The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Greetings Family it has been a while. So this year I went back to school and wow my first exams are around the corner. The littlest ones have started school and are happy and we moved back to the home land. That's been a trip and a half but a really good one. If all goes to plan i should graduate at 40, wow I can' t believe I'm edging over that half of my thirties!! It's great except that in a lot of ways I really still feel exactly the way I did in my head 20 years ago and that really blows my mind. Because aren't we supposed to have it all sorted out by now? Lol. I will be a work in progress until my last breath I suspect. I am really grateful for all the years in "the desert" so to speak, raising little kids alone was like groundhog day and i seriously felt that this was the rest of my life forever, there would be no coming back. Surprise! It was meant to be because that miserable existence snaps at my heels with every tutorial and assignment i do not wish to complete. So overall, life is the same but I am not and that is a good thing. There are moments of happy and moments of tiredness and moments of anxiety but no desire to cling to any one state. It has been a huge adjustment though, paring right down to basics, little disposable income, no shopping, I make my own coffee (which I actually enjoy) and handwashing clothes in the bathtub because washing machines are a ridiculous amount of money I would rather spend on food. We couldn't ship our furniture over so the kids have had to go through a huge lifestyle change but I am so proud of them because they never complain and are actually very happy to be part of a community and to enjoy nature and social connections not possible in their country of birth. I will be releived to graduate though because I do not intend this to be a permanent state of affairs. For now, it is good for us and I am trusting in doing the next right thing come what may. There is so much to be grateful for. Love and peace to all.
So good to see this update, and congratulations on finishing exams! That's a huge accomplishment, I think, even though it happens every term. I love your line about trusting in doing the next right thing. It's just what I needed to read/see/hear tonight!
__________________
Skorpi
If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present. - Lao Tzu
Hi A41 missed you. Thanks for the inspiring update. I am happy that you have developed the courage and wisdom to take the next right action and continue to keep showing up by putting one foot in front of the other.
Positive thoughts and prayers for you and your entire little family. Please do keep us updated/
i have always have said that life started to make sense at 40 and it became more clear at 50 and better at 60 . You are on the same schedule as I.
Hi A41. You sure made me smile with your share. Add to that Skorpi and HR and...a good way to start the morning! I've had my share of washing clothes in the bathtub and it never hurt my kids a bit! The age thing.......HR couldn't have said it more perfectly! We don't live in the past but if I sum it all up, I would go back to the my late 40s and hang there LOL. I cannot imagine carrying full credits these days. I am in ONE class and it's a challenge in timing of each day. There are others older than I (60 coming up this year) who go back to school. Those credits are a bit too heavy these days and I just want to say "way to go!!!!"
Good to see you again A41 - lovely, lovely honest update and great share. I too congratulate you on the schooling and all that's going on. I too will be a work in progress until my last breathe and I think that's what I am supposed to be! Hope you find time to stop by more often - you have been missed! (((Hugs)))
__________________
Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
. You are on the same schedule as I.