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Post by msgently on Sept 26, 2019 23:32:10 GMT -5
Hi again SooSers,
Like others I've seen posting recently, I'm back too after about eight months. You might remember me - I had a little dog Coco who had bone cancer and I was also regularly visiting and caring for my two parents with dementia in a care facility, I was working part-time, and wanting to get my very cluttered somewhat squalorific house ready to sell after Coco passed. I had been posting on and off from about this time last year, and had made some steps forward, but stopped posting after a very busy holiday period, when I felt I had been spending too much time reading/posting on this forum, and not enough time getting things done. I was probably exhausted too after a very busy work period - I have chronic fatigue syndrome (not nearly as bad though as it was some years ago) and pretty constant back pain with bulging discs and spinal arthritis. Looking back, I might have also felt a bit discouraged that I wasn't achieving as much as I wanted too.
On the positive side, I have kept spending some time here every day reading your posts, hoping to get some motivation up, though I didn't manage to achieve anything much during this time, and in some areas slipped right back. Sadly, my little dog deteriorated and I had to take her on her last trip to the vet three weeks ago. I know there are many pet lovers here, so you will know how terribly I miss her. She was my constant companion for a wonderful six years, and I so miss her happy energy and unconditional love. She is at peace now, and my heart will always be with her.
Coco's passing has now freed me to get my home cleared up and to move on to my next stage of life, so I am back to get moving, post, and stay accountable. I see so many here have made remarkable steps forward in the past eight months, and I need to join you again to do the same.
One major thing I decluttered three months ago was my career! I have now retired, and that is such a weight off my shoulders, though I am still getting used to it. Still feels very strange at times.
So please let me join you in this wonderful community again - I need you.
With hope, Msgently
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Post by doodles on Sept 27, 2019 0:20:06 GMT -5
Hi msgentlyIt is great to see you back here and ready to remove the clutter. I'm sorry about Coco, they leave a hole in your when they go, don't they?
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Post by razy on Sept 27, 2019 3:16:22 GMT -5
Hi msgently - great to have you back I am sorry for your loss. I am feeling your pain - we lost our dog to cancer 2 weeks ago. It has been tough. Looking forward to hearing your progress
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Post by seashell on Sept 27, 2019 4:55:21 GMT -5
msgently, Welcome back! It sounds like now is a good time for you to tackle the clutter. I am so sorry about Coco. I have lost three dogs, and I know what you are going through. They always stay in our hearts. Congratulations on your retirement. I bet that really is a load off of your shoulders. In time, you will settle into it and it won't feel so strange. We are here to support you and look forward to working with you.
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Post by ohblondie on Sept 27, 2019 7:40:35 GMT -5
Everyone is coming back home!!!! Hurray! Welcome back msgently
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Post by def6 on Sept 27, 2019 8:17:43 GMT -5
Hello Again and Welcome back msgently My heart goes out to you in the loss of your beloved pet...It's just like losing a relative and our hearts don't know the difference. I'm so excited for you as you start a whole new chapter and I can't wait to read about what you are able to accomplish.
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Post by magda on Sept 27, 2019 8:29:41 GMT -5
So Sorry about Coco. Welcome back
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Post by mylittlescholar on Sept 27, 2019 8:56:46 GMT -5
welcome home!
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Post by joyinvirginia on Sept 27, 2019 23:02:15 GMT -5
Welcome back ms. Gently! so sorry about your precious pup. Its hard when they have been part of your life for so long. Congrats on your retirement! we look forward top hearing about your future adventures!
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Post by Unswamping on Sept 28, 2019 11:19:54 GMT -5
Welcome hone msgently, you are always welcome back here. Im so sorry about Coco, i know thats a devastating loss. Congrats on your retirement. Yes it feels strange now but you will get used to it. Creating and keeping up with a daily routine will help fill the void.
Im so you felt discouraged about your perceived lack of progress. Its hard living with a chronic illness and that does impact how much we can do. I have fibromyalgia and ive learned i need to pace myself. Rest when i need to to, work when i can. Its important to learn to listen to your body and discover the warning signs of when you are overextending. Its subtle and takes work but doing that helps avoid flareups. Ive learned not to compare myself to others, every check mark on my to do list is a victory for me. It may not be as much as what others do or as much as i used to do but thats ok, i did something. Even on days where i cant do anything on my list, if i do self care, thats a victory. I hope you can adopt the same attitude.
Learn smart ways to work instead of using precious spoons. To me, hot water is a miracle. I dont scrub any more, a hot rag will soak and soften the worst gunk. 10 minutes then wipe. Maybe it needs repeat treatments, thats ok. I soak dried on dishes in hot water. Sometimes things need a second soak. Thats ok, still it back in. Eventually it will come clean.
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Post by msgently on Sept 29, 2019 7:58:30 GMT -5
Thanks so much doodles , razy , seashell , ohblondie , def6 , magda , mylittlescholar, joyinvirginia , Unswamping , thank you all for your warm welcome back and kind words re losing my little furbaby. I know you all do understand, and razy I’m so sorry for the loss of your little one too. It’s awful isn’t it. My heart still hurts. As I recall you have children, so they will be missing their precious friend too. It’s just a hard time, nothing much to be done about it except honouring the joy they brought us with fond tears of bittersweet love.
Thanks also @unswamping for your empathy regarding chronic illness. I remember reading the original post from that young lady’s letter about the spoons a long time ago, and it’s good to be reminded - I know you truly understand about the fatigue and pain, and I know many others here have these issues too. I really am so much better than I was all those years ago, but now a few of my spoons have been worn away with taking care of others as well as age and normal wear and tear! This getting older business is not for the feint-hearted.
I will start to post again on one of the listzilla threads tomorrow, but I wanted to acknowledge all your posts before too much time slipped away. I've been busy the last couple of days with real estate reconnaissance and family commitments, however the good news is that I have started working again on the squalor, so all your encouragement is already working its magic!
So thanks again everyone - it’s good to be back.
Goodnight all ...
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Post by mylittlescholar on Sept 29, 2019 10:38:05 GMT -5
yay! thanks so much for taking the time to check back in msgently . and I LOVED your addition to the spoons analogy, I'm going to be sharing that! In my family, everything is now measured in spoons, and I forget that other people don't know the back-story. Not too long ago I discovered that there is a whole online spoons community!
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Post by nonchalant on Sept 30, 2019 11:41:14 GMT -5
yay! thanks so much for taking the time to check back in msgently . and I LOVED your addition to the spoons analogy, I'm going to be sharing that! In my family, everything is now measured in spoons, and I forget that other people don't know the back-story. Not too long ago I discovered that there is a whole online spoons community!
Today is a four-spoon day and I've already used six of them.
In fact, it's been a four-spoon MONTH, starting with a Certain Incident mid-month, from which I am still recovering, a solid week of fighting with a smartphone seller/service provider, and two days ago a kitchen flood (all mopped up and probably fixed now, thanks).
I had never heard of 'spoons' before, Scholar and msgently. Thanks. I need to look into this further.
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Post by creativechaos on Oct 3, 2019 12:23:01 GMT -5
welcome home, msgently! i'm so sorry for the loss of your precious Coco. (you too, razy, on the loss of your dog.) it hurts to watch them age, ail, and suffer, and to think about the hole they leave that can never be filled. may all our beloved furbabies rest in peace... and remain always in our hearts. welcome to retirement - that is going to free up so much time and energy to do the things you want to do. i know what you mean about reading too much and not getting enough done. i'm guilty of that myself, partly because i love and care for so many of the people here - people who understand me without my having to explain. and partly because you all are so wise and have so many good tips about what works for you. i look forward to seeing you around the boards and am truly delighted that you are back!
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