The run up to Christmas is often a stressful time and
although I didn’t have any cooking to worry about this year, I still allowed
myself to get stressed over presents.
But now I have time to relax and reflect on this last year and look
forward.
I don’t think I was prepared for how hard my Mum’s death
would hit me. Having lost her in many
ways as she succumbed to Alzheimer’s I felt as though I had already been
grieving for her and therefore thought her passing would be a blessing and enable
me to move on. I was wrong. These last months have been hard as she’s no
longer there to talk to. The routine of
my life was disrupted. I drifted. Christmas approached.
As usual I denied it was coming. I left things until the last minute. I didn’t plan ahead. Thank God I wasn’t cooking! But the presents did get bought, and
wrapped. The cards were sent. The world is still turning. I just don’t like the fact that I allowed
myself to be a Grinch. Again.
Part of my problem I think is that we have descended into
chaos at home. There is way too much
clutter in my house but we are slowly beginning to tackle it. It is going to take some time and
co-operation from family members and I have to be patient. I have to stop procrastinating. This is beginning to sound like a list of
resolutions and I’m wary of that. I don’t
want to set myself up to fail. I want to
be happy with my lot and find the positive in things. (When your daughter buys you a book entitled “14,000
things to be happy about” there is a clear underlying message!) So we may not have got up early yesterday or
today but we did clear the bedroom desk of clutter and I did shred lots of old
paperwork. Little steps. There is still
time for some little steps today.
I think, no matter how old we are, it is difficult to lose a parent. Although I knew my mother would never recognize me again, her death was an end to all faint hope. Since her death, and my mother-in-law's death and my father's illness, often it feels like I am going through the motions. Some years it is easier and some harder. Sometimes New Year's is easier because it is less emotionally charged. My thoughts are with you.
ReplyDeleteI came to wish you Happy New year, may you enjoy the celebrationas tonight and may the New Year bring you peace and happyness. It's always hard to lose someone but that is such a terrible illmness, its robs you of the person before they have actually gone. I do hope the new year is good to you
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good resolution to me. The book sounds pretty good too. I shall have to look for it. It is good to have reminders.
ReplyDelete