Saturday night bookend: 35 minutes.

[oak]

Friends, I'm not sure where one anxiety-mess has begun or if another has started, but 2023 is kicking my butt. And it isn't close.

I've set my phone for 35 minutes: whatever recovery or experience/strength/hope I'm going to accomplish this weekend will have to happen now.

Bookend 1 of 2:

I'd say my current anxiety is a fiery 6 of 10.

My plan, for the next 35 minutes:

1. Complete a preliminary plan for the 35 minutes (completed).

2. Post here (in progress).

3. Find and print the excellent handouts provided by my short-term EAP counselor (last session tomorrow [sad emoji]).

4. Review the elastic band exercises (I have that kettlebell competition in September, and I have a loooong way to go).

5. Creating a shopping list for some wonderful recipes I found on Wikipedia.

6. Brush my teeth and dress for bed. Hydrate.

7. Ready or not, at 35 minutes I watch a Hallmark movie on my Hoopla app.

Wish me luck!

[manuel_moe_g]

Good luck, Oak!

[oak]

Good luck, Oak!

Thanks, Manuel Moe! Your good vibes must have worked, because I had a blast doing it.

Bookend 2 of 2

Friends, I completed it. I don't know why I don't do these more often. Inline updates:

1. Complete a preliminary plan for the 35 minutes (completed).

2. Post here.

3. Find and print the excellent handouts provided by my short-term EAP counselor (last session tomorrow [sad emoji]).

***I especially like the de-catastrophizing form: https://www.therapistaid.com/therapy-worksheets

4. Review the elastic band exercises (I have that kettlebell competition in September, and I have a loooong way to go).

*** I didn't get to this one, because I did my beloved (employer provided apps) Lark and Well-Traveled.

5. Creating a shopping list for some wonderful recipes I found on Wikipedia.

*** While I still need to complete the shopping list, here are recipes I'm stoked for: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lablabi ...and... https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ful_medames

6. Brush my teeth and dress for bed. Hydrate.

*** Done

7. Ready or not, at 35 minutes I watch a Hallmark movie on my Hoopla app.

*** I am going to watch 2018's "Date with Love"

In summary

Two things can be true at the same time:

1. I am facing enormous difficulties.

2. I have considerable agency to face them, and I can increase the scope and power of my how much I can effect these changes.

I mean, just take a chicken pomegranate tagine: https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/slow_cooker_chicken_and_96174

There is such a big world out there; I didn't know about tagine, and now I do. What other new ideas can I explore? What other options and solutions are just waiting to be discovered?

How rich am I?

[rivergirl]

Hi Oak,

I'm glad you made it through yesterday with your resourcefulness and a little help from a friend (MM)!

How's it going today, and can we expect a movie review?

rg

[oak]

Thanks, RiverGirl!

How's it going today, and can we expect a movie review?

The movie, Date with Love, was charming: it included mistaken identity, a promposal, social media hijinks, a makeover, and unrequited love that (spoiler!) got requited.

And that was just the "B" plot. Everything we could hope for in a Hallmark movie.

Having just wrapped up my fifth and final counseling session with my short-term, EAP-provided counselor, I'm going to complete the plan for my meal plan for the week, then enjoy the big game.

This bookend did me good. Saturdays are risky.

[rivergirl]

I'm glad you made it through, Oak.

Thank you for the review. I recently noticed that there are at least half a dozen podcasts just devoted to Hallmark movies, and some of the podcasters are male. You're not alone in your love of Hallmark!