I am not in the best of moods, to be honest, I am upset, grumpy, and sad, a bit confused as well. I don’t like to feel that way, it’s not how I normally am. I still laugh and I joke around, but it’s half-heartedly at the moment and that’s alright.
The last months have been tough. We had to say goodbye to our 17-year-old dog, which stings and I feel it every day. Our best friend had a deliberating stroke in March, from which he did not recover. Politics and people piss me off more and more and I am taking a chemotherapy drug once a week, and the side effects are overwhelming at times.
It’s raining inside!
“I’ve found that it’s of some help to think of one’s moods and feelings about the world as being similar to the weather.
Here are some obvious things about the weather we all know.
It’s real.
You can’t change it by wishing it away.
If it’s dark and rainy, it really is dark and rainy, and you can’t alter it.
It might be dark and rainy for two weeks in a row. There might even be a rainy season.
BUT
it will be sunny one day.
It isn’t under one’s control when the sun comes out, but the sun will come out.
One day.
It really is the same with one’s moods, I think. The wrong approach is to believe that they are illusions. Sadness, anxiety, listlessness – these are all are real as the weather – AND EQUALLY NOT UNDER ONE’S CONTROL.
Not one’s fault.
BUT
They will pass. Really they will.
In the same way that one really has to accept the weather, one has to accept how one feels about life sometimes, “Today is a really crap day,” is a perfectly realistic approach. It’s all about finding a kind of mental umbrella. “Hey-ho, it’s raining inside, it isn’t my fault and there’s nothing I can do about it, but sit it out. But the sun may well come out tomorrow, and when it does I shall take full advantage.”
Ever gone to the doctor because you are laughing too much, or you are too happy?
“Please doctor, give me something, I can’t stand being that happy. I have just fallen in love and I am on cloud 9. I need to go back down to earth.” It’s unlike that you will complain about being too cheerful.
So why go if you have the blues for a while. Sorrow, grief, and unhappiness is as much part of our life as the rain and thunderstorm is part of the weather.
We lose people and pets we love, we fall out of love, we make bad decisions, and people treat us wrong and unfair. It happens!
The sun will come out again.
Accept it, embrace it, and don’t try to change what you can’t change.
The happy Quitter! 
This too shall pass, as most everything does in time.
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It never rains for long, not even during rain season 🙂
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I’m really sorry that this is a hard time for you, Bridget. The losses, your beloved dog and your friend, would be a heavy emotional “hit” all on their own. With all these other factors, I think your description of “raining inside” is very clear. These periods of lingering sadness are inevitable from time to time, but they sure are difficult. There are a lot of reasons for each of us to get stuck in “gloom,” and it’s always important to remind ourselves, as you did, that if we just wait it out, there will be a shift in the wind. I’m glad you shared and hope your inside rain with us, Bridget, and I hope it’s a very short-lived season!
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It’s part of life. I guess we are both at an age where we had some rainy seasons. It makes no sense to fight it, it is what it is. I appreciate your comment and your thoughts very much.
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In the last three days I’ve heard from several friends about things going on in their lives and I hardly know a person right now who isn’t kind of down. Maybe for some of us it’s just a reflection of accumulated anxiety from the last few years. They haven’t been easy! We can encourage one another. 🙂
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Many thanks for your profound and touching words:) I try to change the things, which are possible to be changed and accept the things, which can’t be changed!
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I guess that’s the most important lesson we learn. Some things we just have to accept.
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You are right to liken the phases of weather with changing moods or emotional states. Your words remind me of old Norwegian sayings: Like bad weather, everything passes. Behind the clouds, the sky is blue.
However, you have a lot going on and you need to be gentle with yourself. We have to do what we can to get through the difficult times and take steps to schedule in some spoiling time. Some treat or indulgence to relax and enjoy I hope is on the cards for you soon.
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I am learning to be kind to myself. I didn’t get that when I was younger, but sometimes it’s important to put ‘self’ first, even if it might feel wrong at first.
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👍It is not wrong to care for your mind and sense of well being as we would a physical injury or weakness by spoiling yourself a little.
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This you know. I trust the pendulum will swing soon.
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It’s swinging 🙂
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I hope writing this down has helped you. Reading it certainly helped me. Thank you for sharing this simple, all-too-ignored approach to life.
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Actually, writing it down helped a lot. It’s looking myself over the shoulder. 🙂
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I love this Bridget. A good, common sense approach!
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I like the idea that I might have some common sense left.
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It seems to be sadly lacking nowadays!
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Bridget, I totally agree when you say: “Sorrow, grief, and unhappiness is as much part of our life as the rain and thunderstorm is part of the weather.” It’s part of being human and we’ve got to learn to deal with it the best way we can. On the upside, like the rain that enriches the Earth so, too, does the rain in our hearts and souls make us more caring individuals and better able to connect with others in their sorrow and grief. I’ve found smiles and hugs the perfect umbrella for this kind of weather ❤
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I do believe all emotions are worth living. The grief, when it hits first, it seems overwhelming, and life-altering and it is. Later on, it becomes part of our lives and we accept it and tolerate it more.
I like your umbrella theory 🙂
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I wanted to say something wise (something someone wise has said) but I cannot come up with anything.
So. Please, let it rain. Sit back and do nothing. Do nothing because I will not bore you with wise words you don’t need right now.
Your feelings are legitimate as they are. Just don’t add to them. Sit back and let them be. Do nothing. The sun will come out tomorrow.
You are loved. I wish you miracles xoxo
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I appreciate your comment very much. It comes from your heart and I felt it. Thank you!
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I hope you see a rainbow soon.
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You and me both
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