Sunday Sessions with Philippa

Welcome, one and all.

Seriously though, welcome.

I am glad you have come to visit. 

This post is the post that happens weekly, except for last week, when I kept falling asleep.  I figured no one needed my exhaustion fueled drivel.  And to be entirely honest the week in question is a blur. 

The purpose of this post is to reflect on the previous week.  The intention is really to live a more intentional life (wow).  I believe that we can learn from each other, which is why I share what I have learnt with you. 

Stress

I have noticed after the last couple of weeks that my body is plagued by fatigue, dry skin, a scalp that is peeling off in chunks, gross I know, my brain is foggy and my belly is either in terrible pain or bubbling, there are some other upsetting symptoms, but I think you get the point.  And then this morning, when war over porridge reached nuclear proportions I lost all sense of reason and became a toxic mother.  Stress can be beneficial, it can inspire, motivate and move one to new heights, but when it is in excess it becomes a poison.  My stress is a poison that is weakening my body and causing me immense discomfort.  I have chosen to deal with it this way:

1.       Do I know what is causing me stress? Yes.

2.       Can I do anything about the things causing stress? No.

3.       Can I manage my stress? Potentially (it is a process and I am only at the very beginning), yes.

4.       How am I working to manage my stress?

-Eating well; nutrient rich food that looks after the gut and strengthens the body

-Exercising

-Reading; it has taken me years to regain the desire to read.  This very busy, modern technology driven world we live in is destroying our ability to think.  It is so much easier to crawl into the false reality of our cell phones than it is to live in this real world, let alone pick up a book.  I have just finished the first Harry Potter book and I loved it. 

-Water; I have been so dehydrated for the last couple of weeks

-Being on top of our finances, um, ok.

-Choosing my battles

-The beach, oh the beach.  The ocean sooths my soul.

-Writing

-Emily P Freeman’s The Next Right Thing Podcast

-Going to Jesus

How are you coping with stress?

Don't they just scream soul-food?

My stress makes me a really rubbish mother

Due to my stress I have felt worn at the edges, frayed.  My eldest son’s constant pushing and his inability to obey the instructions he doesn’t see the value in, my daughter’s anxiety, my youngest’s temper tantrums have been met with wild, unchecked emotion.  I have been revolting and I can see the harm it causes.  I am not telling you this because I am in heap whipping myself, I am not.  I feel crap, but I am determined to do it better tomorrow.  I can but esteem to live each day better, right?

How do you find obeying when you don’t see the value in the instruction?

This is my youngest. This is not a temper tantrum, this was getting him dressed in the morning.  We used the goggles in the fine art of bribing your child to do what you need them to. 

Live each day well

Today, I can do today.  When I wake up I get to live tomorrow, tomorrow is new day full of so much potential for laughter and joy and connection.

I crave connection, I suck at connection

I have a wonderful husband who gets me.  He and my family are enough most of the time, and then there are those moments when they aren’t.  I am a recovering-insecure introvert and sometimes I think I have an inability to make and keep friends. 

We don’t have to agree on everything

We seem to have this idea that if we disagree on the big things we have nothing to talk to about or much to shout about.  We seem to believe that our thoughts and opinions on matters of race, religion, gender, politics supersede relationship.  We need to prioritize relationship. 

Surfing makes me happy

I am 35-year-old grom who can’t stand up on the board for longer than 30 seconds, but I love it.  And I think I am snail-slowly starting to improve.

Ok, I think that is it, but truth be told I have started yawning and my husband has fallen asleep a couple of times right here at the dining room table.

Before I go though, let me leave you with a few movie suggestions.  They are not brand spanking new.  They have had a positive effect on my psyche.

·         Storks

·         Ballerina, I love the soundtrack

·         Chasing Mavericks

You are most welcome. 

If you are in need of prayer you are welcome to pop me a mail philippaliebenberg@gmail.com.

If you are not needing prayer (or you are) and are a praying person, please would you pray for a couple of things?

·         Our friend Temwani, who is moving back to Zambia to start a new season. 

·         A family friend who struggling with big life choices

·         A friend who has lost her job and is needing to find a new one, the right one

·         A husband for a dear friend

·         A home and stability for a family member and their family

·         A friend who has gone through a divorce

·         A family friend desperate to become a mother

Thanks guys, you are awesome!

Big hugs and cups of strong Fairtrade coffee

Philippa