Lazy Sunday....

Do you ever find yourself exhausted for no apparent reason? That's been me this weekend. In a weird way it's been nice, because I ended up sleeping a lot more than usual, and my body really seems to appreciate that. It's also helped me get caught up on doing stuff, because my lack of motivation to leave my apartment, combined with my not wanting to be bored led me to get my laundry done and clean my house. So now it's Sunday afternoon, and all my clothes and sheets and towels are clean and hung up, and my apartment is clean (or as clean as it can be without yet owning a vacuum), and my dog is bathed and brushed. So I'm feeling very clean and very rested. Which I think is a great way to feel at the end of the weekend.

At my work we talk a lot about self care. For those of you who don't know what that term means, it's pretty much what you'd think it is. Self care is intentionally making sure you are taking care of yourself (physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, etc.). In the health industry we get reminded of it a lot, because the cold hard truth is that it's hard to give quality care to someone else if you're not taking care of yourself and you're running on empty. Additionally, you end up burning out much faster and much less gloriously than a shooting star. But I've noticed that self care is important period, regardless of if you work in healthcare or not. Self care is, by its very nature, something that is good for you.

Once upon a time, I was horrendously incapable of good self care, and it was destroying me. I would forget to eat regularly, I wasn't managing my mental health at all, I was stressed out by college, my sleep pattern was non-existent, and I spent all my time and energy taking care of others. Me being as stubborn as I am, it took a long while to start to listen when others told me I needed to take a step back and focus on myself before trying to save the world. When I finally did start actually taking care of myself (in a variety of different ways), it improved my life so much. I felt less stressed, I felt okay telling people that I needed space, and I was just a happier person overall for it. It was also easier to recognize when I was upset, because there was a noticeable difference, rather than just always being upset from everything.

Anyhow, this weekend was a good self-care weekend for me. I rested up, restored my environment, and also hung out with my favorite people last night.  I invite whoever is reading this to find time this week to take care of yourself. Pamper yourself or do something that will help you unwind. If you need some quiet time, take it. If you've been avoiding people, go socialize. Do something you enjoy, and do something to nourish yourself physically and mentally and any other way you might be needing it. Whether it's spending 5 minutes meditating, or taking all weekend to relax, give a little love to yourself at some point this week.

An Introduction

Hello to You Dear Reader!

My name's Rissa, and at the moment, I'm writing this because I'm bored, and I feel the need to write something. So I made a new blog and thought I'd write something here. Why a blog? Seemed appropriate somehow. I enjoy writing my thoughts out, but sometimes just writing them down isn't enough. Sometimes you need to share it with people, even if they are strangers on the internet who may never actually read this. But at least with a blog you put it out there and open the door that someone else might see it. Funny how that's a comforting thought. 

Anyhow, a bit about me. I'm a year out of college, spending my days working as a case manager for adults who are living with Serious Mentally Illnesses. That sort of introduction tends to scare people off, but I actually really love my job. I enjoy the idea that I can be there for someone when they need it, that I can offer them at least an ear to listen when they need it. If I'm lucky, I can offer them more than that, whether it's advice or resources or compassion or genuine concern for their well-being. I really think that there are a lot of people out there who just need to know that someone cares, and I do care and I try my best to share that with them. Sometimes when I'm really lucky, I get to see and hear confirmation that I helped in some small way to better their lives. That's a really nice feeling, knowing you helped out. And it's just absolutely awesome seeing positive changes happening for people. Today a client shared that they have landed a job, are signed up for continuing education classes in the Fall, are taking steps towards resolving some personal issues, and want to stop smoking. A few weeks ago this person shared that they were having a hard time with their sobriety and depression because of the discouraging loss of their past job. Getting the update from them today and seeing all the good that's happening for them was really, really, really awesome, and I might have spent the rest of the afternoon walking around smiling like a loon.

So yeah, I love my job. What else about me? I really love music and books and quotes. I like to watch swimming, baseball and college basketball. I also really love roses. One day I will visit and/or live in London. I fangirl hard over shows I love, especially Doctor Who and Harry Potter. I just moved out for the first time, and I'm really liking that. It's very lovely having my own space. I also have my own dog for the first time. He's a Schnauzer-Poodle mix (a Schnoodle!) and his name is Jack. He's one of the best dogs you could ask for. Right now he's curled up next to me snoozing, and he looks absolutely adorable.

Rereading through the above paragraphs makes it sound like I'm this super happy person, who's high on life. I wouldn't necessarily say that's accurate, and my friends would probably die laughing if anyone ever described me that way. But I will say this, after spending many, many, many years feeling miserable about all sorts of things, I'm very pleased that I've reached a better state of being. I don't hate the world anymore, I'm taking steps towards being who I want to be and where I want to be in life, and I'm finding that I enjoy life a lot these days. Not all the time, and not everything is perfect all the time. Sometimes I'm still a sarcastic, snarky, witchy person, who easily looks on the doom and gloom side of things. But I've come a long way in the last few years, and instead of being that person all the time, I'm only her sometimes. The rest of the time I'm someone who is hopeful, who cares deeply, who finds the silver linings amongst the clouds, and who enjoys the good things that are happening in life. 

I dunno quite what I plan on doing with this blog, what the purpose of it is. I imagine I'll use the space to ramble and muse and share stories or cool tidbits, probably to occasionally vent. I'm glad you took the time to read through this, and I hope you'll stick around and share in my life a little bit as I share it with you.

Cheers! 

~Rissa