Seven Golds

On Saturday I asked the boys if they could drive to a little event at the University of Washington in Tacoma; I wanted to introduce myself and leave my business card to a business that was going to be there. I was surprised that I felt the need to take a few photographs. I had a difficult week with the headaches, but on Saturday I was feeling okay and it made me happy. I evaluated my decision to go very carefully, given the fact that I get trigger headaches just by being in the car for a long time. But the drive was only 1/2 an hour each way, so I figured it would be okay. Then Sunday happened. I went into depression really quick with a whole range of intrusive thoughts. The pressure of depression and the heavy work of trying to save myself triggered the headaches badly.  Sunday night I was experiencing what is called a 'dark night of the soul.' I have experienced this before, more than once, but it had been a while. I have been going from feeling lost, confused, in despair, to...

I realized really quick that the rebuilding phase will not be easy. I already spent the loan my mom gave me. A lot went into medical bills and mortgage.  My income tax return was little this year, and it is already going into medical expenses. My insurance is no longer covering for chiropractor visits, and it denied more physical therapy. I am currently paying out-of-pocket, but I know soon I won't be able to. The new clients I was excited about and counting on are not working out or are not ready. I had a difficult week with my headaches and back pain this week. This affected my mental health. My physical health affects my mental health, and my mental health affects my physical health.  I have also been overwhelmed as fuck! It became clearer, this week, after therapy and sleepless nights that if I my chronic stress is not managed, I have no chance of a full recovery; I am still hoping. I'm also in this space of trying to figure out how to live, recover joy, rebuild a life and...

  I just ended a major cycle in my life and in my Journey. I realized I was wrong when I said I was ending the Journey back in 2024; I can see that now. I think I was transitioning into a new phase, without me realizing it.  This new stage is the stage of aligning my thoughts with my own feelings and actions. Of finding my balance. Of building a firm foundation, physically, mentally and spiritually. I know this now because I can peacefully stay with this reality and it doesn’t feel forced. I believe this is the phase where I start practicing what I have learned along this journey.  The REBUILDING phase. Truthfully. Doing with more intention, creating around my purpose and around who I am. Connecting with my authentic self, dreams, goals, purpose, power, trust, joy, love & future. Here, Paty ♥ Love. Zeal. Balance.

(Photo was taken by my son)  I have therapy on Tuesdays and Wednesdays each week. Although I’m getting better, it is still a lot of work. Normally by Tuesday, I’m realizing now, my nervous system is already dysregulated and I urgently need therapy to ground myself. Sometimes I am afraid I have become dependent on therapy and that I might need it for the rest of my life. But we are not there yet; I do hope that at least I can move to once a week instead of two soon. Lately, I have been working on ideas for my new business, doing research and applying for licenses in the evenings and on Saturday mornings. Today I was feeling overwhelmed by the whole thing so I thought about the blog and writing. The other day when I was feeling on edge, I checked Mark Nepo’s IG page, for inspiration. I saved a quote from him and I try to ground myself with it, often: “Lift your story like a sandbag and pass it on. It will do more good than you can know.” Sometimes when my brain is betraying me, I can...

I believe I am going to start my own business. Online bookkeeping business. I have been a little terrified about this decision as well. On Monday, when I was having a bad anxiety attack, I was thinking, "how in the world are you going to run a business if you have these mental health issues?" "Are you sure you have what it takes to do this?" Then on Tuesday when my head was hurting a lot and I had to schedule an urgent appointment with the chiropractor, I was thinking the same thing - "how in the world am I going to do this?" The other night when I couldn't sleep thinking about it, I remember telling myself, "Well, you are going to do it anyway, you know you are, so what is the point of being so worried to the point of making you sick?"  And taking it one day at a time. I realized that practicing gratitude and grounding myself is helping. If today I still have food and a roof, then today I am okay. Tomorrow is tomorrow. And remembering that i...

I am leaving my job. Two weeks from tomorrow will be my last day. This was one of the hardest decisions of my life and not easy to come to it.  When I told my therapist she reminded me that I have done hard things in the past. It gave me peace of mind for about a minute, because I also remember promising myself never to do this again- putting myself in that position of not having a job or money. Now here I am. Again.  Brené Brown said once that when we work with family, our unhealthy, unresolved patterns come to the surface the most. For me it was codependency, toxic guilt, feeling responsible for others, and maybe a few more. I am sure that the fact I am the big sister also played a big part, in my broken parts. Of course, there have also been the good parts that I brought in like commitment, loyalty, dedication, responsibility, solving problems, figuring things out, communication, projecting, bringing difficult conversations to the table, and a few others. They also had, and...