Much Better, Thanks!

I am, once again, comforted and humbled by the outpouring of support offered by the FS blogger community. My last post was a total Debbie Downer, and I questioned why I even posted it. But words of support and understanding from around the globe really helped improve my mood, and I'm thankful.

It's nine pm on a 'school night' and I'm still awake, which hasn't happened in a while. Partly it's thanks to some great naps this weekend, but it also bodes well for this week. I got some exciting news that I'll share when the time's right, which elevated my mood. And I did some thinking about the reasons I had a tough couple of weeks and have some new calming mantras to rely on. And even though I got almost nothing knocked off my to-do list (except for sewing on a couple buttons), I feel it was a useful weekend.

And with that, I'm headed to bed. It's 9:05 on a school night after all!

Sometimes I Just Can't Think of a Good Title. Especially When I'm Complaining.

Remember this post from a couple of weeks ago where I explored different facets of happiness?? I am desperately trying to channel that energy right now, when I'm staring down a rut.

I don't think it's homesickness or culture shock affecting me this week, but more a combination of stress and frustration and disappointment. It's been a tough couple weeks at work. I've come home and gone to bed at 7:30 almost every night this week, which is, even for me, early. I've had to convince myself to get out of bed every morning and promise myself that I could always go home if I absolutely had to. I haven't needed to, of course, but I had to give myself the option.

This weekend, I have had a number of really great social opportunities with friends I could have joined in on, but I just couldn't motivate myself. Even for diving. For the beach. For dinners out. I'm fully cognizant that I'm making things worse by being a homebody, but it just seems like I need to be grouchy and moody on my own right now.

In retrospect, ten months before my first R&R at a hardship/danger post was probably not great planning. True, there were a lot of external factors that contributed to the timing, but I think for my next R&R I'm going to try to plan it squarely in the middle of the year. Little weekend trips helped a lot, but it is too long a stretch between breaks.

I have been looking at flights for a short weekend away, but, unfortunately, many of the closer destinations come complete with travel warnings these days, which just won't work. And places without travel warnings are overbooked because everyone is trying to get to the same few places.

So, about six weeks until R&R. I can make it.

And I promise, I'll stop moping now. Sometimes you just need to vent, though.


Update: I actually did go and have a relaxing poolside dinner and game night with some friends. I wasn't great company, but it helped improve my mood a bit.