I have had a rough couple of weeks. I won't go into all the details mostly because they only serve to upset me. Suffice to say that I had some major issues with my middle son who is 22 and my stress levels have been through the roof.

The holidays are here, and it's the perfect time to indulge in all those bad habits if I let myself fall back into the trap. The trap is decorated in all my favorite kind of shiny sparkly things, so it's a very attractive trap.

The holiday sweetness abounds as candy canes, and chocolate are given out as gifts attached to cards and left on the desk. There is no judgement in popping it into your mouth that's what it's there for scream the givers.

I have resisted, and given away the chocolate attached to the card, and the candy canes and passed them on to others more deserving and needing of the calories then I to those people the candy was a welcome treat and I felt good for sharing it.

Not everyone knows of my surgery, I don't broadcast it though I am not shy of telling anyone should they ask me. My closest co-workers, friends and family all know. So I have to say the most touching support came today from one of the young ladies I work with. In a twist of fate we ended up seated next to each other though we both do very different work and are at very different levels in our work and our age we have become good friends.

Today as a gift for the holiday's she baked rainbow Cookies for the people in her department as a holiday gift. I heard them all saying thank you and how good they were and she said to me: "Lisa I didn't bake you any cookies, I know you would appreciate them but would not want to eat them. So I have a special gift for you." I opened the gift and it was a beautiful shell decorated sparkly starfish ornament. My friend said "It made me think of you and of Hawaii where I know you want to live someday!"

This gift has touched my heart very deeply. As this young girl thought not only of me in this holiday season, but also thought about a gift that would be supportive of my journey and my choices.

I hope you all have a close friend or family member who is supportive of you as well, and if you don't please come and share my starfish and know that I support you!!

I have had a rough couple of weeks. I won't go into all the details mostly because they only serve to upset me. Suffice to say that I had some major issues with my middle son who is 22 and my stress levels have been through the roof.

The holidays are here, and it's the perfect time to indulge in all those bad habits if I let myself fall back into the trap. The trap is decorated in all my favorite kind of shiny sparkly things, so it's a very attractive trap.

The holiday sweetness abounds as candy canes, and chocolate are given out as gifts attached to cards and left on the desk. There is no judgement in popping it into your mouth that's what it's there for scream the givers.

I have resisted, and given away the chocolate attached to the card, and the candy canes and passed them on to others more deserving and needing of the calories then I to those people the candy was a welcome treat and I felt good for sharing it.

Not everyone knows of my surgery, I don't broadcast it though I am not shy of telling anyone should they ask me. My closest co-workers, friends and family all know. So I have to say the most touching support came today from one of the young ladies I work with. In a twist of fate we ended up seated next to each other though we both do very different work and are at very different levels in our work and our age we have become good friends.

Today as a gift for the holiday's she baked rainbow Cookies for the people in her department as a holiday gift. I heard them all saying thank you and how good they were and she said to me: "Lisa I didn't bake you any cookies, I know you would appreciate them but would not want to eat them. So I have a special gift for you." I opened the gift and it was a beautiful shell decorated sparkly starfish ornament. My friend said "It made me think of you and of Hawaii where I know you want to live someday!"

This gift has touched my heart very deeply. As this young girl thought not only of me in this holiday season, but also thought about a gift that would be supportive of my journey and my choices.

I hope you all have a close friend or family member who is supportive of you as well, and if you don't please come and share my starfish and know that I support you!!

Starfish Allison.jpg

this was a lovely post....thanks for sharing the most absolutely gorgeous starfish....its nearly as beautiful as its new owner

So awesome! Thanks for sharing.

this was a lovely post....thanks for sharing the most absolutely gorgeous starfish....its nearly as beautiful as its new owner

You are too kind CG

that was so moving. that young girl has more heart than most ppl do. she's a keeper. merry christmas.

That is so awesome!

Have a very Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas friend! Sorry to hear that you are once again stressed beyond your limits. You are the sweetest and kindest person and you deserve some non-stress, just you time....I hope you give yourself that gift this Christmas and well into the New Year too!....YOU DESERVE IT!

Hopefully we will get together soon! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Loved the card!

Real pretty and such a thoughtful friend. You are blessed. Karen..aka..kll724

Merry Christmas friend! Sorry to hear that you are once again stressed beyond your limits. You are the sweetest and kindest person and you deserve some non-stress, just you time....I hope you give yourself that gift this Christmas and well into the New Year too!....YOU DESERVE IT!

Hopefully we will get together soon! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Loved the card!

Thanks Friend!

The holiday was a nice! I could use another couple of days off though, but it's right back to work manning the ship as the boss is out sick.

I made a promise to myself that I am going to work on reducing the stress in my life! Has to happen one way or another, and it would be so much healthier if it was by choice and not by default.

I hope you had a great holiday and the kiddies had big smiles!

I have had a rough couple of weeks. I won't go into all the details mostly because they only serve to upset me. Suffice to say that I had some major issues with my middle son who is 22 and my stress levels have been through the roof.

The holidays are here, and it's the perfect time to indulge in all those bad habits if I let myself fall back into the trap. The trap is decorated in all my favorite kind of shiny sparkly things, so it's a very attractive trap.

The holiday sweetness abounds as candy canes, and chocolate are given out as gifts attached to cards and left on the desk. There is no judgement in popping it into your mouth that's what it's there for scream the givers.

I have resisted, and given away the chocolate attached to the card, and the candy canes and passed them on to others more deserving and needing of the calories then I to those people the candy was a welcome treat and I felt good for sharing it.

Not everyone knows of my surgery, I don't broadcast it though I am not shy of telling anyone should they ask me. My closest co-workers, friends and family all know. So I have to say the most touching support came today from one of the young ladies I work with. In a twist of fate we ended up seated next to each other though we both do very different work and are at very different levels in our work and our age we have become good friends.

Today as a gift for the holiday's she baked rainbow Cookies for the people in her department as a holiday gift. I heard them all saying thank you and how good they were and she said to me: "Lisa I didn't bake you any cookies, I know you would appreciate them but would not want to eat them. So I have a special gift for you." I opened the gift and it was a beautiful shell decorated sparkly starfish ornament. My friend said "It made me think of you and of Hawaii where I know you want to live someday!"

This gift has touched my heart very deeply. As this young girl thought not only of me in this holiday season, but also thought about a gift that would be supportive of my journey and my choices.

I hope you all have a close friend or family member who is supportive of you as well, and if you don't please come and share my starfish and know that I support you!!

How very, very thoughtful and special! That is something you will treasure forever. The rainbow cookies would have been eaten, gone and forgotten about. Your co-worker sounds like an angel!

Merry Christmas friend! Sorry to hear that you are once again stressed beyond your limits. You are the sweetest and kindest person and you deserve some non-stress, just you time....I hope you give yourself that gift this Christmas and well into the New Year too!....YOU DESERVE IT!

Hopefully we will get together soon! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Loved the card!

Thanks Friend!

The holiday was a nice! I could use another couple of days off though, but it's right back to work manning the ship as the boss is out sick.

I made a promise to myself that I am going to work on reducing the stress in my life! Has to happen one way or another, and it would be so much healthier if it was by choice and not by default.

I hope you had a great holiday and the kiddies had big smiles!

Hi Lisa, I hope things are settling down and you get a few days to put your feet up as we enter the new year. Stress is cumulative!

Hi Lisa, I hope things are settling down and you get a few days to put your feet up as we enter the new year. Stress is cumulative!

Hi Bandista,

You are so right about stress being cumulative! There always seems to be something that is earth shattering and gut wrenching going on. I realize that the only way I am going to combat it is to change the way I am reacting to and dealing with it. IF that means that sometimes I have to hide in the back of my closet so no one knows where I am then so be it!

I don't think I will really have to hide in the back of my closet, but I do know that I need to be a little less accessible to certain people in my life that seem to only want to suck the life right out of me even if they are my own kids and family!

To be 100% honest I took this whole weekend and got some things in my own life together for myself and that always helps to ease my stress. I am one of those type A uber organized people that don't function well in chaos. Or rather become too highly functional in chaos cause we are always the ones cleaning it up and bringing order back.

So today...I am feeling GREAT! Got my space back in working order, cleared the debris, got up early and had a 20 min. work out. Blasted some tunes...(didn't care if woke the gremlins. If I'm up they should be doing something productive too! though I'm sure they rolled over and went back to bed!)

Showered dressed and was to work on time!

Happy Monday! It is...cause it's a short week and almost a New Year!