Same Income, Different Car.....

The last five  months life has been challenging me, and my family,  in many ways, but as of right now, I'm more then happy to say we have some breathing room,so I am going to enjoy this moment while it lasts.

One of the issues that came up was cars breaking down, and costing way to much to repair- I wont go into details...but we do have another vehicle- that we were able to buy off a friend at a price we could afford-$ 500,  which isn't much, and it got me to thinking.

I was wondering how the gas mileage on this vehicle would be compared to the other car- so we have the same income, but now a different car- then my mind went to how this is a good analogy to how my days are.

When I wake in the morning, I never know how much energy I am going to have.- what kind of gas mileage I will get. I may feel fine and find out a few hours later I am done for the day. I may be doing fine for a while then wake up, and its going to be a struggle. That nice little sleek economy vehicle  I had been driving for the last week or so, has overnight, changed into a 1921 Model T Ford and can barley stay going. Then there are days- especially when processing and dealing with my illness, that the vehicle has turned into a tank! These are really tough days.

Tanks get very little gas mileage, they are slow, cumbersome, but they can pretty much get through and over everything. At times, that is just what is needed for me to get through my therapy and get better. I  have to put my head down and only focus on the next minute, putting one foot in front of the other. I am happy to say I have fewer and fewer times that I need a tank, but  occasional  it is still needed.

And then there are days I need a tow truck!!!!!  I may just need a tire changed- some down time- or I may need a tow into the shop. This is when I pull in extra supports, work on my self care- brushing my teeth, remembering to eat, use medications if needed. When I am better- the car has been repaired- I am back into what I call the land of the living.

Like cars, we all need maintenance, tune ups, servicing etc. We make sure our vehicles have services, tune ups, repairs etc. Why don't we do that for ourselves. If we run our vehicles for long periods of time with out doing any maintenance, we will find that problems arise, major repairs are needed, they break down etc. We are told when buying a new car- something I have never had- that it needs to have its regular scheduled maintenance etc. We know this, we make time for it, we make sure it happens. Why do we not do this for ourselves ?

Society tends to tell us that we are only successful if we are busy, doing lots of things, running around, have lots of people around us etc. We have often been told through out our lives that this is what it is to be successful- look at the social media, commercials etc...you rarely, if ever see a commercial where there is a picture of someone sitting in a garden with a cup of tea, and being told this is what successful and a contributing member of society looks like.  If we do choose to sit on the garden with a cup of tea you can bet someone will say- well thats a "lazy" way to spend a day. Where did this come from, this belief that if we are not running around and being "productive" we are being "lazy"? I blame it on the fable  of the Grasshopper and the Ant !

Needless to say I notice this attitude more while I'm struggling and driving the tank, or when I have had to call in a tow truck.

So for all of you folks out there who are reading this,wherever you are in this journey called life.  For those you who may be struggling or have times of struggling. Be proud of whatever vehicle you are driving right now, be it a fancy little economy car, a Model T Ford or a tank. Give yourself some loving kindness and compassion.  For when you need to call in a tow truck,let me tell you- you are not being lazy. You are being wise, taking care of yourself and doing what is right for you. because you are doing what is right for you, you are a productive member of society you are a success and we are all the better for it.

Those are my thoughts for today, be good to yourselves

Suzy