50+ community Check-in December 16-19, 2019
Happy Monday to everyone in the 50+ Community. Hope your all had a good weekend. 
Rosy-cheeked smiling children, midnight carols by candlelight, listening to the stories of grandma' or grandpa', enjoying jokes with a loved one...its easy to fall into the trap of idealising the season. For many of us Christmas evokes memories of times past and if those memories were very good as a result of these we may have many unrealistic expectations. Taking the time to reflect upon this and to recognise that expectations are potential disappointments frees us up to enjoy Christmas as it is.
What is something you can do to stay grounded this Christmas?
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Hello, fellow journeyers,
I've moved between 2 countries and 3 cities within the last 13 months.
Prior to the first move, I had my life down pat. I had places where I played sport and places where I practiced dance. I also walked to and from the office, which = 1 - 2 hours of walking every workday. In other words, I *was* very active.
But ...
Needing a change, and wanting to be closer to my daughter, I took my work online (strictly digital now) and then ...
... moved to her country, with a different less extroverted culture. For example, my particular sports are not a part practiced there so those 2 mainstays/happy anchors got dropped :-(
After a year I decided to return but to a different city, a small town by the sea. Now that I work online I no longer felt I HAD to remain in the congested, contaminated city. Good plan so far, but ....
Maybe it's my age? or maybe it's _____? but I'm not adjusting as fast or as well as I used to.
All this peace and quiet and solitude is bringing up old issues, too. It's a gift and a blessing to have time alone with oneself but I'm also needing some support (hi 7 Cups) ... and ...
I will need to move again at the end of February but don't yet have clear where exactly I'll go next.
Not having a clear picture ... and ... the process of again building new, suitable, integrated social hobbies ... issues with my personal/work productivity and direction .... have me stressed (a lot) today and for the past 2 weeks.
Because it's uncomfortable to live on the edge like this, I determined to re-create a (new) home base for myself, a new "hub" but I've not completed that yet and so ... being in the middle like this, in transition, neither here nor there .... is taking a toll. And, like most people, I can't throw money at the problem.
So that's me this week and last week.
Wishing you all well and happy upcoming winter holidays.
Azure
@azureBalloon6704
Hi Azure,
It can be unsettling to be in a phase of continuous change. I believe that all change has positive impact, although they may be obscure at the time. You recent history demonstrates courage and tenacity and a preparedness to give it a go. Well done you!
I smiled at your use of the phrase "dropping anchors", this has two conotations for me. One is that there is a sense of security to overcome the natural conditions and retain our position at sea (or lake) and the other is to be liberated to go where we wish and to cast off (drop) the anchors that are keeping us stuck. It seems that both these conotation might apply?
Have a happy holiday and keep warm.
Regards, oel.
Dear @oel,
Am copy-pasting your reply into my offline journal to further contemplate your response. Thank you for it, specifically, for reaching out, and for taking the time to share your depth and insight with me.
Be well,
Azure
@azureBalloon6704
Moving to a new place is never easy in my opinion, so much to plan for and so many new things to adjust too and when finances are limited, as they are with most people, it's even tougher but it also shows great courage and strength. I hope everything will go well. To create a home base for yourself sounds like a good idea, somehow an anchor to hang on too.
Wish you a Merry Christmas.
Beautifully said, @amiablePeace77, thank you. Peace be with you also and may you and yours enjoy a fabulous and colorful winter season.
@azureBalloon6704
Thank you 
What is something you can do to stay grounded this Christmas? I usually remind myself of the happy things or just try to reorganize my brain when i remember the disappointment 
@AddictedTealover98
If find it's very helpful what you do, focuss on the happy things so that you do not get caught up in negative thoughts such as disappointments. Usually we can find a silver lining in all situations, it might just not be obvious all the time.
@AddictedTealover98 i agree that reminders are very helpful at times!
My girlfriend is coming over on Christmas Eve. She has a hike she will be taking on Christmas day. That should be enough for me.
@Offmytrack
Wish you lots of fun Offmytrack.
Btw. great idea to go on a Christmas hike!
Only 9 days till Xmas, but 8 days till all my kids come home for Xmas Eve. Psyched!
@agreeableZebra7523
Sounds like an amazing family Christmas, but I guess there is a lot of work to do.
I been trying to concentrate on what needs to be done. And when the day is here, I put on my happy face. And just ty to get thru the day. Then when its over relief it is done.
@Lauren63
Lauren, I hope your Christmas will be much better than expected.
Remember to BREATHE!!
@barncat
I like that barncat,"remember to breathe" and things might look different.
@barncat a simple yet important reminder, thank you for sharing
@amiablePeace77 I will do my guided breathing meditations.
@adventurousBranch3786
Nice way to start the day. Do you have any particular ones for the morning?
@amiablePeace77 yes I am doing the 3 minute or the 5 mindfulness minute breathing video in the morning after affirmations.
HI THERE,
JUST CHECKING IN, This is not a good day
@scarletPear1945 I am sorry to hear this. I hope that you can get some support from us here.
@adventurousBranch3786
Thanks, Went to the therapist yesterday after many months of not being able to go because I was recuperating from my back surgery. I am back in that spiral of emotions and triggers that have popped up again. I am at the point of thinking that this spiral will never quit. Do good for a while then have the rug pulled out from under you. I know things happen in life but what I fail to make sense of is why does of why it never goes away completely. I hate this and there just seems to be no solutions.
Being taunted by something you had no control of for the rest of your life seems like a jail sentence, no rather a prison sentence..
@scarletPear1945 I understand that feeling of being taunted by something that was out of my control. It can feel like a prison sentence. I hope that you will be able to get some relief now that you are able to see your therapist again.
hey there @scarletPear1945 and everyone else in our 50+ community. I'm just checking in, too. Am wearing a pouty face because, like @scarletPear1945 I'm having sucky experiences and am losing otherwise productive time in a sore emotional state, head in hands. 
@azureBalloon6704
I am sorry that you are having a bad time to. It is so hard to keep moving foreward to recovery when your head is in another place. I hope that you can get the help you need to make you feel better. However I am here with you to listen or just sit with you and support each other in this maze of stuff.
Dear @adventurousBranch3786 and @scarletPear1945. Thank you for your kind replies.
I started with 7 Cups seven days ago and can honestly say that my participation here has indeed helped me a lot. As clouds do, my own bleaker emotions have also passed. I finished the work week and am catching up on projects more personal and beloved. These rejuvenate me.
So, thanks for forming a part of this community and making this load of good and bad less burdensome.
@azureBalloon6704
I am just so glad to have you as a part of the community. I hope that we can help you through any rough patches.
Take your shoes off and get comfy as we all walk this pathway to a bigger and better lifestyle.
Thank you for taking the time to thank us. We care
@azureBalloon6704 I hope that you can get some support from us here to help you thru this difficult time..
@adventurousBranch3786, thank you. In truth, this platform has/is helping me a lot, yes. Same to you :-)
@scarletPear1945
Great to hear, thanks for checking in
@amiablePeace77
yOU ARE SO KIND!
Thank you
