The Midlife Reframe

Category: social media

  • Accepting Shit

    So, I recently took a little break from all of my social media for a couple of weeks so I could focus on some things that needed my attention. It was well worth it, and I think I will do it a little more often.

    While I was off, I started to evaluate my priorities, and take note of what was important to me. This lead to me having to accept some things about my life, and about myself. It was a humbling experience, but definitely worth it.

    I started to accept the fact that my body is changing, just like it did when I went through puberty. Sucky part is, nothing really prepares you for it, because every person’s experience is different. I have struggled with body image in the past, and it played a big role in my mental illness. Part of me accepting who I am, right now, was to accept my weight gain. Society has really given us a big mind screw when it comes to what we “should” or “shouldn’t” look like. I have learned to love the body I am in. I am still active. Still healthy. I am just a different size now.

    I am also accepting my flaws. We all have them, and by ignoring them, I was doing myself no favours. So, I accept them and work with what I have. I am still pretty awesome, flaws and all.

    I am really, honestly, and truly, accepting my mental illness and all the thing that come with it: the depressive episodes, the chewing the skin around my nails, the self negative talk, the anxiety attacks, and all the other fun things that come with it. I have to. It’s a part of me like everything else. When I am feeling good I try to push it away, and that is not working. Once a depressive episode hits, I am super hard on myself. By accepting it, baddies and all, I can work better with it, I hope.

    And, I accept all my decisions in life, good or bad. The good ones have given me great things, memories, and experiences, and the bad ones (even the REALLY bad ones) have taught me lessons. I have to stop regretting things in my past, for all of my decisions have brought me to where I am, in this moment.

    There are LOTS of other things I have come to accept, but then this blog post would be a short novella, and I wouldn’t do that to you. Let’s just say I am still working on some things, as I am always a work in progress

    My priorities have shifted for certain. I am working to readjust my life to these priorities and start living a more engaged life. To be present. To not have my nose in my phone all the time (which is hard, because when my anxiety and depression is bad, I reach for my phone). To enjoy moments and spend time with the people I care about.

    So, if I disappear from social media for a few days, or a couple of weeks, I am prioritizing myself. Living life off the Internet to gain some serenity. But, I always come back. I start to miss all my pocket friends and look forward to catching up with you all.

    Remember, you are important and need to recharge your batteries every now and then, and there are people who enjoy seeing your face in real life. Get out there and show it off!

  • Absent, to be Present

    I’m on a bit of a social media break (which will be ironic, because I’ll be posting this on social media, lol) so I can be present and show up in my life.

    I’ve been absent for quite some time. Detached from things since COVID-19 reared it’s ugly head. Been living in fight or flight for far too long. So I am taking a step back for a couple of weeks to readjust and be with my family, and getting used to physically being back in the office full time.

    I am sitting back, watching, listening and learning. I am reconnecting with myself during this little disconnect. It’s good for mind and body.

    I need this. Being distracted and not focused is not good for my brain. I need direction and goals to work towards, and I’ve lost that.

    I may be doing these little breaks more often, to stay engaged and aware. I think we all need a disconnect every now and then.

    So, the next couple of weeks will be my reset, then I am going on vacation. I plan on taking lots of videos and pictures to share, so stay tuned.

    Until then I am channeling my energy to the things that matter most, to me.

    Ciao!

  • Speaking in Public: Oh My Nerves

    This year I have two speaking engagements.

    My first one is at the end of this month, at Podcamp Halifax (held at Dalhousie University) and the other in May at the Worth Living Mental Health Conference here in Halifax (at the Atlanica Hotel.

    I have spoken in public before, and was a bundle of anxiety.

    For me, the difference from then until now is that I have become extremely passionate about sharing my journey.

    I will be authentic.

    I will be genuine.

    No smoke screen.

    No masks.

    Just me.

    I am not sure how I will be received, but I am anxious and excited (anxcited, lol).

    The message is important to me.

    I hope that sharing it with a live audience makes a difference.

    If I can make the connection with the audience, then my goal will be achieved.

    It’s time to get real, in the public realm.

  • The Post Where I Talk About the Balance Between "Putting it Out There" and "Keeping Things Private"

    Because Let’s Face It…

    If I told you ALL of my life, ya’ll would definitely run away and hide, lol.

    When I first started on this Blog journey (over a year ago, wow!), it was after some deliberation.  Wallowing in my “I can’t run because I am injured” state was NOT helping matters and I needed an outlet since I couldn’t run.
    I wanted to be vocal about my mental illness and how my running was (and will be, come August 1st) a big factor to keeping myself focused.
    My ex was a big part of the beginning of this blog.  He was an amazing support to me with respect to choosing a platform and encouraging me to write when I expressed a strong opinion about something during our conversations.  He is a part of why this blog is what it is today.  Thank you!

    But…. I thought you loved sharing your story?

    I do.
    The big part of being vocal about anything you have a passion for on Social Media is keeping a part of yourself for you.  Learning to not “overshare” is a big lesson.
    I think we all need to keep our own bubble of privacy for whatever WE decide to keep for ourselves.  If I were to share my very very very innermost thoughts and daily goings on, you’d be two things: scared of me AND annoyed, lol.  Being my brain is a hard job 😉

    And I do love my followers!

    I have met some amazing people on Social Media.  Through my blog, Twitter, Facebook, PodCamp.  I am very glad to call quite a few folks my friends.  
    The running community has been a large support for me as I work my way back to starting to run again.
    Connecting with other moms, especially the local crew, has been awesome.

    I also love that I have so many people who get my anxiety and depression on Social Media.  This is great when I have insomnia or just need to talk about the funk I am in.  
    Those who suffer along with me get it, and if we can lift each other up, I am all for it.  I think sometimes just knowing you are not the only one who is feeling or thinking a certain way can alleviate a little bit of the load off of the shoulders.
    Because I know that I have an amazing Social Media family that will support me in whatever way I need, I do my best to reciprocate if needed.

    Now that being said…

    I share what I can about my struggles with both mental illness, physical fitness, and being a mom.  I try to keep private what I want to keep private.  Because life is life.  Sometimes it sucks and I don’t want to share the sucky parts.
    So trust me when I say you are getting a large piece of me on Social Media.  I keep the yucky parts to myself, for everyone’s peace of mind, lol.

    I hope that you continue to share what you can with me, with the interwebs, with the Twitter-ers, the FaceBookers.  
    Because I think we have a great thing going here.

    xo

    #crazymamaruns