Monthly Archives: March 2021

A Not So Brief Blog About Current Life Lessons

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! I have many things going on in my life on why I temporally put a halt to doing some blogging courses through WordPress. Courses where I have left off. So I will get back to them once I works shit out in my personal life which is being affected by workplace bullying.

The workplace bullying is starting to affect my physical health primarily with with dealing with migraines. Three of the migraines I received ended up in the emergency room and was inform that it was most likely due to the bully I am receiving at work. Even thou I am being bullied at work, I am feeling supported by my supervisor, the clinical director and HR as well as a good portion of my colleagues. Despite the bullying I still love my job and know that I have people in my workplace that support place.

On somewhat of a work related thing is that I finally was able to get my first Covid-19 vaccine. I got it after much research on my part as well as gentle reminders as suggestions from my employer. Getting the vaccine is not requirement from my job but highly suggested. I decided to take my vaccine and my I took my first one yesterday. I had a slight allergic reaction of a burning throat with an itchy rash. I took Benadryl and went away after about forty-five minutes of taking the Benadryl. I am still planning on taking the second dose.

I took my first vaccine yesterday (Saturday) morning and feel like shit but It is well worth it. Well worth it for me because it means I can help others by getting the vaccines. Sadly, I had to miss my normal volunteer shift at PAWS Cat City today because of how shitty I feel after getting the vaccine. It makes me sad to miss time with all the cats but I am grateful that I have extra time with my own cat, Billie Dean. As much as I love spending time helping other cats find furrever homes, I am grateful to have more time with my cat, Billie. I love all the cats I help.

I would love to say more but I am getting really tired and needing to take another nap. I hope you have a great Sunday ahead of you. I want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things for reading my blog. Again thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. I hope you all have an awesome rest of you Sunday world and have a great work week ahead of you when Monday makes an appearance. Peace Out, World!!!

Everyday Inspiration; Day 6: Space to Write

Posted on by Gertie

A space to write is much like a space to do artwork. It doesn’t have to be the same place just as long as you have a space that helps inspire you. A place for me to write all determines the time of year as well as my head space. My head space to be in a mode to write outside but the weather outside might not be the best outside. I’m not about to write outside when its raining out or snowing. If I writer outside I usually use a pen or pencil and paper. When I am in inside it depends the mood I am in but usually use my laptop to write. When I write inside, I like to write looking out the window as it gives me inspiration. Writing inside can be a challenge as well. It can be a challenge when my cat, Billie wants attention. On that note, when Billie wants attention it can also be an inspiration.

Everyday Inspiration; Day 5: Hook ‘Em With a Quote

Posted on by Gertie

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

Eleanor Roosevelt

The above quote from Eleanor Roosevelt has always given me hope. It has given me hope in many ways especially along my career path. My career path of being a peer support specialist. Knowing that I want to help people with their recovery helps me help myself with my own recovery. Recovery and knowing my dreams helps me know the beauty life has for me.

Everyday Inspiration; Day 4: A Story in a Single Image

Posted on by Gertie
A woman in the woods. (Not me in the picture.)

Walking through the woods is in itself a mindfulness meditation practice. Being one with nature can help with ones stress level. For me personally, being nature like walking in the woods like the woman in picture helps me deal with many of the symptoms of my mental health challenges. Oh how I wish I could go walk through the woods on the weekly basis but sadly it is not an option. Being in the woods or any form of nature put a person at peace and is a form of self-care. Self-care in nature is key to dealing with stress. Oh how I wish I could be back walking through the peaceful woods. Glad I had the opportunity to walk through the woods over my birthday weekend.

Weekly Plans

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Work on step one
  • Attend a twelve step meeting

Monday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Attend a twelve step meeting
  • Work on step one
  • Work

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Work on step one
  • Work

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Work
  • Work on step one
  • Attend a twelve step meeting

Thursday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Work
  • Work on step one

Friday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Work
  • Attend twelve step meeting
  • Work on step one

Saturday

  • Mindfulness meditation
  • Clean apartment
  • Work on step one
  • Attend a twelve step meeting

Weekly Check-In

Posted on by Gertie

This past week has been quite a week. Overall, it has been a good one with a couple of not so good moments. Moments, I will get through with the help of friends, family and colleagues as well my cat Billie Dean.

The week started out with my birthday and being able to celebrate it with friend and family. I celebrated my birthday with both sides if my family. I first celebrated with my dad’s side of the family here in Seattle. I then traveled to Olympia to celebrate with my mom’s side of the family.

As I spent time in Olympia, my grandpa took care of my cat Billie Dean at his home in the Seattle area. I really missed be with Billie but I enjoyed my time with my mom and uncle as well as a couple of friends who live in the Olympia area.

The best part of my birthday was that I started the first step of the twelve step program I am in. I am slowly working on the first step. I wish it wasn’t taking as long as I had hope it was. I am grateful to be working on the twelve steps.

I am grateful to be home from Olympia and I think my cat Billie is glad to be home from my grandpa’s. Hell, we are both happy to be home together. I did end up having some health issues. I had a migraine and had to to take an expected day off of from work yesterday. All I can say is migraines suck shit.

My supervisor did check in with me yesterday as she thought I took yesterday off due to being bullied by a colleague. I assured my supervisor that I was not taking it off due to bullying that I was taking it off due to a migraine. My supervisor is just an amazing person. Even though someone at work is bullying me, I am grateful that my supervisor and colleagues are supportive of me.

I don’t have much more to say in this particular weekly check in. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you do read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Feeling Supported

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! Right now I am feeling supported. I am feeling supported in many different ways by many different people including my cat, Billie Dean. Yes, I realize Billie is a cat and not a human but I feel supported by him.

I feel supported by the various people in my life due to circumstances going on in my life. I was and am on the receiving end of being bullied by a colleague. When it became clear on Thursday that I was being bullied, my supervisor and many of my colleagues have been checking in on me even today, a Saturday. I am thrilled that my colleagues at my new job are backing me up and supporting me.

To add to being bullied, I ended up having to call out sick yesterday (Friday) due to a migraine. Again, my colleagues as well as friends and family checked in on me throughout yesterday and today. My grandpa even brought over groceries today and made me a meal. My grandpa didn’t have to make me lunch but he did. He, a neighbor and myself sat on the community patio of my apartment building and had lunch. It was nice to eat lunch with a friend and my grandpa.

Another way I felt supported today was going to a twelve step meeting. A twelve step meeting my sponsor regularly attends. Of course the meeting was not in person due to Covid-19 but at least I was able to attend one over Zoom. Zoom is a godsend during the pandemic and am grateful for it especially when it comes to attending twelve step meetings. My sponsor checked in with me after the meeting. We discussed how I was doing regarding my first step and how it is a slow process at the moment.

Of course as I mentioned earlier on in this post, I am feeling supported by my cat, Billie Dean. I love my cat, Billie so much. It is amazing how supportive pets can be in peoples lives. My cat has been a great support for me and am grateful for him.

I do not have much more to say in this particular job post. I just want to say thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you do read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Everyday Inspiration; Day 3: One Word Inspiration

Posted on by Gertie

HOPE

For me hope is a simple yet loaded word. If it wasn’t for hope, I don’t think I would be typing this post much less alive. Hope comes from many sources but most importantly it comes from within. My cat Billie Dean gives me hope. He gives me hope by just being so adorable and choosing me to adopt him. Billie gives me hope in so many ways that I can not explain it. The hope that is within myself helps me be a better person and allows me to be compassionate toward others. Hope is the reason why I am in recovery from a mental health challenge.

Everyday Inspiration; Day 2: Write A List

Posted on by Gertie

Things I’ve Learned In Recovery

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills
  • Setting boundaries
  • The love my family has for me
  • Friends and family I can depend on
  • To not take life too seriously
  • Some days are going to be tougher than other days and that is okay
  • Mistakes are teachable moments as well as lessons learned
  • It’s okay if the only I thing do is get out of bed; some days are going to be like that
  • Helping others helps me; but make sure I put myself first or I might not be able to help others in a health way
  • Working helps me with my recovery and gives me a sense of purpose
  • Volunteering not only helps with my depression and other diagnosis it helps the community at large
  • Building a community the accepts me as me
  • Being in more that one community is a good thing
  • Having an emotional support animal (ESA) to take care  to help with depression (currently my cat, Billie Dean)
  • Doing self care is not selfish

A Thousand Words to Say Yet Nothing Comes Out But Tears Through the Eyes

Posted on by Gertie

I am continuing to love my job and try to help wear I can. It appears that I am being bullied slightly at work. I’m being bullied by a white person because I am sticking up for my colleagues the identify as part of the BIPOC community. I did what I needed to do and all I want is everyone to be treated with respect no matter what what they identify as. Sadly, I am being bullied by a white colleagues. During the meeting only one person was against me as my team had my back. I felt I have the back of most of my colleagues including my supervisor. My supervisor is just one amazing human being. and am grateful to for her to be on board.

I learned a great deal about my colleagues and how supportive they are with dealing with such a bully in the work place. My Supervisor came by my -place to take our cats out for walks and for we can meet in person for the first time. I’m grateful for her checking up on me and a mutual walk with our cats. Our cats got along great.

I know there is bully at my place at work and I feel like it getting taking care off. I like the fact that my colleagues might be come friends. Love being about to talk about cat stuff instead of just work. I love cast

I do not know what else to say for the day expect a great big thank you. Thank you for reading.