Natural Uppers

Recently there's been a lot on my mind, and with Tyson studying for step one, I don't want to bother him right now. It's IMPERATIVE that he is able to focus  two hundred and ten percent on his studies, and nothing and no one can distract him.
Dear husband is struggling enough with studying. I think over all he's had at least 2 freakouts a week. One is always minor, one is always major. I feel so bad for him. What can I say? "uh, go study more?" Poor champ. I swear I pray daily for his sanity. I ask for help in knowing how to comfort him on these freak out moments. I've asked others to call to help him clear his mind too. My mom called the other day. Bless her heart. I don't know what I would have done that day if she didn't call him for me.

So what do I do? I have started a list/journal of all the things I feel need to be discussed and addressed, I've written a little bit about each of these topics that way I can remember how I felt and where I was in my thought process, and come April 25th- May 7th we get to look over this together and talk. I'm so excited for this day! Mostly because I'll get my husband back, but also to have real communication back! Some things just need to wait to be addressed. During this time, I always ask, "is this more important to discuss over Ty getting a good score on the test so we can hopefully get back to Utah?" 99% of the time the answer ends up as a no, and goes in the little notebook. :)

While things are on my mind, and there's no one to really discuss certain things with, I have come up with the best solution. I have found that there's certain smells, images, and daydreams that can SERIOUSLY change a persons mood.

First on my list is the smell of sunscreen. Weird right? Try this though. Close your eyes as you get a whiff of sunscreen. (is sunscreen a drug? I'm sniffing screen, not shrooms...) Doesn't that smell just take you somewhere fantastic?! Me? I am in a swimmy, on the beach in Cancun. Then I'm on a boat, on a cruise, life seriously doesn't get any better. I found myself with this flash of happiness one day after leaving the gym. Someone I was walking by must have just finished tanning, and the smell of her tanning lotion left me with a bit of excitement. I was happy the whole drive home-no road rage. That's so uncommon for me lately. It was a good day.

The next was a visual (sort of) reminder of happiness. The weather has been phenomenal lately. like 70's everyday, and sunny. Unusual for Pittsburgh's rain and clouds. However recently the temperature has dropped. Just so there is a high of like 55. The mornings are now a bit on the brisk side, with a little bit of morning dew. This reminds me so much of camping. Right? Well at least camping in the mountains. When you wake up and the air is crisp, there's dew on your tent, you have to put on a sweatshirt to stay warm when you go outside, but eventually it warms up? Heavenly. The air is so clean and wonderful. While we are now thinking of camping, you think of amazing dutch oven cooked food. Because camping isn't camping unless it's A) cooked over a fire, or B) cooked in a dutch oven. I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy a dutch oven this summer. Yes I will also be taking my baby camping...at probably a month old. Go ahead judge me. I don't care. This child isn't going to cramp my lifestyle. :) Back to happiness...MMmmm camping.

My favorite daydream recently, having my parasite out of my stomach so I can lay on the ground again. Really, remember when we got the carpet slab last year? How I said nothing is better than having carpet to lay on? Well I need to modify that. Nothing is better than laying on carpet...on your stomach or back. That'd be heavenly.

Seriously. Try finding little happy places to go and visit. You'll be surprised at how it can change your mood or help you relax. I'm also curious as what images sunscreen brings to your brain. I don't know of a certain person on this planet who would have a BAD association with sunscreen. If you are one of those people, or know one of those people, we need to talk. I gotta know why it's bad for you. Were you forced to eat it as a child?
That's all folks.
Go find your natural uppers.