Today, in my part of Michigan, it is about 30 degrees.
I’ve been dealing with a lot in the past few months. Starting with the death of our beloved dog, Daisy, in November. It seems as though there have been many dark things happening with horrid timing, and life has just felt really heavy.
Fast forwarding to last month, my mom was supposed to get my kids onto their busses because my husband was away for a football coach’s convention out of town and I had to work early that day (in January). She texted me very early, saying she felt odd and couldn’t make it to my house. This month, February, she felt “off” for the 3rd time and I decided we needed to make the trip a few towns away to an E.R. that has a lot more satisfied “customers” than our local one does. Long story short, she had a stroke in January. She was told by 2 different hospital workers in our town that she did NOT have a stroke. So, life looks a lot different these days. We’ve been helping her with her day to day needs, and she’s been helping us right back by letting me drive her much more gas efficient vehicle while mine is in the shop.
Being in the kitchen has always been a great source of stress relief for me, but lately, it seems even more important. Creating something out of nothing, just the act of watching something saute or bake, etc, does something positive for my soul. I don’t always have a recipe. I sometimes have to remind myself to consider that I’m only baking for 5, not 50 lol. Today, my version of stress relief was grilling in the dead of winter. When we started, it was 30. When we finished, it was about 26 and it looked like someone shook the snow globe. I was out there in my winter coat, my huband’s thermal socks and slippers, drink in hand and a giant smile on my face. There’s something soul healing about being outside and grilling no matter what the weather.
I also recently had an upper g.i., which revealed I may have further issues. Lately it seems that every time I drink or eat makes my stomach pop out like I’m 3 months pregnant. (Promise, I’m not. Never again lol). I’m on the way to figuring it out, but at the same time, it’s really scary dealing with my mom’s health concerns as well as my own. When I’m baking/cooking/grilling, my mind focuses on what I’m currently trying to accomplish and it’s a huge stress relief.
I guess thats basically what I’ve been trying to focus on lately, with all my hormonal woes. Focus on what makes you happy, what takes the stressful thoughts from your life, focus on what makes the stress evaporate from your mind. There will always be something to worry about, but at the end of the day…find a way to grill in the snow.