For me, this past week was difficult. Difficult is a relative term, meaning something different to everyone. For me, a lot of things went awry, and my mom was in the hospital. Being so far away, I rely on my siblings to keep me in the loop on her and my dad’s conditions. I feel guilty for not being there, yet it’s not like I can jump in a car and in a few hours be there. I provide all the support I can from long distance.
I had more troubles with my newest book. I’m not sure what I’ve done to it that made it turn against me. I hired out much of it so it would be done well, but apparently, it didn’t like that. For the next book, I will go back to my old way of writing and editing and hope it turns out much better. If you’ve bought the book, I apologize for the errors. I dare not say the new version out is better because someone else may point something I overlooked (and I appreciate that). I will work harder to make the next one better.
In the middle of it all, we’re packing to spend the winter in Texas. That’s a chore and a half. This will be our third year there and maybe our last. Our daughter gets her PhD next year and may be living in their house next winter. Hubby and I don’t mind. We’ve enjoyed the mild winters in Texas, but our house is nice and if it snows, we don’t have to get out in it. Our driveway gets plowed, and our sidewalks shoveled by others. Winters at home will be colder, but my full-length coat will protect me from it.
My mom is doing much better today and may go home this week. Her mind is worse than ever, and Dad has a difficult time dealing with that. He needs encouragement, and I hope to soon be down there to help as much as I can. My dad loves to give, but he hates to receive (see my blog about Giving and Receiving). He doesn’t want to receive help or advice unless he asks for it which makes it very hard for us, his kids, to do much for him. His hard times are caused by aging, a spouse with dementia, and end of life care. Those make my difficulties small in comparison.
Instead of dwelling on my own problems, I need a mindset to help others with theirs, if they’ll let me. I will likely face the same troubles my dad faces one day, and I hope I’ll be nicer about it and accept good advice when it’s given. I don’t want to burden my children with unnecessary hardships. Keeping an open attitude and accepting help whether I think I need it or not is easier on both of us.
Sometimes difficult times help us realize how good we have it. Attitude is everything. Learn the lesson and do better.
To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven; a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8