nut; I am a contradiction. Health-wise, I am doing a lot well, but ‘stress’ (with its hazardous implications for our human bodies) not so much.
Time to take action. Time for a….. plan?
Yes. I have been thinking and I do have a new plan: regardless of where I am literally residing next week (current homeowner occupied or new rental near a beach); I am going to focus my energies on being stress-free (or at least stress-reduced) once more.
I want to be able to answer the following question with confidence and experience on my side: “Now, Polly, tell me. How do you successfully manage any stress that crops up in your world? After all, you clearly have proven techniques so you better gimme some, or else.”
[...] learned much through this thing both from a Real Estate perspective as well as an (aforementioned/click here) personal health perspective. I must give the warmest, kindest, and appreciative acknowledgement to [...]