Sunday News #37
Feeling
I’m feeling exhausted and a little more like myself. (I expound on my exhaustion in a couple of sections below.) As far as the second bit, I had a really good talk with my therapist about how PTSD therapy’s affecting me. He reminded me about a couple skills I learned in DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) that I don’t use very often. I tried using them during some of my exposure sessions and they helped me cope with the ups and downs of my emotions.
Blogging
This week on the blog:
I really enjoyed and looked forward to participating in more Let’s Talk Bookish discussions, but I’m a bit disappointed that the host isn’t very consistent in posting each week. And, she doesn’t use a linky so the participants can’t visit and read each other’s posts.
Reading
I’m still reading WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens. I haven’t made much progress because I’ve been spending most of my reading time working on my blog design update. I’m planning to spend more time reading this week.
I’m about 75% of the way through the HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS audiobook. As I stated in my Book Blogger Hop post, it’s been helping me calm down after my exposure sessions.
I learned in DBT that life is full of dialectics, or two opposing truths. In this case, the two opposing truths are: 1) I don’t agree with JKR’s stance regarding trans people, and 2) I still love Harry Potter.
Listening
As some of you know, I enjoy listening to K-pop. My friend Suey (It’s All About Books) often sends me new songs and music to listen to. It’s fun discovering new bands to listen to when I’m in the mood.
Anyway, at book club this past Wednesday, she introduced me to Psy’s music video for his new song “That That.” I’d listened to the song before; I’d just never watched the video. For those in the know, he’s joined by Suga (BTS) about halfway through.
Watching
Corey and I saw SEE HOW THEY RUN this week and it was so much fun. The comedic timing was perfect. The writing was so creative and funny and the actors and characters were fantastic. We want to see it again to catch all the things we may have missed the first time around.
The actress who portrayed Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter movies was in SEE HOW THEY RUN. She has such a unique voice that I recognized her immediately. Every time she spoke, I’d think of my favorite line from Myrtle: “Harry, if you die down there, you’re welcome to share my toilet.”
Loving
I loved our discussion at book club this week. We read THE GOOD SISTER by Sally Hepworth and it generated a lot of awesome thoughts on mental health, neurodivergence, and psychological thrillers in general. I’ll be posting my recap tomorrow if you’re interested in that at all.
I also loved going out to lunch with a friend this week. We were in the same DBT group. I started a few months before her. She graduated this week so we celebrated. We’re going to try to have a lunch date every month.
Wanting
I want to spend the day in bed listening to the rest of the HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS audiobook.
Needing
I need to chill today. Yesterday was a hard day. I went to my great-nephew’s birthday party as part of PTSD therapy. (I usually avoid family events.) It was the first time seeing any of my family since my dad’s funeral in December 2020. I’m glad I went and I’m spent. My emotions were pretty intense for most of the day.
How was your week? Anything exciting happen?
have a nephew’s birthday coming up too. The fun part is thinking of a suitable gift!
I hope you have fun! 😀 And, I do agree that gift shopping is very fun.
You know when a n audiobook is good whne all that you want to do is stay in bed and listen to it! On another note PTSD therapy seems very exhausting but that’s to be expected dealing with all the churning emotions and trauma. Hugs!
Thanks, Sophie! 😀 It is very exhausting. And, it’s also rewarding. I can see a difference and I’m excited to see things will keep progressing.
I love That That! It’s one of my favorite songs of the year, it’s just so catchy and upbeat and I do love Suga 🙂 I can totally understand your exhaustion with the therapy and the family event, as that has to be a lot – take care and I hope you got to spend a day in bed with your audiobook!
“That That” is catch, isn’t it? I love Psy in general. “Gangnam Style” is one of my favorite songs to listen to when I need a pick-me-up. 😀 Yesterday was great. I did do a lot of relaxing, and I only listened to 2 hours of my audiobook, but I still loved that time.
I love the Harry Potter audiobooks narrated by Jim Dale. I have re-listened to them often over the years. It’s about time for another re-listen.
They’re so great, aren’t they? I love Jim Dale and I love his voices for each of the characters (except Hermione). I love that he doesn’t different accents for people. It just makes the book come to life more. 😀
I hope you will have a less exhausting week next week.
I need to balance blogging and reading better. It’s difficult to get it right!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/
Thanks, Emily! 😀 And, I totally agree. Balancing any aspects of life is hard. It’s just amazing to me how much effort blogging does take. I’m not complaining, though. I love it.
See How They Run sounds like it was really good fun. Well done on making progress in your PTSD treatment – you definitely deserve to chill today! Have a great week and fingers crossed that you get to finish your book.
SEE HOW THEY RUN is so fantastic. If you see it, I hope you love it. 😀 Thank you so much, Louise! I definitely feel like I deserved a day off yesterday. It was really nice.
Doing the behind the scenes blog work is SO time consuming. And lots of times it’s work that isn’t noticeable to your visitors, but it needs to be done. I’ve spent the last few weeks correcting an error I made that made lots of my photos disappear. It’s boring & exhausting, but it’s gotta be done. Good luck on yours – hope you are able to finish Crawdads soon.
Terrie @ Bookshelf Journeys
https://www.bookshelfjourneys.com/post/sunday-post-17
Yes, so true! Most of the design for my blog is done. I’m just working on little things now. They’re so time consuming to get them right and no one but me will probably notice the difference. LOL. I’ll still do it! 😀 I hope you’re able to correct the error you made. That’s always exhausting work.
I need some comedy. I will definitely look up See How They Run. That’s awesome that you made a new friend in your group.
I hope you love SEE HOW THEY RUN just as much as I did. 😀 And, yes, from the beginning, I really loved Pam. I’m glad we’re getting to know each other more outside of our group setting.
It sounds like a generally good week. I admire you for how you cope and are always willing to try various therapies, even though they are hard and emotional. Seeing family, oh, dear. Oddly, although we live in the same town, I’ve never run into my sister-in-law; my mother has but I haven’t. I wouldn’t know what to say to her after nearly 10 years of estrangement.
Thanks, Margaret! I really appreciate that. 😀 I totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve only run into my family a couple of times and it was so awkward. Hopefully, it’ll get easier.
I hope you are able to get the rest you need today. I am taking it easy as well. Have a great week!
Thanks, Cindy! 😀 I did have a nice relaxing day yesterday. It was nice to just chill and not worry about taking care of everything. I hope you had a nice chill day too.
I love hearing about all the progress you’re making with your therapy. And I’m so impressed with your courage to face your family again. Well done. I hope you enjoy Where The Crawdads Sing, the book is so much better than the movie. Have a great week, Jenni!
Thanks, Wendy! 😀 I’m glad I can see the progress I’m making too. It makes the hard parts worth it. I’m very excited to read the book and compare it to the movie. LOL.
Sounds like an up and down week. Glad you’re doing better though for the most part. I like your thought on the dialectic? That makes a lot of sense. Thank you for the new K-Pop song to download! I’m slowly finding more that I like. Hope you have a good week!
https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2022/09/25/weekly-wrap-up-86-september-25th-2022/
Yes, it was very up and down. It was good, though. Thank you so much! 😀 I’m glad the dialectic made sense. And, I’m so glad you enjoyed listening to “That That.”
You got to do some fun things this week. You also got to utilize your newer skills to deal with things which maybe weren’t as fun. That’s a win.
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
Yes, this week was hard AND fun at the same time. I’m glad I did the things I did. 😀
Yay for THAT THAT! I felt like book club was an awesome discussion this week. Looking forward to your post about that. Also, I just published my first The Sunday Post… even though it’s just my “currently” post but linked up to this meme. LOL! Anyway. We’ll see how it goes!
Woot woot! 😀 I’m glad you decided to join in the fun. I’ll definitely come over and read and comment on your post. I just decided to forget about the blog yesterday so I could recuperate from the exhausting week.
Sorry you’re exhausted but glad to hear some of the different therapy techniques are helping? If I read that correctly? Also glad that our pal Harry Potter is helping you. I am also able to separate Rowling from her books, just like I can separate Woody Allen from his movies.
OMGosh why are the Koreans so awesome?? The music, the videos, the TV series and movies. I love all of it.
Thanks, Jinjer! 😀 Yes, the different therapy techniques are definitely helping me improve. My therapist is amazing. The fun thing is I never thought about the dialectic for JKR with Woody Allen or other movie industry people. It totally works, though. Thanks for helping me see that. 😀 And, yes, there’s something in the water in South Korea, lol.