No Strings Attached

Posted By Kathleen David on March 16, 2021

A year ago, I wrote the first entry in the Homebound Saga.

There was a lot that was unknown, and the picture became even vaguer as the month went on.

A lot has changed in that year for me and the country.

We are at another tipping point that will determine if the goal posts are going to have to be moved due to selfish individuals who think they are more important than the health of the nation.

This is the longest Caroline has been in the same place. 

She is uses to conventions and travel and she misses that.

We have participated in virtual conventions which I think will become a way for more people to try the convention experience

This is the longest I have been put in a long time. 

I have only been out of the state for one day in the past year and that was to Connecticut to pick up Caroline from camping.

That is a little mind blowing for me.

And it doesn’t look like I am going anywhere until possibly September or, if I am lucky, August.

I think after this experience, everyone seems much more relaxed about snow. A couple days in the house now seems a walk in the park.

Caroline and I took up walked on a daily basis on the day a year ago.

We have both lost weight and upped our endurance and leg muscles.   It also helped to keep us sane by letting us get outside. Sunshine has become very important to us.

I don’t think I could do my job if I hadn’t been walking daily. 

We have seen a lot of beautiful sunsets and sunrises over the year along with some magnificent rainbows. We have gained an appreciation for these things that I didn’t have before.

In our walks, Caroline and I have learned a lot about each other, and I feel closer to her.

We have tried new things in our art and crafting. I have passed on skills to others which is a passion of mine.

Did I get as much done as I like? No, however I am not going to beat up on myself about it.

We had to do a lot of coping this year and that was hard enough.

Now things seem to be moving to a more even keel and we have to rethink our lives again.

I will say this past year has reminded me what is important to me.

I have re-assessed a lot of things.

I am finding new ways to deal with stress.

It has been an interesting year.

I am grateful for all I have learned in the past year.

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Posted By Kathleen David on March 15, 2021

The mental health of the world right now is not good.

It has been a year of the pandemic turning our lives upside down.

The stresses on us all are great and it is taking its toll on us all.

I am hearing people talk about their mental health. Probably more so this past year than ever before.

My bigger concern are those who are talking about their mental health and dismissing it.

“Others have it worse.”

“I know I should do something but I don’t have the time right now.”

And then there are those who cannot afford it. They lost their insurance due to COVID along with their job and they are scrapping pennies together just to get by.

Mental health must be as important as physical health.

One’s mental state effects one’s physical state.

People think of them as separate, but they are not.

I am an advocate for mental health.

I have dealt with mental health issues that have taken their toll on me physically. 

I know how hard it can be to ask for help.

I know how one tells oneself, “I can’t be depressed because I was happy the other day for a little while.”

“Oh, I am just stressed about (fill in the blank) so once that is gone, I’ll be fine.”

Stress is very bad for the body.

There is also the stigma about mental illness in various groups.

You are seen as weak or crazy if you seek help.

These communities are suspicious of the whole mental health system for various reasons.

I have tried to commit suicide and got help.

I have been severely depressed to the point of non-functional.

I am currently on medication to help relieve the anxiety and depression I was feeling. 

Eventually I hope to get off these drugs and feel even.

But today is not that day.

I need the help to be able to do what I need to do.

There is no stigma in this.

Please if you are feeling sad all the time or show the signs of depression, get help.

There are phone lines you can call to talk to someone totally anonymously about how you are feeling.

Don’t procrastinate on this. 

The sooner you get help, the sooner you will feel normal again.

I am grateful for things that help my mental health.

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Posted By Kathleen David on March 14, 2021

Well, it was last week but it was put off until this week.

According to several articles I read these are why we procrastinate and how we can avoid it.

Five Main Reasons For Procrastination
1. Perfectionism
2. Dislike task or person
3. Too tired
4. Fear of failure, success, or finishing
5. Not part of goals

Five Ways To Avoid Procrastination
1. Find the answer to ‘What’s In It For Me.”
2. Chunk your time – set a timer.
3. Watch out for time gobblers – internet, email, TV, phone, socializing, unimportant notices and forwards.
4. Delegate when the task is not part of your priority.
5. Make it fun by rewarding yourself.

I am a card-carrying procrastinator or would be if I hadn’t procrastinated about putting the card in my wallet.

I have learned various techniques to stop procrastinating. It doesn’t help when I procrastinate on these techniques.

In my artwork, I know I am a bit of a perfectionist. People see my work and are amazing at what I have made. All I see are the flaws and short cuts I had to take to get the project done by a deadline. My new mantra is done is better than perfect and that has helped me to get things done.

I am pretty good at time management however I can forget to add that little bit one always needs for that which goes wrong. I set alarms to keep me on track and so I don’t go way over my time allotted.

Lists are important to keeping me on track. I will admit to procrastinating on creating the lists. That is an issue in itself. I am going to start making myself punch lists on a white board to keep myself honest.

I am working on my task aversion which seems to live in overdrive. I am adding ‘just do it’ to my mantra list.

Why I avoid things is a really mixed bag. I know one of my problems is too many ideas and goals that don’t have a real deadline, but I should do them. Once I have a real hard deadline, like the puppet slam at DragonCon, I am off to the races.

Then there is the feeling of defeat as a project started doesn’t get done and as each day passes, I beat myself up for not doing the project and then put it off again because I am scared of failure.

This happens a lot with my writing. I have so many works in progress that I am embarrassed, which leads to more procrastination.

I have found that when I do get a project done, I need a day before starting the next one. I have learned to give myself that space if I have the time.

It has taken me a long time to work through my procrastination issues. I know I have a way to go but I know I can do it.

I am grateful for things that help me not procrastinate.

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Posted By Kathleen David on March 13, 2021

I have always hated the term cancel culture. It just rubs me the wrong way.

There should be consequences for one’s actions or inactions.

I have a problem with people being tarred and feathered for things they did back in the day unless the bad behavior has continued to this day.

People learn and change. Things that were said at an early age might not reflect what the person believes now.

Some of it comes from parroting what one’s parents believed until one learns that their parents were problematic with their views. Where one grows up can do this as well.

If you are told that _ is bad over and over, you tend to assume that is correct.

Once one gets out of those kind of bubbles, like going off to college, and one learns about __ to discover it is not that evil/bad/end of the world.

One does have to want to change and learn.

I am of the firm opinion that all Americans should make a trip to a foreign country at some point in their lives. It changes one’s perspective about both the United States and the world at large.

One can also learn more about the world from the immigrants who come here.

I am glad I can go to New York city and visit parts of the city where various groups have made that part of the city their own.

Even visiting other states and city can give one a different perspective on this country.

I do believe people who have gotten away with bad behavior, especially when it harms others, should be called out. People with the power should not be able to use that power to force others to do things against their will.

I agree with Disney for putting a context to the Muppet Show. It was shot in the 70s and things have changed in the last 50 years. Jokes that we didn’t even blink at can feel uncomfortable now. I think it shows growth as a society. A good friend of Jim Henson said Jim would have approved this without missing a step.

We can put some things in context and learn from them, so we do not repeat the behavior.

I am sure there are things we are saying now that will, in 50 years, be problematic.

For those who refuse to learn, then let’s see if we can teach them what my parents taught me at a young age.

What you do has consequences, and you have to take responsibility for it.

I am grateful for those who have managed to grow out of bad behaviors.

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Posted By Kathleen David on March 12, 2021

It is already 52 degrees Fahrenheit outside. The high will be in the mid-sixties.

We have our first crocus in our yard.

(For the VI: This is a top view of purple crocus in the grass)

Sad to know it is going to freeze tonight.

It has been nice to go out with just a hoodie or shirt sleeves.

March is like that with temperature changes that feel like a roller coaster.

Today is errand day and I have a bit of a list to do.

Then I will do some of the weekend cleaning and turn my mind to the creative arts.

Caroline and I have some things we want to do over the weekend mostly indoors.

Monday, I work and we go from there.

I am enjoying this preview of Spring. 

I am not looking forward to the time change this weekend.

I am grateful for signs of Spring.

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