This Too Shall Pass

I had one of those weeks.  You know, the kind where you just want to crawl out of your life and catch the next flight to Australia? 

That's where Alexander wants to move when he's having a bad day.  Have you ever read  Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst?  It's one of my favorite books. I'm laughing because one of my good friends is trying to vacation there with her family this summer. However, her kids are convinced that a high percentage of poisonous animals live in Australia, making the country entirely too dangerous.  So, maybe they have bad days in Australia too.  Really, I would never, ever fly to Australia if I was having a bad day because that flight has got to be about a million hours and I don't think I have enough Zanax to survive.  I should just set my sights on the Bahamas.

Anyway, I was not lounging on the beach with a daquiri this week.  I was right smack in the middle of winter with highs--highs !-- in the low 20s.  And Paul left on a business trip so instead of curling up in my pj's and eating lots of macaroni and cheese, I had be on carpool duty.  Then I got my haircut and I don't like it.  My bangs are just too short.  I know, I know... Michelle Obama got bangs and its all trendy now but I don't care.  At school, there are just 6 play rehearsals left before the big third grade production and I keep repeating, "It will all come together.  It will all come together." Now I need to talk myself into believing that.  Meanwhile, I lugged a heavy bag of work home over the weekend because report cards are due.  Blech.

It's easy to get caught up in a downward spiral when you are feeling overwhelmed and underappreciated. I have to pause and remind myself, "This too shall pass."  On the bulletin board above my desk I have a yellow Post-it note that reads, "contentment is a shift in attitude, not a change in circumstance."  I have pull myself out of my puddle of self-wallowing pity to remind myself of all the wonderful things that happened last week. 

 Like celebrating Pop Pop's 70th birthday.  Katherine wanted to make the most elaborate cake recipe ever and we pulled it off. 

We got our first snow of the year and, with it, a school delay and chance to sleep in.  Paul returned safely from Chicago.   We all snuggled on the couch together Friday night watching a family movie and there was almost no bickering.

Pausing to reflect on the good things can improve your mood.  And it's cheaper than a flight to Australia.