Mockingbird Hill Cottage

I get overwhelmed sometimes.

I get overwhelmed by the amount of things to be done around here. This is intensified by the fact that I am only home for 48 hours.

I get overwhelmed by the feelings that come when facing the sad, yet inevitable fact that my parents are fading quickly.

I get overwhelmed by all the things we need (and none of them are frivolous) and the fact that we, like so many others, are struggling financially.

I get overwhelmed by lack of sleep. Oh, for a good night’s sleep. And a better mattress. See above.

I get overwhelmed by the sadness and pain and loss so many are suffering. And by a climate in our country which seems to be void of compassion.

I get overwhelmed by blogging. Posting every day can be challenging. Is my content interesting enough? My stats (which I try not to pay too much attention to) are down. Commenting is down. But, in all honesty, I have been sadly lacking in commenting skills of late. You reap what you sow.

I get overwhelmed by competition in the blogging world and the pressure to post fresh content. Who has the neatest project? Who has the most followers? Who has been published? How many times have they been published? Who takes the prettiest pictures? When that happens, I need to pull away for a while.

I get overwhelmed by photos that are staged and pretty vignettes at every turn. They look beautiful, absolutely, and I have staged my fair share of photos. But I look around my house, which I love, and think: I simply cannot stage another vignette, nor do I have the space for one. My current vignettes: clutter on the kitchen table, two dogs on the carpet in the den, stuff everywhere that I don’t have time to deal with before I leave for Hartford this morning. I know everyone loves pretty pictures but I’m craving ‘real’ these days. I’m rather tired of everything else.

I get overwhelmed by the need to balance being with my family and working in a profession where work, when it finally comes, often takes me away from them.

I get overwhelmed by fear. On a big and small level. Let’s face it. Fear is fear and when it takes over, it’s hard to get it under control. But controlled it must be, because any decision based on fear is a bad one.

I get overwhelmed. But I know that my reactions to everything I’ve just mentioned are totally up to me. This is how I feel now. But a change in perspective, in attitude, can turn it all around. And there is so much I am thankful for.

Just felt the need to share what I’ve been feeling lately. I strive for honesty in life and in this blog.

Thanks for listening. I’m off to Hartford.