Hi everyone. I’m still struggling quite a bit, but I’m determined that, if I don’t write to the 31 prompts for the 31-day writing challenge, I’ll at least write a blog post everyday. To cheer myself up, today I’m doing a gratitude post. As usual, I’m joining Ten Things of Thankful (#TToT). Here goes.
1. I am grateful for pizza. Yes, again. Last Sunday, like I mentioned in my #WeekendCoffeeShare post, we ordered food from the local Italian restaurant. I ordered a tuna pizza and it was delicious!
2. I am grateful for my staff. As I mentioned several times over the past week, my assigned home staff is on sick leave. Thankfully though, I still do have other staff. I struggle to trust them, but am trying.
3. I am grateful for new essential oil inspiration. Last Monday, I signed up to the Using Essential Oils Safely VIP club for one month. It’s too expensive for me to remain a member longer, but I’m learning all I can while I have the membership. I did put a few new essential oils on my wishlist to buy someday.
4. I am grateful for my bed’s adjustable headrest and legrest. That way, I am able to lie in bed much more comfortably.
5. I am grateful for quetiapine (Seroquel). This is my PRN medication. I’ve needed it quite a few times over the past week and am happy it helps at least a little.
6. I am grateful for the support from my community psychiatric nurse and nurse practitioner. I had a regular appt with my CPN on Wednesday and told her how much I was struggling. She offered to ask my nurse practitioner to call me on Thursday and I reluctantly accepted the offer. He did call and we agreed to discuss possibly upping my topiramate (Topamax), which I take for PTSD symptoms, on Monday.
7. I am grateful for my husband. He is very able to put things into perspective.
8. I am grateful for St. Nicholas candy. The holiday isn’t till December 5, but the candy has been in stores since mid-August and my staff ordered it earlier this week. (Thankfully my fellow clients don’t have the awareness of time to get confused by this, as people of higher intellectual level might.) I had a large handful (well, a small bowlful) of candies this evening.
9. I am grateful I am still able to blog everyday in spite of my distress. I am also so grateful for all the engagement on my blog, particularly on my posts about the mental hospital. Thanks a bunch everyone for your support!
Well, okay, nine things of thankful this time, but it’s alright. What are you grateful for?
A Multitude of Musings 
I’m sorry you’ve been struggling so much this week. It seems like autumn is emotionally difficult for a lot of people, not just due to seasonal changes but all sorts of triggering things and life circumstances coming up. I’m sorry about your staff being on sick leave and that it’s difficult for you. I’m glad the Seroquel helps you a bit, and hopefully more Topiramate will make the situation significantly easier.
It’s so cool that you’re learning more about essential oils! 🙂
Wow, you guys are super early with the st. Nicholas candy! 😀 Although I suppose it may well already have been available in our shops too but I simply haven’t noticed.
Hope things will improve for you soon and that your staff will recover quickly.
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Thanks for your supportive comment. Yes, I’m pretty sure I’m going to ask my nurse practitioner to up my topiramate on Monday and hope I won’t have to wait till my next refill of the weekly meds the following Saturday. I also really hope my staff recovers quickly.
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Hope you showed your husband #7. I too am grateful for pizza. We’re having it tonight – going for a bike ride and then getting take away pizza for a picnic by the water. Our last weekend in lockdown…yay. Or not yay. I’m really not sure.
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Oh yes, pizza is great! Glad you’re having it too. Here’s hoping you’ll be able to get out of lockdown really soon. Thank you for stopping by.
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glad the mds are helping. and yay for candy and pizza! Yum!
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Thank you so much. Unfortunately, the Seroquel is helping only a tiny bit.
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St Nicholas is celebrated in France for the children
In friendship
Michel
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Yes, here it’s mostly a children’s holiday too, but I still like the candy.
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You are doing great. I’m not following any prompts this year, I am just doing my own thing.
What wonderful things to be grateful for. x
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Thank you for your encouraging words. They mean a lot.
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I know you’ll figure out the challenges and that was a really nice list.
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Thank you for saying that.
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Thank you for sharing your beautiful gratitude list.
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And thank you for stopping by and commenting. 🙂
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I am grateful that I am still alive after colorectal cancer 20 years ago, grateful for my husband who makes me laugh and always supports me, grateful for my horse because he helps to keep me sane. Keep blogging Astrid. I will keep reading your blog and sending you good vibes!
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Thank you so much for sharing these gratefuls. These truly lift my spirits up.
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Lovely post. I’m glad you have lots to be grateful for. Sorry, you’re struggling. I’m not following prompts just trying to blog every day. I am always grateful for pizza too! xxx
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I am so happy you are keeping up with Blogtober too. Thank you so much for commenting.
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This is such a lovely list of gratitude, and I hope that you are able to find some relief. Pizza is something I also am eternally grateful for, particularly the buffalo chicken variety!
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Oh yes, buffalo chicken anything is delicious! Yum, my mouth waters seeing you mention it. Thanks for stopping by.
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A lovely gratitude list Astrid. I’m glad you’re managing to blog. Changing seasons have this effect on many. Sending you warm hugs.
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Thank you for the hug. Yes, I know the change of seasons can be hard for many. I am so happy I am still able to stick to a regular blogging routine in spite of my low mood.
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You’re welcome. Writing out your feelings also helps.
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I agree that having a bed that makes it more comfortable to get a good night’s rest is so important. I am curious what the St. Nicholas candy looks like. Is it a mixture of hard candies, or chocolate St. Nicholas shaped candies?
Reading your post about the Psychiatric Ward was interesting.
It is good that you are able to continue blogging.
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Thanks for stopping by. The candies are a mix of hard candies and what we call kruidnoten, which are like small, candy-sized gingerbread cookies.
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It’s an excellent list, and i’ve never known there were specific candies for St. Nicholas day, i’ll have to look them up and see what they are like.
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Thank you. Yes, St. Nicholas is huge here, even bigger than Christmas, so it’s no wonder there are specific candies. Look up “strooigoed” and you’ll most likely get pics of the candies I had.
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Excellent TToT*
People seem to laugh when asked about pizza, I respond, ‘Everything on it but cheese’
Over here, whenever a holiday involves candy, it’s all over the shelves at least 8 weeks in advance
lol
Have a good week
* personally I am a fan of a combination of organized and stream-of-consciousness when writing these post… not that anyone could tell
imo, a mixture of facts and cultural varieties, personal challenges (and triumphs) makes a post ,ore identifiable-with**
** not a ‘real’ word
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Thanks for commenting. Yes, I understand candies are usually out in stores way in advance of any holidays. That being said, not so much for Christmas here, as it’s so close to St. Nicholas.
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I am a big fan of both holiday candy and pizza! Right now, our stores are full of Halloween candy. I love candy pumpkins, and it’s all I can do to keep myself from buying bags of them! I’m trying to be good. Glad you were able to join us, Astrid!
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Thank you so much for stopping by. Oh, candy pumpkins sound fabulous!
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