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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by coral on February 23, 2003, at 7:29:31
I've hunted everywhere and I can't find the thread on motivation. If memory serves, Noa started it and I wanted to thank her. I've just finished my office --- painting (walls and ceiling twice!), new rug, newly made draperies, finally hung the pictures I wanted, and the 2003 files are organized. (Can't find a blasted thing in the boxes of 2002 files that are now in the guest bedroom! LOL) However, this project which was mentally started at the end of November is now done. The true impetus was Noa's post. Thank you!!!!
Coral
Posted by noa on February 23, 2003, at 16:32:45
In reply to motivation (noa?), posted by coral on February 23, 2003, at 7:29:31
WOW. That is amazing. How did you do all of that? I am really impressed!
As for me, I guess I can take pride in my one true accomplishment of late--I am a successful impetus! Too bad I cant impetus MYSELF to get something done!
Really, can you bottle some of what you've got in you and send it over? My house is a pig-sty. Really. I'm not exxagerating to say that it is truly chaotic.
My washing machine is still broken. I absolutely must do laundry for work this week, so it means going outside to the public washing machines. There are items of clothing all over the floor, in a amorphous mix of clean and dirty. I've been procrastinating that and a million other things, like getting rid of trash and recycling, doing some paperwork like getting insurance reimbursements before I am totally and completely out of cash, etc. etc. Not to mention the yet-to-be-unpacked boxes (from July!) and not being able to find anything (including the washing machine warranty!).
Argghhh.
But seriously, I am glad for you. If only I can make use of the inspiration.
I feel like I've forgotten how to live. That's the latest way I've thought of wording it. I mean, my depression is much better than it was, but I've forgotten how to live a normal life. I know what needs to be done, but can't remember how to mobilize myself to do it. This includes not only living in deteriorating conditions, not getting normal business of life stuff taken care of, etc, but also things like keeping up with friends, etc.
I get really anxious just thinking about it and spend most of my mental energy trying to ignore the mess and space out with tv, computer games, etc. But this is getting old, really old.
What color did you paint, and what do the curtains look like?
Posted by coral on February 23, 2003, at 17:10:16
In reply to Re: motivation -- WOW » coral, posted by noa on February 23, 2003, at 16:32:45
Dear Noa,
I know exactly what you mean. After the cellar demons packed up and left, I had no idea how to live a proper and productive life, so I managed to fling myself from one disaster to another. It's 7 years post-MAJOR depression, and I really got hit by the procrastination. My office is crucial. I work out of my home and everything was held together with gray duct tape. My birthday present, by my request, from my husband was to help me redo my office. My birthday's in Nov...and I'm now finishing?
One of the secrets for me is a) getting someone else to help. If you ask a friend/spouse, to help and schedule a time, you'll be more committed to getting something done. Another secret is to cut it into small pieces (How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time). We're also NOT alone in this. I did a friend's laundry (her washer was broken) and it was THIRTY loads!!!!
I'd look at all I had to do and head for the couch, computer, etc....anything that was numbing. The fact that it's getting old for you is a truly good sign. Revving up your "life" engine after depression isn't just flipping one switch. It's like starting a nuclear reactor; one slow step at a time, making sure each step is functioning before going to the next.
I MUST thank you again. During my office redo, there were many times that I was sitting on the floor, looking at the chaos around me, and thinking of you helped me to clean one spot. One spot led to another. The walls are a Williamsburg blue and the drapes are almost a royal blue. Speaking of procrastination - I've had the material for the drapes for 10 years. I still have boxes of last year's stuff in the guest room . . . I'm guessing 1 out of 100 pieces of paper are valuable. It's sorting that now or some sorting some time this week. LOL
This fall, I realized I was seriously procrastinating and decided to straighten up our bedroom, which meant taking boxes of clothes to the attic. The ONLY problem was the boxed clothes were my WINTER clothes.
My prime example of procrastination is I realized one clock hadn't been changed for daylight savings and INSTEAD of changing the clock, I thought, "Well, daylight savings changes back in a couple of months and the clock would be right then. So, I did NOT change the clock.
Our Christmas tree is still up and the holiday dishes are still on the table.
My suggestion is that you lighten up on yourself, lady. :) You are learning how to live again.
Again, thanks so much.
Coral
Posted by shar on February 23, 2003, at 23:38:49
In reply to Re: motivation -- WOW, posted by coral on February 23, 2003, at 17:10:16
To Noa and Coral both: a great example of how we are not alone! And, we even benefit from our teamwork over the bytes of space and time. Congrats to you both.
At the end of December, I got my Christmas tree taken down....from the Christmas before. It was on the deck for a while, and is now lying on the ground beside the deck. Eventually, I believe in my heart, it will make it to the burn pile, chipper/shredder pile, turn into mulch, or go to the trash. (The burn and chipper piles are not mine, but a neighbor's, and I can contribute.)
At the beginning of February, we got the boxes that held the Christmas ornaments and lights out to the storage shed. They had been standing behind the living room door since the year before.
A couple of months ago, when I was moving in with my WP, my niece and sister cleaned house. Needless to say, the emphasis was on cleaning and not organizing. Things went to any open space available, the major goal being to get things out of sight. I cannot find SO MANY things, and I am overwhelmed at the idea of even hunting for them.
So, I will leave it again tonight, and just congratulate Noa and Coral for their great work.
And, what's the deal with daylight savings time, and changing clocks? I thought everyone did it that way!
Shar
Posted by coral on February 24, 2003, at 2:52:23
In reply to Re: motivation -- WOW, posted by shar on February 23, 2003, at 23:38:49
"And, what's the deal with daylight savings time, and changing clocks? I thought everyone did it that way!"
Love it!
BTW, did I miss the announcement about your moving in with WP??? SUPER!!!!! (Not that I missed the announcement but that it happened.)
Coral
Posted by shar on February 24, 2003, at 13:39:08
In reply to Re: motivation -- Shar, posted by coral on February 24, 2003, at 2:52:23
Did I not say that? Well, there ya go! So much for my brain working a full speed.
Yeah, it's been 2 months now, and we're still in lub and doing really well and having fun.
He's done an admirable job of adjusting to the chaos, and he loves my dogs, too. The only problem so far is that he is so tidy. And, he tidies up. God, I'll never find anything again!
Shar
Posted by noa on February 24, 2003, at 21:50:55
In reply to Re: motivation -- WOW, posted by coral on February 23, 2003, at 17:10:16
> >After the cellar demons packed up and left,
I like the image.
> One of the secrets for me is a) getting someone else to help. If you ask a friend/spouse, to help and schedule a time, you'll be more committed to getting something done. Another secret is to cut it into small pieces
Yes, I know. But I'm kind of embarrassed to let anyone see the mess.
>>Revving up your "life" engine after depression isn't just flipping one switch. It's like starting a nuclear reactor; one slow step at a time, making sure each step is functioning before going to the next.
Thanks. Good metaphor.
>>The walls are a Williamsburg blue and the drapes are almost a royal blue.
Sounds beautiful!
>>I'm guessing 1 out of 100 pieces of paper are valuable.
I know! I have had bags of unopened mail that in the end just get thrown out. If you wait long enough, almost everything becomes irrelevant.
> INSTEAD of changing the clock, I thought, "Well, daylight savings changes back in a couple of months and the clock would be right then.
LOL!! that sounds like me.
> My suggestion is that you lighten up on yourself, lady. :) You are learning how to live again.
Thanks. Good advice.
> Again, thanks so much.
Glad I could help--wasn't much effort on my part. It is amazing to learn something I said had such an effect on you.
Thanks for your kind and supportive words, Coral. Hopefully I will eventually get into gear.
BTW, I admire your ability to work from home. I could not work at home--I have such a hard time structuring myself.
This is the end of the thread.
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