Picture to burn.

If you follow me on instagram, you already saw this, but I think it bears repeating. 

I've never burned a picture of someone before that and I found this in my scrapbook binder with clear page protectors. I was surprised I still had it. Burning it was both a therapeutic and symbolic gesture. There's something so powerful about being able to say: a terrible thing happened to me and I made it out alive on the other side. Something so freeing about leaving the past in the past and rising from the ashes so to speak. 

 

New dresser.

Well I got a new dresser. I was really proud of myself for taking only a couple minutes to decide which one to choose and not being (too) anxious about it. For those who know me, this is a huge step in the right direction. 

 

Do you see how cute that is?! I'm in love. Don't worry, I don't sleep in a twin sized bed because, Hello! You try sleeping with Gracie in a twin. 🤦🏻‍♀️. They are bringing it by next week and in the meantime I will be rearranging all of the things. If you want to come talk to me or support me morally during this time, please let me know.  Ha! Kidding. I love rearranging my room and getting new furniture and what not.  So, Congratulations to me. 

Anxiety and writing

I was reading in Daring Greatly on Tuesday about how connection is the antidote for shame. There was then a quote about some studies that show that writing for 15 to 20 minutes a day for 3 to 4 days can decrease anxiety and depression. 

You may remember that at the beginning of March I wrote about my increased anxiety here on my blog. My new therapist recommended writing more in my journal as a part of my "self-care." I did, for about four days, and I felt much better. I think it's interesting but sometimes I'm looking for a complex solutions to things, when really all I need to do is sit down and write out how I'm feeling.

This is not to say that I'm no longer anxious. Nor is it to say that I will no longer be seeing a therapist. (I'm a divorcée for crying out loud). It's just a comment on how sometimes our brains just need to get everything out on paper, right in front of us, staring us in the face, and it helps them figure out how to feel better.

And if you want to read a book where the author did that, I highly recommend Milk and Honey by Rupi Kapur.