Joy, my birthday and a new outlook!

This is the two part kind folks! I had planned to post about my birthday which will be upon me in less than 5 minutes-so I will be 45 by the time I finish this post.

First Part:

I have tears in my eyes as I start this post-tears of happiness after reading all the comments about our Christmas tree. It is brings me such joy to hear someone say "You are doing good Tracy..keep it up!"

I will admit each day is a struggle-I cry, I get angry, I lose it for some simple little thing like I can't find something, I am lonely, I am stressed, confused and I am doing whatever it takes to get through the day.

I also have moments where I laugh, smile and am hopeful. I want each day to get easier-I know I have so much work ahead of me.

But... Tonight Taylor, Carley, Connor and I started a new holiday tradition-we went to the theater to see "Christmas Carol". I loved the show and our seats were perfect. The kids seem to have a good time also.I asked them if they wanted to try and make it a new tradition-all said yes! The play is of course well known and the story one of catching the Christmas spirit-not the receiving of material gifts but that of giving of ourselves, being joyful and happy, sharing time together. The holiday music was enchanting. I was in awe. It made my heart feel good to hear Connor say after the first act: "wow that went fast!"-to me that meant he was enjoying it! I felt very touched and moved by the message and energy of the performance. Maybe it was what I needed..to jump start me. Taylor even said it helped her feel more Christmas spirit. So worth it to do something with all three of my children and everyone to come away having a great experience. Tonight I felt like it was ok to be happy and love life. To have a little spring in my step and not feel weighed down with worry. To sit back and let life lead me.

2nd part: So now we move onto the birthday deal...It is official central time at 12:03 am-I am 45 and alive!

Someone once told me think of the alternative if you feel bad about getting older-LOL Guess that is true!

I really have never been a fan of my birthday-the December 18-one week before Christmas thing has always been difficult. Even as a child I remember having a Santa Claus cake for one of my b-day parties, sometimes it was even difficult to have parties since people had Christmas parties already planned. I had times where people combined my gifts for birthday and Christmas-that sucked! People wrapped my b-day gifts in Christmas paper-(not something anyone who really knows me dares do now!) I know any of you with Dec. birthdays or even early January know what I am talking about.

I grew to not have any real expectations for my birthday-I was always let down. When I was in college-I planned my own 19th and 20th birthday's-of course I had a lot of people to invite plus it was a time when any reason for a party was good! My ex-husband gave me a great 30th (semi-surprise) birthday party-it was memorable! I have always tried to make sure my kids birthdays are special-it is their day, Sometimes I even went overboard but I had my reasons and my kids do remember their b-day parties! Since the 30th it has become more about the aging thing! I have been so afraid of getting old-I let it happen just by worrying about it. So this year...many challenges ahead...

but..I want to be a 45 years old and learn to live my life again. Empower myself! Those are strong words-they mean so much to me. It is what I was telling Taylor when she was at her lowest point after her broken engagement. Gotta practice what I preach-baby girl opened my eyes!

I want to lose this darn weight (eat better and get on a workout schedule)-I want this so BAD! I want to not dread getting dressed or going shopping or looking in a mirror.

I want to take better care of this 45 year old body-get health issues taken care of-instead of avoiding the issues.

I want to get the counseling I need to heal, go to Alonon and get a better understanding of why I do what I do.

I want to find my passions again.....scrap booking, gardening, just re-discovering my inner creative self! Take a class maybe????

I want to find ways to make me feel accomplished and possibly do that by finding a way to help families of wounded soldiers.

I want to experience new things-push my limits-learn to live life now and not wait for it to start.

I want to re-connect with God-find a church family I feel supported by and that I can offer something to.

I want to be a good mom-if that means setting boundaries with my kids and being tougher then so be it.

They know I un-conditionally love them..I want them to be strong and make good choices. They are growing up-my role is changing with each of them. I want to keep working on having an open, healthy relationship with each of them.

I want to learn to forgive-let go of past hurts and move forward. Not saying forget but forgive-being angry eats at my soul.

I know that sounds like so much-it freaks me out-but I feel strong tonight, I feel hopeful, I feel I can make some changes and no matter what happens be OK! (please continue to remind me-I know on my bad days I will need to come back and read this)

So here is to 45.....BRING IT ON!

Trying to Keep Imagining!
Tracy

Desperately Seeking Me!

I feel lost.



My mind and body feel as if they are moving in slow motion.



My emotions are raw and confused. I don't know how to express myself , all the words have been used up or have been said so many times before they have lost their definition.



I try to push past that layer that is keeping me from being who I want to be again. I don't really think I have any idea anymore. I have become someone who I don't recognize-body or soul.



Nothing is making any sense-the snow, the shopping, the Christmas music on the radio, decorating, .... My heart is broken -what is there to celebrate? I push past the thoughts and just do what I need to do. I never get it all done-never! I have a plan each day to accomplish-most of the time I fail to reach my goals. Why is everything so hard?



I know what depression is-this is different. This is being lonely,easily distracted, sad, dying to be loved like I need to be loved, needing to forgive myself and love myself once more-I guess I am grieving. For what I fought so hard for. Maybe.



I have hope that with time I will develop into a closer version of myself who finds happiness and contentment, a sense of accomplishment and confidence to live again no matter what happens outside myself. I am looking, seeking me-I hope I find her.



LOOKING FOR: The new improved Tracy who doesn't need to take on the world, fight everyone else's battles, who find her creative side again, the me who loves being loved and giving love, but can love herself even without it, the women who can find joy and breathe, someone who just lives each day without worrying if time is running out or waiting for the good times to come-hopefully with healing will come more self-awareness. I want to feel serene, I want to smile, I want to feel happy all the way to my toes-

I don't want to feel like the world can be ripped out from underneath me at any second. I don't want to feel like I need a person even when he has hurt me. What is that? I know something like co-dependency-maybe! Does it really need a name-it is what it is and so many of us have done it. Why? I can still love him and not live with him for now, but why do I still feel this need to connect with him? Why do I need him?
I get so mad at myself!



Probably sounds like a lot of rambling but that pretty much how my thought processes are working right now-I am calm but feel any second I could cry. Nights are the most difficult.



I am just going to keep putting one foot in front of another. I did finally find a counselor who does the type of therapy recommended to me. It is called EMDR. I have that glimmer of hope that it will help me deal with the anxiety-which will be a huge starting place. Let the healing begin and pray that I am open to it.



Thanks for sticking with me the support from my blog is sometimes what get me through the day.

I will try and post tomorrow about the little trip Taylor and I are taking this weekend!


Trying to Keep Imagining!
Tracy