Flourish

So, in the midst of my overly-stressed world, I am trying to focus on how I can become a better person. I am beginning with the book Flourish by Seligman which was given to me last Christmas by my co-madre. Recommended: take the Signature Strengths survey and then act upon it. Step one - here is the list of my top five strengths:

Your Top Strength

Love of learning -

You love learning new things, whether in a class or on your own. You have always loved school, reading, and museums-anywhere and everywhere there is an opportunity to learn.

Your Second Strength

Spirituality, sense of purpose, and faith -

You have strong and coherent beliefs about the higher purpose and meaning of the universe. You know where you fit in the larger scheme. Your beliefs shape your actions and are a source of comfort to you.

Strength #3

Appreciation of beauty and excellence -

You notice and appreciate beauty, excellence, and/or skilled performance in all domains of life, from nature to art to mathematics to science to everyday experience.

Strength #4

Gratitude -

You are aware of the good things that happen to you, and you never take them for granted. Your friends and family members know that you are a grateful person because you always take the time to express your thanks.

Strength #5

Kindness and generosity -

You are kind and generous to others, and you are never too busy to do a favor. You enjoy doing good deeds for others, even if you do not know them well.

Now, the task is to create a new way of using my strength and then write about the experience. I am resting today (very deliberately de-stressing) - it is still early in the afternoon and my focus is on accomplishing small things, one by one, to build up a feeling of accomplishment for myself. In the process, I will try to come up with something....

Anniversaries

This has been a rough couple of weeks. Fourteen days ago, I weighed in at 131 lbs. - for the past two days, I have weighed in at 123 lbs. stressed? Oh no, not at all. I have been trying my absolute best to ignore the meaning of days within this time span and, of course, the nightmares have returned to haunt me. Today, is another anniversary: Mom and Dad's. Yesterday, was the anniversary of Dad's death (also my nephew's birthday) - last week was my Dad's death anniversary (on the same day as my SIL's birthday). I tried to just focus on celebrating her day. I don't even want to think about the other dates.
On top of that, there is no more joy in teaching. The students here need daily correction as to how to behave like young ladies and gentleman with little to no desire to learn. It is too draining. I feel as though I am a glorified "warden" and I have such a difficult time studying ahead of time and learning the material myself that I have no clue how to make it "fun" - especially when I can't trust any of them in the lab when they can't follow basic rules of decency, attentiveness, and safety.
Am I becoming so cynical? or are they just breaking me? Five years and I will be fully vested in state retirement - not so sure that I can last that long. The one thing that I do have control over: the state has issued an additional Restricted Science endorsement on my Biology and English teaching license - but I am supposed to take 6-8 credit hours of Physics within the next couple of years to maintain it. I am not going to spend my money on taking a class that I have no interest in learning any more about - rather that kind of money will go towards getting certified in TEFL, learning Korean, or into the travel fund....
Once again, I arise, I relax with my coffee, and then as the day progresses, I start having to calm myself down as the weekend comes to a close and the anxiety strikes. Looking towards Thanksgiving break followed by Christmas. Going to mass soon for even more reinforcement. (Even that is anxiety ridden as you have to arrive really early every Sunday to find a space in the parking lot and then find a place in a pew....)

Jesus take the wheel

So, rough night last night - woke up from screaming in my nightmare - took awhile to calm down and go back to sleep. Had a decent day at school - then I put my guardian angel to the test on the way home. Thank God for brakes! I came within a foot or closer of taking out both myself and a young lady making a left turn in front of me (my fault - I didn't see the curve or the yield sign until I was entering the intersection). I backed up and straightened up the car and apologized profusely - she smiled and said "it's okay honey - no one got hurt" . She had every right to be angry but she was just grateful instead - what a wonderful attitude! I think that I have a bit of whiplash tonight - nor do I want to sleep - for fear of the nightmares. Trying to unwind and to be thankful for all the blessings of the day.....

Musings

In order to keep my depression in check, I moved. Apparently not far enough away for me. The best I can do is "act"  once again. I am good at that. Another knife in my heart today.

Pretend I don't care - pretend all is well.

Someday I will be strong again - or was I ever?

Still...

I know, I've used this video before but this is how I still feel. The more I watch the coverage on the World Meeting of Families, the more depressed I become. My dream: to grow old together, travel, enjoy our grandbabies, live on a compound with our best friends, and it's shattered - all shattered. I do not know how everything snowballed like that - I have an entire list of should haves - including been strong enough to put up a bigger fight to save our family. Mianhae, mianhamnida .....

Maybe I should just return home and spend my last days in that house - as I had originally intended. Passing of time and change of place are doing nothing to heal my wounds.

You Are Mine

What an experience at Mass today! I was definitely being critical in my assessment of the service: music was okay (not as beautiful as at the other place), didn't recite the full confession (which I love), but the sermon was a Biblical history lesson - I was enthralled. Then the next song:

The tears just started flowing. I felt as though I was "home".

Jesus is here in the sanctuary - and St. Theresa of the Little Flower is over to the right. Then I went back to the back of the church and look what I saw:

 Our Lady of Guadalupe

And St. Joseph

I lit a candle and prayed for all of my babies and grandbabies.

The Knights of Columbus were not in regalia but they served as the acolytes and as the extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion while the Monsignor and the Parochial Vicar distributed the "body of Christ".   

Breakfast was served in the Parish Hall. Good cup of coffee. I went back to the church and discovered that there was a Holy Water dispenser. I walked back to the car, enjoying the little garden areas: one with Jesus and the sacred heart and the other with St. Francis, and returned with an empty water bottle and brought home some Holy Water for my little font by the door. 

Oh, it was also Monsignor's 70th birthday: they sang to him at the end of Mass and brought him a cake (which was served at the breakfast). 

I felt so at home and at peace. This is a place where I can heal. 

                                                                                                                                                  

New adventures of Binnie, Helena and me!

 Binnie <3 

Helena is a Garmin Nuvi55. Her voice is quite comforting as she directs me around my new area. Just like St. Helena, she is showing me the way. Jack, Honey and I are having new adventures here at the apartment while Binnie and Helena are teaching me how to explore. Three weeks ago today, I unloaded the Penske truck. I have my moments where I wonder if I should pack up and go back to Indiana but I don't think that going backwards would help me out. 

Stepping out in faith. 

This is my way of the cross. 

Hyun Bin ssi - the "real" Binnie singing Dream in My Heart

                       

Farewells

Strangest dreams last night

They were all about farewells. It was truly sad. My best friends threw a huge celebration and it just so happened that I was going to be leaving. I spent my time during the party wandering through and saying goodbye.

Then, he showed up with HER. Was totally surprised when he was asked to leave.

More goodbyes but I kept searching for one person and I never found him before I had to leave.

Woke up feeling very, very sad.

First song that played in my car this morning: without u by 2PM "I'm gonna get stronger..."

The Adventures of Honey, Jack, and me....

Okay, so that was going to be the original title of this blog. These past two weeks have been quite an adventure for the three of us!

Two weeks ago today: Fr. blessed me for my upcoming journey.

The following Wednesday: I picked up the rental truck and had two separate sets of movers show up to load the piano and then my furniture/items for a 1 bedroom apartment.

Thursday: departure for Boston/Natick. Took me two days: total of 20 hours. Arrived at my oldest daughter's home. Enjoyed a whirlwind weekend with my two oldest daughters, my sons-in-law, and my five grandbabies - and enjoyed two different parties! :) (they have such delightful friends!)

Last Sunday, celebrated Mass at St. Linus, visited my first H-Mart, and got on the road again! Pulled into my final destination in South Carolina late Monday night (after another 20 hours) and showed up at my new apartment complex first thing in the morning - got the apartment keys, movers arrived and unloaded, Big Bro helped with Jack, the internet/TV guy arrived, returned the truck, picked up a rental car, and that was just the first day!

Wednesday, I spent my time exploring the area, had a local cashier recommend a particular school district, came back and applied and:

Had an interview on Thursday and was offered a job on Friday afternoon! I start work tomorrow! And, yes, I found a teaching position - I don't have to work in retail for now.

Today, I found my new parish and celebrated Mass. Jesus is there in the Church - not removed out of sight in another area - he's right there and it looks like there is a little chapel on the other side? Also, there is a pipe organ and they are beginning a bell choir! Oh my - how I loved the bell choir at the Presbyterian Church that I was baptized in (and where my aunt was the organist! it was my grandmother's job first...). I picked up the registration packet and brought it back.

Next, get another car. I've got the rental at the moment but, now that I have a job, I need to see if I can obtain the financing for either a lease or a used car. On the agenda for this week!

Meanwhile, back home in Indiana, my best friends have been working like Trojans to spruce up my house and my yard so that it sells sooner. There is actually a showing tomorrow!

How is Jack doing? Well, this has been tough on him. Definitely, he is better off by being by my side. He still isn't eating regularly and the crate isn't the best solution for him when I leave the apartment. I have installed tall pet gates at either end of the kitchen - ah, yesterday, he somehow busted through one of the gates and threw his food all over the kitchen floor. I locked him back in there until he ate all the food that he had strewn on the floor. He did that immediately - he knew!!! Proof that he knows what he is doing, when I let him out last night, this is where he ended up:

So, my new start begins! Welcome to my ongoing adventure..................................

Time forgets

This video / song has been in my playlist for awhile but I finally was able to read all the words in English. So apropos.

As I prepare to make this giant step of heading to a new place, a new adventure, trusting in God, I cannot help but be haunted by all of my memories.

It hit me hard yesterday when I finally told him that I was leaving. We had one of those normal, civil conversations about our children, moving the piano into the house and the history of it, and what to do about the financial situations that still connect us. I told him that he could reach me at my brother's if he needed and he seemed to dismiss that information quite easily. I seemed so calm and collected and I realized that I was falling for his charm all over again.  Focus, remember what is actually going on (even though he has not imparted any of that information), and let go. Can I say this? I hope that I never have to see him again in my lifetime.

I know in my head that there are future events that we must attend together - I just don't feel as though I can handle it in my heart. It's becoming deadened. I can feel it every time I see him. Close it off, don't think, don't feel, don't say anything about your true feelings. Ah, I've had to be an actress all my life. Here I go again. Breathe, just breathe. Put one foot in front of the other and move forward.