Are YOU killing it in 2023 so far like ME?!?! 🎉🎉
NO?! Yeah, I'm not either...not yet anyway! 🙈
I have to admit that the end of 2022 and beginning of 2023 have not gone "according to plan!" At the end of last year, I began working with an AMAZING business coach, shout out to Jacob Roig! By mid December, I had a huge breakthrough and was so excited for all that the new year would bring. However, life has a way of throwing curveballs when least expected.
First, I had to put the brakes on a couple of days before Christmas as I was hosting gatherings both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Did I LOVE doing this? Sure! But, it meant coordinating everyone and everything, cleaning for a solid two days prior (tackling all the things I'd put off that "HAD" to be done), cooking all the food (well, most of it anyway). and having all my gifts wrapped and ready a day early (yes, I'm that person that can be found wrapping gifts until midnight on Christmas Eve EVERY year.) The result? We had beautiful time! 🎄
Then, two days after enjoying our Christmas Day, my ex-husband's mother-in-law (we all always get together for holidays) became extremely ill and needed serious medical attention. However, she declined treatment and chose palliative care. That was on Tuesday.
On Thursday, while prepping dinner, I got a frantic call from my daughter asking if a certain number had been trying to call. I checked my phone (through ALL the spam calls) and saw that it had made several attempts and my phone hadn't notified me that there was a voicemail.
It turns out that my mom had been driving her friend, Rosemary, home when she became unresponsive - while driving!!!!!!!
When Rosemary saw she was not slowing down as they approached a very busy local intersection, she screamed at her to stop - and, somehow, she did. But then her foot slipped off the brake and the car began to roll forward.
What happened next is nothing short of a miracle! Because they had come to a screeching halt, other drivers nearby took notice. When the car began to roll forward, two men jumped out of their cars - one putting himself in front of the car to stop it and the other running to open the driver door and put on the emergency brake. Another bystander called 911.
There was no crash.
No one was hurt.
I don't know if you believe in angels, but I'd say my mom's and her friend's were working overtime that day!! 🥰😇
Mom had been taken to our nearby ER with oxygen saturation in the mid 60s. They almost intubated her but she began responding to treatment and, after about 28 hours in the ER, she was discharged with 24/7 oxygen. She has a history of heart issues (3 stents) and COPD but we're still investigating why this acute episode occurred.
So, here we are. She can no longer drive (at least not anytime soon) and I've discovered that she's not the best at giving medical history or advocating for herself. I have jumped firmly into the world of part-time caregiver. As an only child, I knew this would happen one day but, of course, the incident shook me and now I'm in the process of making some changes to my schedule in order to be there for her.
A few days after we got her home and settled, my ex's mother-in-law passed peacefully and was buried on the 6th. 😢
Funny, even as a former therapist and having done a lot of grief work, it surprised me how much I was affected mentally by these events. I am grateful to have family, friends, and colleagues that provide support in any number of ways. I'm also grateful to have the flexibility of working from home! And, I'm beyond grateful that my mom is still around, no one was hurt, and that she can carry on with mahjong, bingo, field trips, and living life with her new friend, Mr. Portable O2!
Life can and will throw unexpected curveballs. Don't hesitate to reach out for help when it happens and take time to prioritize your own mental health when you can. 💜💜
Now...
I'm ready to get on with kicking a** in 2023!! How about you?! 👏👏
~ Denise