It’s time for another Photo-Heart Connection! Haven’t done it before? You can learn more about how to find your Photo-Heart Connection here. Kat talks about “making a commitment to connect art with heart” and invites anyone and everyone to add photography or artwork to the monthly connections.
The Texas sky is always a shifting display. One morning, on our walk to school, my daughter and I looked up and our breath caught in our throats at the gorgeous blanket of clouds above us. On my walk back home only a few minutes later, the view was completely changed.
I had a rough August and an even rougher September, at least at the start. Long story short, I made a medication change a few months ago and didn’t make the connection between my quality of life and the meds change until recently. Oh my goodness, what a change in perspective!
I knew that I wasn’t feeling like my true self, which kept me from acting on any of my feelings. I was taking things personally and absorbing sorrows from every angle and they were all weighing me down. Most effort seemed exhausting and overwhelming. I truly felt terrible inside and was waiting for it to get better.
Because it’s been 13+ years now since my last episode of depression, I had forgotten what it’s like to feel even a tiny bit awful. I knew my feelings weren’t normal but I assumed it was hormone-related. I did start to feel better in a couple weeks, only to spiral down again the next month. I didn’t even realize what was going on. Mr. B even asked me if maybe I needed to go see my doctor.
Thank goodness, only a few days after getting back on the medicine, I am back to my positive and energetic self. How quickly things can shift and change, just like those clouds. Now the exact same circumstances feel manageable and delightful. Thank goodness for perspective. And thank goodness for those meds.
It strikes me now, as I write this, that I need to be on alert for overdoing it because that can get me into troubled waters too. Today I have cancelled all plans and declared it an extreme self-care day.
How about you? What causes your perspective to shift?
Read other bloggers’ PHC September posts
Hi Naomi:
This is a wonderful and thoughtful post. There are so many of us (including me) who deal with depression and/or anxiety and it can be hard at times to notice when moods start to change and/or when intervention is needed. I am so glad you figured it out soon and got back on track. What a great feeling to have that piece of mind again! Also so good of you to know when you need “a me day”- we could all be better at that. Thanks for sharing this bit about yourself! 🙂
-Amy
Amy Kelsch recently posted…It’s A Mindful Life: Fabulous Fall Treats
Thank YOU for reading and sharing your thoughts, Amy!
Right now, my perspective shifts depending on whether I have a job prospect coming up or not.
SKJAM! recently posted…Anime Review: Invaders of the Rokujyoma!?
Lovely sky photos —I love taking photos of the sky, because, except for a totally cloudless day, the sky is never the same. We often fight change, but must accept it as a part of living.
CJ@ProArtz recently posted…Black and White Weekend – 10/3/14: “The T”
One of my favorite things is stopping on the sidewalk and snapping a photo of the sky. It makes other people look up to see what I see!
This is about as healthy a post as I could imagine. To see yourself as you’d notice the shifting clouds? How many of us wouldn’t look up to notice the clouds? Many of us also wouldn’t recognize a need for shift of perspective. I love your outlook.
My perspective changes when I see myself reflected and don’t recognize what I see. If I’m a mean coach, or grumpy dad, or struggle to write … those are not my norms. I will do what it takes to get myself back to who I am at that point.
Eli@coachdaddy recently posted…Go Ask Daddy About High Altitude, Olympic Fortitude and Octopus Super Powers
Excellent point about viewing your reflective self. It’s so difficult to notice this sometimes, but that’s where awareness helps the most, I think. Thank you so much for your support and comment!
Self care is so important — caring for both body and spirit. It’s good that you figured out what was causing the changes, and could find a remedy. For me, I’ve realized that I need time to stop and reflect or I get agitated with too much stimuli and activity.
Lovely clouds — I enjoy watching the changes in the skies here too.
Gina, that is so true for me too. I have to find the space to notice my agitation and then breathe deeply or find some calm to restore my balance. It’s just a matter of where each of us finds that balance, I think.
I know about that heaviness of soul and feeling low. My meds are adjusted and my perspective on life is back to where it should be. I see human beings in a biological way as sacks of chemicals . If our chemistry isn’t right, we’re not right.
Glad that you worked things out Naomi. I’m actually taking a “me” day too. I got the idea from Sarah. Her last post was about taking a day for her writing. I’m going to take Thursday’s after yoga (which is for me too!) to work on getting familiar with graphic design. Not sure if I told you, I applied and was accepted to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh’s online graphic design program. I was going to start Sept, but wisely decided to wait until next Sept so I can plan out my time with my jewelry business. So, I decided that on Thursday’s I’m going to just play around with different tutorials, etc. Hope you enjoy your day!
Congrats, Stacie! That is so awesome. I almost went there for interior design when we lived in Pittsburgh… gosh that feels like a different life. I am laying low on Thursdays too and I love it. 🙂