Monday Morning Coffee ~ Slow Down

Technically, it is Monday Morning Water today. I have pushed my morning coffee back a bit since I have been walking in the mornings. Now I have water after my walk, get cleaned up and ready for the day, and then have my coffee. In case you were wondering. 

Well, here we are on the twentieth day of October. And this leads me to wonder if I am truly enjoying this, my favorite time of year. Am I recognizing the subtle changes in the leaves around me? Have I listened to my autumn playlist? Watched my favorite Halloween movies, and cooked our special autumn dinners? What about baking? Fall is the best time to bake all the pumpkin cake, cookies, and pie. What am I doing?? Why have I not done all the things?? Well, it is because I realized that time goes on and life changes. I now feel comfortable letting go of some of the traditions and expectations of the past. And once I did, I found there is time for other things that are just as fun. 

So, for these last remaining days of October, I embrace where I am, reflect on what I have done, and do what I want to enjoy the beauty and coziness of this glorious month. I am going to focus on fall and pumpkin spice and books and coffee, and my family. I am going to shut out the noise of everything else and realize that it is OK to choose this...

Over this..

Everytime.

Have a wonderful Monday, my friends! Thanks for visiting. I am always glad you do!

Billie Jo

All The Things

Hello! And Happy Friday! I hope your week was happy, healthy, productive, and cozy, of course. We had a wonderful week around here, because my best friend Heather and her husband Dave were here! I hadn't seen Heather since May, and we had lists of things to talk about! First, though, morning walking in October is the best.

We did all the things this week with Heather and Dave! We went shopping in our sweet little town that we call Stars Hollow. (For all you Gilmore Girls fans)

We visited Madison and Nicolas' house, where she made a delicious chocolate chip peanut butter pie.

We went to the spa with Madison and Kyrstin. We went shopping and then had lunch at the cutest cafe, which had a beautiful area outside with all the fall things.

We got dressed up and went to dinner, where I had the BEST salad ever! It was crabmeat, shrimp, lettuce, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, and avocado. And a fantastic peanut butter pie in a jar for dessert, which we shared.

We also sat on the porch and talked, sat on the couch and talked, watched four episodes of The Golden Bachelor, ate pizza, went to breakfast, and watched a movie. It was a wonderful visit and good for the soul. It is an extra special friendship when your best friend loves your entire family as much as they love her. 

Today's walk was earlier, but I didn't mind. 

Leaving you with a few fun autumn thoughts today...

Ok. I'll stop. Have a wonderful weekend, my friends. Whether it be going to a pumpkin patch, making soup, taking a walk, taking a nap, reading a good book, or watching a good movie, carve out some time for yourself. See what I did there? ; ) 

Billie Jo

Google for the fun.

Wednesday Fun

Hello, Lovlies!

 

I was just wondering...

And...

Billie Jo

P.S. I am ghost number 1! and 3. And 5. 

Google for the fun!

OCD Awareness Week

Good morning, my friends! Monday Morning Coffee will return next week at its regularly scheduled time. Today, though, is all about my thing. My thing is OCD. It took me years to know and understand it, and even longer to break the stigma to feel comfortable sharing it with others. This is the nature of OCD. 

It is serious. And debilitating. Exhausting. Frustrating. And so much more. OCD is also treatable. I am proof of that!

While for years I had random, intrusive thoughts regarding irrational things like running over a tree branch and believing I ran over a person, or thinking I left the stove on, or noticing a freckle on my back that had been there my whole life, but suddenly became dangerous in my mind, I was able to manage my OCD. Do not recommend. Managing my OCD meant driving back to the spot I thought I had hit a person over and over to reassure myself I hadn't. It was checking the stove again and again, and still not being sure it was off. It was checking and rechecking the spot on my back to make sure it wasn't changing color or shape. 

It wasn't until I was in my early forties and beginning menopause that I became unable to manage the weight of OCD myself. Sidenote: That is a symptom of menopause that is not talked about enough. Why is that? Anyway, once I admitted that I needed help, my husband took over and got me a diagnosis from my primary care doctor, who was so compassionate and kind. This led to an appointment with my therapist, the most amazing, patient, caring, and helpful soul ever. I realized I wasn't alone in these weird thoughts. I had people to talk to, and they helped me understand that OCD is a disease. Nothing I did caused it. But I could manage it. That is what I did. And continue to do.

I take prescribed medication for OCD, and although I no longer have regularly scheduled appointments with my therapist, I know she is one phone call away. It wasn't easy getting to the place I am today. There is no magic pill. It takes work to manage a disease like OCD, Anxiety, Depression, or Health Anxiety. Find your people. Let them help. Advocate for yourself, and keep going. Every single day. I am proof that one can manage OCD and Anxiety. I now have the tools, medication, support, and desire to handle it if and when it pays a visit, and I pray that anyone suffering from any kind of mental illness feels empowered to do the same.

Thanks for reading and listening, my friends. Leaving you with some weekend pictures because OCD is a part of my life. It does not define it. Have a cozy day!

Dinner last night was stromboli and baby arugula salad with Parmesan cheese.

We went to the condo yesterday afternoon to see the waves from the storm. 

And this little one is all fresh from her doggy spa!

Billie Jo

All information on this post can be found HERE.