Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Meaningful Monday A Day Late


I missed posting my Meaningful Monday yesterday. Ike came through over the weekend and at the same time we had a cold front moving in, resulting in a double whammy. We lost our electric for about two hours and from what we are hearing on the news we were very fortunate. Many in the Columbus area are still without electric and not likely to have it restored until Wednesday, while some areas not until Sunday. With those storms moving in, my pain meter has been riding on the high side. After the cortisone shot in my knee, the blood sugar has been spiking into the upper 200's. Of course that puts me in a funky kind of existence. The desire to do something productive is there, but the get up and get-r-done is no where to be found.

When I found this 'Note To Self' graphic, it spoke volumes to me. I am a 'make a note' person. Almost as long as I can remember I have been one of those people that are constantly making notes to get things accomplished. When I was in school, it was so I would be able to remember when certain assignments were do so I didn't miss the deadline and get a BIG ZERO for my work being turned in late. As a young bride, it was just second nature to make notes, so I just continued the practice. Later on as a mother of two active children, those notes were my survival tool to make sure that all activities fell into place and I was where I was supposed to be, when I was supposed to be there. ( Of course there was that one time when I dropped Chris at school for a dance and went home to wait until it was time to pick him up. I fell asleep and awoke to the phone ringing and Chris asking, "Did you forget something?" when I answered the phone.) He still pulls that story out and uses it on me from time to time. These days, my notes are to make sure that I don't forget blood work, doctor's appointments, spending time with the kids, birthdays, grand children's activity schedules and of course grocery lists.

Growing up was not filled with the wonderful memories that most people have. To be quite honest about it, my father was an abuser. He was physically and emotionally abusive to my mother. He was abusive to his children in the order of our birth. His oldest daughter got the physical abuse while his oldest son received the emotional abuse. His youngest son received the physical abuse while myself, the youngest daughter received the emotional abuse. As siblings, we were set up to be dysfunctional by our father. The two that were physically abused, resented the two that were "just" emotionally abused. He created mistrust and jealousy between the four of us. My youngest brother (2 1/2 years my senior) looked for any opportunity to cause me pain. I remember him once waking me to pour pepper in my eyes.

From life with Daddy, I went to a first marriage that turned out to be just more of the same. Needless to say, The majority of my life I didn't have a very good self image, I was very selective about sharing my inner self with anyone, and I spent the better part of my life gathering up any fault that I found laying around, I was trained at an early age to claim it all as mine.

What a wonderful tool the "notes to self" would have been for me in those years. I don't care who you are or how wonderful your life is, everyone has a bad day from time to time. I know personally that I can be my own worse critic when I have a day like that. I think we could all benefit from little "notes to self' reminding us that there is a person within that needs to be reminded of our worth and that we are lovable.

Go ahead and write that "note to self". hoping that you have a day filled with many blessings.

"Note to self: It's OK to not feel good."



Note from Jo........ I want you to know that part of moving ahead with my life has been to accept all aspects of my life before, as the mold that has formed the person that I am. Had I not experienced that life, I would be a different person. Most days, I like who I am.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Jo, Sometimes, I wonder just how many had really normal good childhood memories. Baby boomer kids were raised by Depression era parents. Thank you for sharing and letting us know we aren't alone. East, West. North, South, coasts, rich, poor...So sorry to read you aren't feeling good. There's a whole world out here that love you. Glad to know the storm was mild in your parts. Prayers continues for you and yours.
Love, Nanna

Mike Golch said...

Jo, thanks for stopping by. we got our power back on today at about 12:50pm.there are some folks that will not get their power back on untill Friday. Ike was a real S.O.B. that is for sure.
I hope you feel better.

Mary said...

Jo,

Until I read Mike's blog tonight, I didn't realize that Ike had come as far north as Ohio. Our news has focused on the Galveston area.

I do know what physical and emotional abuse does to a person. I believe that the emotional abuse is worse. You are a wonderful person, made in God's image. I keep you in my prayers, dear friend.

Blessings,
Mary

Lib said...

Hi Jo,
You are a WONDERFUL Person!!!!!!!!!
I can relate to you in manny,many ways!
I hope you feel better soon!
Hope you have a great day Friend!
Blessins', XOXOXO ,Lib

Laura ~Peach~ said...

I got all the above abuses as there was no siblings to share it with... I am a note maker too ... Love this post it is fantastic!
Hugs JO ... love the music selection too... hotel california is so meaningfilled for me!

Carole Burant said...

Well, I love who you are:-) How sad that you had that kind of childhood, abusive parents don't realize the long time effect it has on the children as they grow into adulthood. At least you've learned from it and have accepted AND overcome it! All I see today is a loving and caring person. xoxo

The Old Man and His Dog said...

Thanks for the comment on my skunked dog blog. Wanted to let you know that I started Byetta and it's working well and no side effects. I'm now taking Lantus, Metformin and Byetta. Thanks for the info.

farmlady said...

Your childhood is something you had no control over and laid a shaky foundation for you and your sibings. That you can now say that you like who you are is HUGE. That's because you've let go of "yesterday"and found "today" a really good place to be...., and you keep trying.
Thanks for your honesty, Jo.

violetlady said...

Jo, thank you for sharing your life experience with us. We never know what each of us may carry with us in our lives. As you know, you own those experiences and they in part formed the wonderful person you are today.

Tina Coruth said...

Jo,

I'm sorry your father was abusive. I do understand. My parents abused my siblings and me. But you and I survived and thrived! You are a wonderful person and I'm not so bad myself. :-)

I write notes,too. I get lost if I don't! LOL

I hope you are feeling better soon and that you have a good weekend.

hugs,
Tina

Kate said...

Hi Jo, Like many others who have posted here I think you are special - and what's more you have a great gift for making folk feel 'special' too !

In actual fact it's folk like you passing on your blessings that makes folks like us want to 'do and be better' - which is a very great gift. Cheers Kate x.