Holiday Traditions

Good Evening, World!!! I would like to inform you of my own personal holiday traditions as it was suggested to me to start my own early on in my mental health recovery. The reason why it was suggested to me is because of some of the unrealistic holiday traditions that were placed on me by my family. No disrespect to my family as I love them very much but creating my own holiday traditions have helped me cope with my family as well helped me cope with my PTSD and depression.

When it was suggested to me by my therapist at the time early on in my mental health recovery the only thing I could think of regarding traditions for myself was comic books. Specifically two comic books that focused on Christmas. In fact the comic books I am speaking of are Christmas with the Superhero’s volume one and two by DC comics.

Over the years I have added to my holiday traditions. I have included the typical traditions of watching movies and listening to music. I have also included with the help of friends of the Jewish faith of spending a night or two or three celebrating Hanukkah with my friends who celebrate it. I am grateful that I can help celebrate Hanukkah with my friends who celebrate it. Besides watching holiday movies, listening to holiday music and spending two or three nights celebrating Hanukkah, I have included the following traditions to my list: reading holiday focused books, doing holiday or wintery focused jigsaw puzzles, doing holiday focused logic puzzles, doing Christmas dot to dot, and doing artwork focused on holidays or wintery scenes which includes coloring and diamond art/painting.

Now that I informed you of what I do for my own holiday traditions, it is challenging to know how my family traditions will change this year and next year due to my mom passing away two days before Thanksgiving. I say this year and next year as this year it is so fresh. I know I will keep some of the Christmas traditions my mom instilled upon me. As far as my dad’s side of the family they will still celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve as one of my uncle’s birthday is on Christmas and celebrate his birthday on Christmas.

I do not have anything else to write about in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog, I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out and Happy Holidays, World!!!

My Second Finished Diamond Art/Painting

Good Morning, World!!! Like I mentioned in a post that I posted last night that I would post a picture of my second finished diamond art/painting. In fact the diamond art/painting is one that I started the day after my mom died which was the day before Thanksgiving. Part of the reason I started this particular diamond art/painting when I did was due to the fact that I finished the first one the day my mom sadly died. The other part of the reason I started this particular diamond art/painting is because it is the holidays and it is a holiday diamond art/painting and something I wanted to add to my holiday traditions. In fact I finished this particular diamond art/painting in a week which was a lot less time than the first one. Of course this one wasn’t as intensive as the last one. So, here is the picture of my second finished diamond art/painting:

This is my second finished diamond art/painting. It is of a cat that is dressed in holiday and Christmas decor.

I really hope you like my Christmas cat diamond art/painting. I added captions to the picture for my readers that are sight impaired or blind. I really do enjoy doing diamond art/painting. I plan to continue to do diamond art/painting for a long time.

I do not have anything else to write about in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Sleepless in Seattle Type of Night

Good Morning, World!!! It is the middle of the night here in Seattle. Actually it is a few minutes past three o’clock in the morning Seattle time. I am unable to sleep for multiple reasons which include insomnia, PTSD and grieving the recent loss of my mom. Hell, it hasn’t even been two weeks since my mom’s death. I really miss my mom and wish she was still alive.

Since I am unable to sleep I have been doing some things to help me with the grief, PTSD and insomnia. The things I have been doing is reading a book called Unholy Night by Seth Grahame-Smith, listening to music, working on diamond art/painting, and cuddling with my cat, Billie. I love the fact that I can get some cuddle time with my cat especially when I am reading in bed. I am grateful that I can listen to music as I do any type of art including diamond art/painting.

I do not have anything else to write about in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you the reader for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for the reader, reading my blog, I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

My First Finished Diamond Art/Painting

Hello, World!!! I just wanted to update you all about me doing Diamond Art/Painting. I am really enjoying myself doing Diamond Art/Painting. I am thankful to and grateful for my neighbor who introduced me to Diamond Art/Painting because it has really helped me deal with PTSD as well as insomnia on nights I was not able to sleep. Hell, I really enjoy it. It also keeps me busy when I am unable to sleep as well as when the Seattle weather is really yucky even for Seattle standards. In this particular post I will show you a picture of my first finished Diamond Art/Painting. I will show you my second finished Diamond Art/Painting in the next day or two. Here is my first finished Diamond Art/Painting:

My first finished diamond art/painting. It is of a cat with a butterfly on its nose. The cat and butterfly are rainbow colored.

I really hope you like my diamond art/painting. I did add a caption to the picture for my readers who are site impaired or blind. I really enjoy doing the Diamond Art/Painting and I hope to show you the second diamond art/painting that I finished in the next day or two.

I don’t have much more to write about in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Weekly Plans

Sunday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Spend the day watching movies and eating junk food with friends
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Monday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Volunteer with Alley Cat Project by returning calls and emails
  • Work on recovery related workbooks
  • Do art (diamond art/painting)
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Volunteer with Alley Cat Project by returning calls and emails
  • Work on recovery related workbooks
  • Do art (diamond art/painting)
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Attend Emerald House and help with Thanksgiving Dinner prep for Thursday, 11/21/24
  • Work on recovery related workbooks
  • Do art (diamond art/painting)
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Thursday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning wlak
  • Attend Emerald House and it’s Thanksgiving Dinner (and yes it’s a week early)
  • Work on recovery related workbooks
  • Do art (diamond art/painting)
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Friday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Volunteer with Alley Cat Project by returning calls and emails
  • Work on recovery related workbooks
  • Art (diamond art/painting)
  • Movies and just food with friends
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Saturday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • U-District Farmer’s Market with best friend
  • Volunteer with Alley Cat Project by returning calls and emails
  • Movies and junk food with best friend
  • Art (diamond art/painting)
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Making the Best of a Sleepless Night in Seattle

Good Morning, World!!! I am having trouble sleeping due to insomnia. Since I am unable to sleep I have been keeping myself busy. I have done a handful of mindfulness meditation practices through the Calm App. I have even attempted to fall asleep to two of the sleep stories the Calm App. has. I am usually able to fall asleep after a sleep story but sadly that did not happen but I am okay with that.

I am okay with it because I am learning two new languages through the Duolingo app. I started learning Spanish a couple of weeks ago. Part of the reason why I am learning Spanish is because I spent the first 16 years of my life in California and have wanted to learn it for the longest time as many people I grew up with speak Spanish. Another reason why I want to learn Spanish is because both my partner and best friend speak Spanish. Plus one of my uncles on my dads side was a Spanish teacher. So, I have many people to help me with learning Spanish. I also decided to learn German yesterday evening when I found out my new next door neighbor knows German and I am able to practice with her. I also have a good friend who knows German as she spoke both English and German in her home growing. So I can practice with my friend and new neighbor. Part of the reason why I want to learn German is because I have some German in my heritage. I am hoping that once I get comfortable speaking fluently in either Spanish or German then I can start learning another language. I am not sure if I will learn another language that is a part of my heritage like German is or another common “foreign” language that is frequently spoken in the United States especially here in the Seattle area which could be one of the many Asian languages.

Besides learning German and Spanish tonight, I have been doing some art. Specifically the art I am doing is diamond painting. While doing diamond painting I have been listening to a philosophy podcast called Philosphize This which is a really good podcast. I really like how Stephen West does his podcast and gears to the average person because that is how I think he learned. So I am doing some art as I learn about philosophy.

I have also been cuddling with my cat, Billie through most of what I have been doing tonight to keep busy. Billie loves being cuddled and gives me some weird facial expressions when I try to speak Spanish to him. Hell, when I practiced German words on my cat, Billie he gave me some grumpy looks. I love how my cat, Billie puts up with me and cuddles even when I am doing art and attempting to speak to him two different languages.

With the weather they way it is right now in Seattle which is yucky and stormy it was the perfect night to do the stuff I did since I am unable to sleep. I am hoping to fall asleep soon as the wind and rain is soothing to me. With that being said, I want to thank you, the reader for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog because if you were not reading my blog, I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Weekly Plans

Sunday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk (most likely with my partner or friend)
  • Work on a recovery related workbook
  • Diamond art/painting
  • Read
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Monday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk (most likely with my partner or friend)
  • Work on a recovery related workbook
  • Work on DVR paperwork
  • Diamond art/painting
  • Read
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk (most likely with a friend)
  • Work on DVR paperwork
  • Work on a recovery related workbook
  • Diamond art/painting
  • Read
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk (most likely with partner or friend)
  • Volunteer at Cat City
  • Work on DVR paperwork
  • Work on recovery related workbook
  • Read
  • Diamond art/painting
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Thursday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk (most likely with partner or friend)
  • Attend appointment with Employment Specialist regarding DVR and jobs
  • Work on recovery related workbook
  • Read
  • Diamond art/painting
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Friday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk (most likely with a friend)
  • Work on a recovery related workbook
  • Diamond art/painting
  • Read
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Saturday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk (most likely with partner or a friend)
  • Work on recovery related workbook
  • Read
  • Diamond art/painting
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

A Brief Life Update

Good Evening, World!!! It has been a little over a month since I last blogged. I haven’t blogged for various reasons and the main reason is because my PTSD symptoms have been challenging to deal with. Despite dealing with challenging PTSD symptoms, I could have at least written a one or two paragraph blog post.

One of the ways I have been coping with the increase of PTSD symptoms is doing various forms of art. I have been doing my normal form of art which is coloring. I have also been doing some rock painting but sadly, I need more rocks and paint so that is on hold for now. The type of art that I have been focusing on is diamond art also known as diamond painting. I had bought me a lot of diamond painting/art when I was working and realized now that I am not working and haven’t worked for nine months that I now have time to do them. I am working on my first one and I am enjoying it so far. I hope to post pictures in an upcoming post.

I do not have much more to write in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated on my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Weekly Plans

Sunday

  • Mindfulness Meditation
  • Attend an online 12-step meeting
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Lunch with a friend
  • Read
  • Art (coloring and/or diamond art)

Monday

  • Mindfulness Meditation
  • Breakfast with my grandpa
  • Art (coloring and/or diamond art)
  • Read
  • Doctor’s appointment
  • Attend an online 12-step meeting

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness Meditation
  • Hang out at a mental health clubhouse
  • Read
  • Art (color and/or diamond art)
  • Attend an online 12-step meeting

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness Meditation
  • Attend an in person 12-step meeting
  • Art (color and/or diamond art)
  • Read
  • Dinner with a colleague
  • Attend an online 12-step meeting

Thursday

  • Mindfulness Meditation
  • Attend an online 12-step meeting
  • Read
  • Art (color and/or diamond art)
  • Attend an in person 12-step meeting

Friday

  • Mindfulness Meditation
  • Hang out at a mental health clubhouse
  • Clean apartment
  • Art (color and/or diamond art)
  • Read
  • Attend an online 12-step meeting

Saturday

  • Mindfulness Meditation
  • Go to the Farmers Market for a Breakfast Sandwich
  • Attend an in person 12-step meeting
  • Read
  • Art (color and/or diamond art)
  • Attend an online 12-step meeting

Diamond Art Time

i Morning, once again from Seattle. As I write this particular blog post, my cat Billie is laying on my lap purring. I think it is his way of helping me with doing some art work. Specifically, Diamond art work. Right now I am putting the pieces into small containers with the right colors so they can be put into the right place. It is going to be a tedious task but I think it will be well worth it. I am glad I saw friends doing Diamond Art and that they explained it to me.

Granted the first two times I attempted to do this earlier this year I gave up. So, I decided to give it another try as I want to add more to my coping skills when shit hits the fans. The organizing might be a pain in the butt but, I am looking forward to what the finished art work will be.

I want to thank you for reading my blog post. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog, I would not be writing my blog. Peace Out, World!!!