My Life of What Ifs

Monday, November 28, 2011

Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but me

I think that if you looked back at the month of November for every year I have been blogging you will find some sort of Seasonal Affective Disorder post.  Here is the 2011 installment.

I hate this time of year.  I hate that it's dark at 4:45.  I hate that every ounce of energy I have is zapped from my body.  I hate that I can't sleep when I am oh so tired.  I'm in a funk and even though- for the first time in my life- I am working out three times a week or more, it's not helping.

The simplest of tasks take everything to complete.  And everything is just so... blue.

Depression has many frustrating aspects.  It's amplification during the winter months is just one of them.  But the one I find most frustrating is that people usually don't consider that there is anything wrong with you- except that you are a disrespectful, ungrateful, cold-hearted, bitch.  They don't consider the extreme anxiety you feel in certain situations, or the effort it takes to leave the house.  No they don't, because some depressed folks do a pretty good job of hiding what they feel.  Until they're back home.  And the sun goes down.

I am not the type of person who deliberately hurts people, and yet my actions, or lack thereof, seem to do just that.  I don't mean to hurt anyone, and I don't want to feel this way, but I have and I do, and sometimes we all just have to learn to accept it.

I'm sad.  I have a therapist.  I work out.  I take medication.  This too shall pass.
Stacy

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

My girls #sendcheer and make plans to send more

Isn't it funny how sometimes we just figure our kids have no idea about certain things and then one day while shopping at Walmart they blow you away by sharing the secret of life, and their knowledge of, well, the military?

My 11-year-old daughter Ryann is constantly surprising me, and honestly I guess I don't give either of my girls enough credit.

I posted on Friday about the partnership between General Mills and the USO to sendCheer to military families this holiday season.  With specially marked boxes of Cheerios (pictured below) families all over can participate in the Cheerios sendCheer campaign and help raise money for the USO to continue their fantastic programs for military families.

 

Ryann and I went to Walmart where we found these specially marked boxes on the shelf and we bought 10.  The Walmart cashier asked if I was "coupon shopping" so I told her all about the program and how my girls and I plan to deliver the extra boxes to our awesome neighbors so that they too, can send cheer.

 

While we were shopping for a few other items Ryann told me how she and her leadership club at school had written letters to soldiers at their meeting this week.  She asked if we would be writing letters with our Cheerios boxes so I explained that there was a post card inside all ready for us to add our own message and drop in the mail.

 

As you can see 10 boxes takes up a lot of room in the cart, in the trunk and on the counter.  But once we were home the girls were ready.  Jayden mentioned that she hopes her uncle receives her message, but since I could not guarantee that, we made plans to make a treat with our Cheerios to send to my brother, sister-in-law and my two nephews for Christmas.



 

There isn't much to sending our cheerful notes of thanks.  General Mills has it all ready to go inside the box. All you have to do is cut it out...

  

Write your message...

 

Add a stamp... and yes much to Ryann's chagrin I am fresh out of United States flag stamps.  Disney Pixar will have to do :)

 

I am proud of my girls and what they wrote on their cards, both the fronts and the backs.  They understood the action and the message completely with no help from me, which made me proud.  And now that school is out for the Thanksgiving holiday we plan to make some treats, give thanks and send cheer.



This post has been compensated as part of a sponsored charitable opportunity for Collective Bias.  All opinions expressed are my own.
Stacy

Friday, November 18, 2011

I'm Excited to sendCheer to my Military Family

They say some people are truly called to a profession.  They never change majors, never waiver in their course, never have a mini-mid-life-crisis asking "What If?"

My brother was called to the military.  Even though he is almost nine years younger than I am and we never lived in the same house growing up I, as well as everyone else in our family, knew the route he would take.

From his hours in the woods dressed in camouflage to his knowledge of military facts, no one was surprised when he enlisted.  I, for one, have never truly feared for my brother.  I have always felt that if there is someone I want defending me and our country he is the guy.  His calling has given him focus and clarity and he seems to be right where he should be.

That's why I am happy to be a part of the Cheerios sendCheer Campaign.  This fall, Cheerios® and the USO are partnering to send "Cheer" to military families to thank and encourage them for their commitment to our country.  Specially marked boxes of Cheerios cereal will feature "Cheer" postcards, which can be cut out and mailed to military families through a partnership with the USO.  Even more, for each postcard received, Cheerios will donate $1 to the USO to help support programs for military families.  Cheerios has already donated $150,000 and will donate up to an additional $100,000 based upon the number of postcards received by November 30, 2012.


I often think about my sister-in-law- who I think the world of, but don't get to see that often, and all she has to endure with the multiple deployments and taking care of their two kids on her own.  I think of her every time I complain about feeling overwhelmed in my own life.  It takes a special person to partner with someone who is in the military. I complain when my husband goes to deer camp for a week.

I know I haven't done as much as I could to make life easier for them, and now I feel the urge to do more.  For not only them, but for others serving as well.  Our local Girl Scout council has sent girl scout cookies to troops overseas for several years now.  My community has collected a variety of items for care packages.  Now, we can go to Walmart and buy these specially marked packaged of Cheerios and sendCheer to a military family you know, or the USO will handle that for you.  Regardless of who it reaches, cheer will be sent.

The USO is a nonprofit organization that helps lift the spirits of America's troops and their families.  For over 70 years, the USO has provided a touch of home to our troops and their families through centers at airports and military bases, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services.  When a loved one is away serving, the USO steps in to be a second family for our military families, providing support and tools.  The donation from the "Cheer" program will help fund services and programs that support and comfort families, help kids cope when Mom or Dad are away or come home different, and keep families connected during these times.

I hope you will all visit a store and look for these specially marked displays of Cheerios.  Buy a box of Cheerios, cut out the card, write your message of cheer and send it on.  Make it a first step for your holiday season.  A first step that could brighten an other's season as well.

This post has been compensated as part of a sponsored charitable opportunity for Collective Bias, all opinions are mine alone.
Stacy