topic Re: What challenges did you face recently? in Among Friends

What challenges did you face recently?

house_cat — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 19:18:22 GMT

Last week was a difficult one for me. Not in comparison with the nightmare they are living through in Houston, but it was a tough one. The trying week ended with Back to School Night, an event that pushes me outside of my comfort zone every year. The day of the event, I had some very upsetting family problems to deal with and the heat was 112 degrees for the 6th day in a row. I felt like closing the blinds and going to bed at 5 pm, but I couldn't... so I put on my game face and the evening turned out to be quite pleasant. I've decided to do something I rarely do and be proud of myself for facing some challenges gracefully and successfully.

If you're agreeable to it, I'd love for you to share any challenges you faced recently and over which you triumphed.

Re: What challenges did you face recently?

ID2 — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 19:43:38 GMT

As always, keeping my blood sugar in check. I've had two nights this past week that my bs ran dangerously low and thank goodness for my dh who brought me out of it. I always owe my life to him.

Re: What challenges did you face recently?

chrystaltree — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 19:50:03 GMT

Life is full of challenges; sometimes we have big ones and sometimes small ones like yours. At this age, I have learned to just "go with the flow" as my bff says. My challenge for the last few days, since Friday afternoon is that my daughter and her 8 month old daughter have been staying with us in our 2 bedroom condo. I love them dearly and I love spending time with my girls and their babies. But the baby is teething and fussy and my daughter is on her phone all the time and the tv or music is on in the family room. I miss my peaceful quiet home. She also has snacks and cupcakes in the kitchen and I don't eat stuff like that now but I'm tempted every time I go into the kitchen. Her dad and her husband and some friends are at her house painting the entire upstairs, so she and the baby will be here until Tuesday morning. And it's raining today, so we're all inside. That's my challege.

Re: What challenges did you face recently?

Desertdi — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 19:59:56 GMT

I had a new heat pump installed...........it took 7 hours on a 110° day.

Re: What challenges did you face recently?

Wiscfan3 — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 20:03:30 GMT

@house_cat I am a retired teacher so I certainly remember how Back To School night can be a stress on top of anything else going on in a teacher's life. Good for you for handling your challenges this week so well. (I can't even imagine how the heat would affect everything too)!! Not as recent for me, but extra challenges have piled on since December when my mom passed away. Then my uncle passed away in February, my in laws both had to go to assisted living in March, and my son had a serious car accident in April. Just this past week or so I actually felt like we would all be ok and some of the fog lifted. I am not sure if it is a feeling of triumph, but I am starting to feel little bits of happiness again.

Re: What challenges did you face recently?

Moonchilde — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 20:27:42 GMT

Mercy, @chrystaltree, that IS a challenge. Hang in there. At least you know what day it will end.

Re: What challenges did you face recently?

jeanlake — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 20:39:22 GMT

Hi Housecat. Happy for you that you can take your good experience and tuck it away - pull out your truth when you need it next time. Good for you.

As you mentioned, I too recognize I'm at a good place in life, but was challenged at work this week. Ninety-five percent of the time things flow smoothly on campus, but this week a few toxic, entitled faculty, not wanting to learn new technology or abide by new processes, dug heels in and acted like bullies. Spoke awful about our Dean (whom I like). In a controlled way, I was able say what I've been wanting to say for a few years. I get along well at work, but if the toxic ones freeze me out for a while, it doesn't matter. Our Dean has 250 faculty and he ended the emergency meeting with harsh words for the entitled ones. Weird week at work. Hope we can go back to normal after Labor Day.

Re: What challenges did you face recently?

Drythe — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 20:51:11 GMT

In April of '16 I started having some serious health issues which no one could diagnose.

17 months and counting, I have a diagnosis, and am heading to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, for treatment and an on-going plan.

No triumph yet, but HOPE and fear.

Re: What challenges did you face recently?

santorini — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 21:42:14 GMT

I was hit by a car and almost killed. Coma for weeks, hospitalized for months -- very happy to be alive.

Re: What challenges did you face recently?

tsavorite — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 21:44:31 GMT

Lot's of big changes in these last yrs....death of both parents....MIL recently passed...all the legal and house hold closing up things....going thur the antics of family members on both sides. Oldest son just moved out...husband and I helped move all his things plus we had gotten furniture from my MIL's home for him. All the hauling and packing to help him. Just got it finished yesterday.

For some reason whenever one of my sons moves out I go thur a anxiety type thing for a few weeks. I worry about all kinds of things...pray it all works out for them. I don't tell anyone how I really feel (until now) just know I will adjust to the new normal.

Still have my youngest son at home. It's such a strange thing....I hate the awful mess boys make...and the fact they don't care about cleaning anything and will use things that are dirty! I have tried over and over but to no avail...gave up. So I miss the ones not living here but I am so relieved to get all the work...mess they brought gone with them. Yet I worry how in the world are they functioning in all the mess? LOL!! Crazy I know it!

Now I have another huge project in the recently vacated bedroom...so much to do...bought cleaning products to see if I can fix it. If not then I'll have to get a professional in to redo bathroom...carpet...painting.

Then I have my own ongoing "low energy" issue...got testing for my thryoid coming soon...as I have been slowly increasing medication plus added in a new one T3 med that at first I couldn't take...made me even more tired! Finally started taking it seperate from my synthyroid medication...wait about 2hrs and no more crushing fatigue or dizziness. I still know I will need to increase this med (T3) ...will do labs soon.

There's more but this is getting way to long! Like I can't stay asleep at night....up 3 or more times per night...good grief I think if I could just sleep 5 hours straight per night that I would be in much better shape physically. And that's another story....I'll stop there LOL!

On the bright side...I look around my home (disorganized mess right now) and think I am SO LUCKY to have a home/roof over my head and food with AC! Thank you GOD...and I see what's going on in Texas and just brings tears to my eyes. I don't do well w/o power for days can't imagine what these folks are facing.

Re: What challenges did you face recently?

mac116 — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 22:01:39 GMT

My MIL passed away after being in hospice care. My husband is an only child and she lived 900 miles away. We traveled back and forth until she passed away, and continue the back and forth as we try to empty her overloaded house. Accounts are a mystery and a mess. We'll get through it but it is very stressful.

Re: What challenges did you face recently?

SarahW — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 23:01:24 GMT

I live in the Houston metro area. That is all.

Re: What challenges did you face recently?

catwhisperer — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 23:07:44 GMT

@SarahW.....(((Hugs))). I'm sorry.

Re: What challenges did you face recently?

halfpint1 — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 00:26:54 GMT

I had cataract surgery about 10 dqys ago. I was scared even if many said it was wonderful for t hem. My other eye can't see good. An operation never helped me when I was little so I was scared. still waiting to see if I can see good.

Re: What challenges did you face recently?

kivah — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 00:33:56 GMT

@santorini

So sorry for ur accident!!! We're also glad that ur here and on this site.

Re: What challenges did you face recently?

kivah — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 00:53:45 GMT

I'm 76 yrs young - totally alone. My best friend Brenda passed away 1-1/2 yrs ago - and she was 14 yrs younger than me. She was never sick until she was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. We were best friends for 33 yrs. She drove out to southern California from a small town in Iowa in December, 1982 and I rented a room in my house to her for a couple of years. We went out socially, travelled together, had lots to talk about. A few years after, she got married a had a daughter, Haley, now 24.

My mother died in January, 1982 so I was happy to have found a good friend.

I never had a lot of friends - but always 2 or 3 close friends thru the years. As I got older, it was harder and harder to make friends - as most people are married or busy with their families. I'm also more of a quiet-type - not pushy - so I tend to sit back.

In 2006 I was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer - which I knew I had since 2003 - but couldn't go to the doctor because I didn't have insurance. I was working temp and part-time jobs at that time because I was in my 50's and never learned the computer. I knew what I had because my mother had the exact same cancer - but she didn't survive. I actually beat it - and have been back to normal for many years.

Losing my "fantastic" mother - even though it was a long time ago - still affects me.

Then losing Brenda - makes me mad!!!!

I never got married and don't have any chldren or family - something I regret. I had a fear of marriage because I had a mentally-abusive father who my mother divorced.

For my age, I'm in great shape, look nice, somewhat smart --- but I always feel like the "odd man out."

Some days I just ask God "what happened to my life?"

I get the most joy from my little lhasa apso, who just turned 9 yrs old.

Some days are just difficult, but I just take it in stride and think positive thoughts.

I enjoy reading and writing to all u folks on this site -- I've learned a lot and enjoy exchanging information and the social part of it - even though we don't know each other.

I truly can't believe I'm writing this --- as it's not something anyone knows - but the topic fits how I feel.

Thanks!!!

Re: What challenges did you face recently?

catwhisperer — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 01:00:08 GMT

@kivah....(((Hugs)))

Re: What challenges did you face recently?

GCR18 — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 02:47:13 GMT

My sister had early onset of dementia in January. I had to take over as her conservator and put her in a nursing home. She was living with my mother up until then. Not sure how much longer my mother can live alone. Sister's teenage kids are lost, I also keep an eye on them. I live 1000 miles away. I just returned from my 7th trip. Luckily my employer has been great about the time off. At the moment things are relatively calm at my second full time job, the family.

On a lighter note, my plane was late yesterday and I missed my connection. I got to spend three hours getting to know the airport. The airline goofed up my luggage and it didn't fly with me. It showed up sometime last night and was left in the driveway in the rain. The suitcase is nice and clean and nothing got wet inside.

Re: What challenges did you face recently?

Kachina624 — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 07:00:28 GMT

@Desertdi A belt broke on my cooler on a Thursday night and no one was available to fix it until Monday afternoon. Fortunately the temperatures were only 85-87° those days so we survived, although I was worried about my sheltie. He has a very heavy coat and pants on the coldest winter nights. It has cooled off here a lot as it usually does when the monsoon starts.

Re: What challenges did you face recently?

Desertdi — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 07:14:50 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@Desertdi A belt broke on my cooler on a Thursday night and no one was available to fix it until Monday afternoon. Fortunately the temperatures were only 85-87° those days so we survived, although I was worried about my sheltie. He has a very heavy coat and pants on the coldest winter nights. It has cooled off here a lot as it usually does when the monsoon starts.

@Kachina624 Oh my poor Kitty........she actually looked like a wreck......and that was beside the fact that I allowed MEN in "her" house! But she really looked after me.......instead of going into hiding........she sat by my side and "protected" me. What a Kitty!

Ugh.......temps still high here. 103° here today, humidity still way up, too. I'm not really complaining, tho. OMG Houston.......I've been thru a couple over-6-point earthquakes......and a couple tornadoes when I lived in the Midwest............but nothing like that flood. I'm sure you have friends who live there.......my heart goes out to all. di