Relationships & Peacemaking

Internet Slambook (HT: Andrew from Boston)

This morning, my friend Andrew (you know him as “Andrew from Boston” as a frequent commenter on this blog) sent me an encouraging note (he’s been encouraging me for ten years now!) and a link to a video that I was glad to have watched:

The Internet Slambook

In it, the speaker talks about a cruel ritual that girls in her junior high used to do (they created “slambooks” and wrote awful things about other girls in it)–and then she shares some good thoughts about how we are all prone to remember and fixate on harsh criticism we receive (even from relative strangers!) rather than the honest feedback of true friends.

It’s worth the three minutes if you care to click through.

(Thanks, Andrew, for sending it along!)

I am continuing in my VERY down, VERY low-energy days. It was pretty much impossible to get out of bed this morning–so I was glad to have some duties that required it. Otherwise, I think I’d still be there right now.

Nothing bad is happening. I’m not sad about any particular thing. I’m just sad–which, if you’ve been reading this blog for very long, you know I struggle with. I definitely have that “prone to melancholy” tendency. Some days it is very hard to persevere.

And yet, life goes on.

And we are so blessed in so many ways …
 

– Soph continues to be attack-free! It’s such a grace. No screaming and doubling over and projectile vomiting since December now. Wow! We still have her new medicine “at the ready” at all times, but so far it has been completely unnecessary.

– One of her two abnormal test results at The Children’s Hospital last month was a slightly elevated IGE level (which is something in the blood related to allergens), so yesterday we spent five hours in allergy testing. Four sets of scratch tests, multiple breathing tests (pre- and post-breathing treatment) and NOTHING. This kid is allergic to NOTHING. Isn’t that wonderful? They still have no idea why her IGE level was up, but they don’t think it’s anything to be too concerned about.

– We got to spend a lovely little playdate with new friends this morning. The 18 month old was a ROCK around spazzy loving Golden Retriever Lilikoi–she’d just turn away if Lili got too excited. It was GREAT. She was quite the little toddler dog whisperer and Lili just took her cue and calmed down. I loved it. Plus, the mom was sweet and brought sweet cookies too! So even in my incredibly low-energy place, I was blessed with nice conversation, the cutest little child, and nummy cookies too.

All in all, nothing to complain about. (Which is one reason why I’m always tempted to feel so guilty for having this vague, general, sad sense.) But I AM learning to give myself grace and say, “Oh. A sad day. Too bad. But what are ya’ gonna do? It’ll probably pass before too long. Let’s go take a shower and head into our day …”

Hope YOU aren’t having a sad day!

We’re off to gymnastics now–and then we’ll be helping some friends this afternoon.

Blessings and joy,
Tara B.