Sunday News #38
Feeling
I’ve been feeling blah this week. I haven’t felt well physically or mentally. I definitely haven’t felt like blogging or reading. Corey thinks the trauma I’m working through in my PTSD therapy is not only taking its toll on my mental health, but my physical health as well. It has been proven that our bodies often react physically to extreme stress and mine is acting in kind. I’ve been experiencing gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, lack of appetite, cravings for sugar and carbs, dizziness, extreme fatigue, a facial rash, headaches, sore throat, sinus congestion, and body aches. It sounds like I have a cold, the flu, COVID, or something else, but I don’t. The symptoms come and go.
Blogging
Even though I didn’t feel like blogging much this week, I did still post a few things. This week on the blog:
I’m sorry I haven’t responded to the comments on my posts yet. And, I’m even more sorry I haven’t commented on very many blogs this week. I probably won’t try to catch up on every post I missed as that would take days, but I am planning on spending some time today responding to the comments on my blog and commenting on other Sunday Posts. Thank you, all, for continuing to comment on my blog even though I’ve been absent.
Reading
I finished listening to the HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS audiobook. I loved every minute of it. It really helped this week when I was feeling distraught mentally and physically.
I haven’t read or even tried to read anything else. I really do hope I’ll feel like reading something this week. I may put WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING down, even though I’m enjoying the story. Maybe, I’ll keep reading one chapter a day and then turn my focus on something more light-hearted like LOVE ON THE BRAIN by Ali Hazelwood.
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
Since I haven’t been in the mood to read this week, I watched a few movies. I’m embarrassed about sharing this, especially since I grew up in a very sexually conservative religion and watching movies with nudity or that center around sex is frowned upon. If my family or some of my IRL friends read this, they’d probably be very disappointed in or shocked at my choices.
I’m also embarrassed because of the negativity associated with the Fifty Shades franchise because of its connection with and misrepresentation of BDSM. (At least that’s what I’ve read.) Still, I watched the trilogy this week because I was curious. I’m a huge fan of the Twilight Saga and I wanted to see what EL James took from Stephenie Meyer’s series to get FIFTY SHADES OF GREY. I don’t feel the need to read the books, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the movies.
The only reason I’m sharing this is one of the songs from the second movie, FIFTY SHADES DARKER, really captured my attention. It’s a cover of “The Scientist,” which is one of my favorite songs. I like Coldplay’s version better, but I really enjoyed this rendition too. This version is sung by Corinne Bailey Rae.
Watching
As I already said, I watched the Fifty Shades trilogy. I thought Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson were very believable in their roles. I also thought they had great chemistry. And, as I said above, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the stories.
I also broke down and watched the movie adaptation of WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING. I was going to wait until I finished reading the book, but I decided to watch the movie to help motivate me. I really enjoyed the movie and I’m more excited to read the book now if I can just get over this mental slump I’m in.
Loving
Even though I missed participating in the community this week, I loved taking a bit of a break. It was very restorative and I hope it has renewed my interest in reading, blogging, and commenting.
Wanting Wishing
I wish I could go back to being oblivious in regards to my religion. I was happy in my ignorance. Now that I’ve opened my eyes, I feel constant shame and guilt for turning my back on how I grew up and what I used to believe. I’m trying to find a middle ground. It has been really difficult, though, because everything seems so black and white in religion.
Needing
I need to quit putting so much pressure on myself. I’m good the way I am. It’s okay if I’m in the middle of a faith crisis. It’s okay if I do things my friends and family wouldn’t do. It’s okay to become someone different than I expected. It’s okay not to have all the answers. I still have worth.
How was your week? Anything exciting happen?
I’m so sorry for all you’ve been going through. I hope this is a better week and that you are feeling better. Many hugs to you.
Thanks, Yvonne! 😀 I really appreciate it.
Golly. Your symptoms do not sound good. Three things that may help: 1. breathe deeply and fully. Do it again! And Again. Get lots of oxygen. 2. Drink lots of water. Swim, bathe, or soak will help, too. You get oxygen through your skin that way. 3. Take walks. Try to walk under trees and in wooded areas if possible. I suspect it has a calming effect due to, you guessed it, oxygen. Take care.
Thank you for the suggestions, Anne! 😀 I’ll definitely try some of these things. I have found listening to soothing music and soaking in the bathtub seems to help a little bit too.
I am definitely of the belief that our mental and emotional health will affect our physical health. It’s why anxiety can trigger high blood pressure for example or affect your weight and so on. I do love the Fifty Shades movies. The BDSM is not represented at all very well, but they did a great job with the adaptations. I feel you though, not many people in my personal life mostly work people know about my blog and reading tastes. I still believe in the faith, I just don’t think reading romance and intimacy is bad.
I hope you have a great week!
Yes, very true about anxiety triggering high blood pressure or affecting weight. I deal with both of those. LOL.
I like your take on faith, reading romance, and intimacy. My family is very conservative regarding sex and intimacy as many other members of Utah’s dominant religion are. I think the culture here surrounding sex is very repressive and not part of actual doctrine (other than no sex outside of marriage). This week I came to an understanding of my beliefs in many aspects regarding my faith/religion. I’ve decided it’s okay to have different views/beliefs. I may never have “all” the rights and privileges of “faithful” members because of some of my views/choices as I do support some groups that could be considered contrary to doctrine AND I think that’s okay. I still feel worthy in the sight of God.
I’m sorry you haven’t been feeling well and I hope working through your PTSD will get easier in time! I’m happy that you at least had books and entertainment to help get you though.
I personally enjoyed the Fifty Shades series (books) I only watched the first movie, but I thought they did a good job. I’ve been meaning to watch the rest of the movies. My sister-in-law found out I read the books (years ago) and warned me that I could get into trouble with our religion because they viewed reading books like that like watching porn. I didn’t tell her I read the books, she found out by snooping on my Goodreads account. I blocked her of course, but I was ticked. I don’t share my reading tastes or the fact that I blog with anyone from my religion. My husband, sister and daughter know I blog, and they enjoy reading too, but no one else from my family or religion knows. At least, I hope not! I don’t feel bad about what I read I just don’t care to open myself up to judgment from others.
Hope you are having a better week!
Thank you, Rachel! 😀 I really appreciate it.
I totally get where you’re coming from. FSoG would be considered pornography in my religion as well and I’m sure many of my family, friends, and neighbors would be disappointed in my choice to watch the movies or read books with explicit sex in them. I think the culture surrounding sex and intimacy in my religion is very repressive and not part of actual doctrine. This week I came to an understanding of my beliefs in many aspects regarding my faith/religion. I’ve decided it’s okay to have different views/beliefs. I may never have “all” the rights and privileges of “faithful” members because of some of my views/choices as I do support some groups that could be considered contrary to doctrine AND I think that’s okay. I still feel worthy in the sight of God.
I hope you had a better week this past week. I am no stranger to gastrointestinal issues either. My mental health problems all too often manifest in physical ways too unfortunately.
Faith/religion can be so complicated. I hope you find the balance you are looking for.
I love the Harry Potter books. I haven’t read WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING and don’t know if I will, but I would like to see the movie. I am glad to hear you liked it. I read the first two Fifty Shade books and they weren’t for me–but not because of the erotic content. I haven’t seen the movies. Maybe someday.
Have a great week!
Thank you! I appreciate it so much! 😀
My week was okay. I’m not feeling much like blogging or reading right now so I haven’t posted anything for almost a week. I’m hoping to be back in the swing of things soon.
I get what you mean about the FSoG. The books aren’t for me either. The movies are more doable for me because the abuse (I think that’s the consensus since it misrepresents BDSM based on things I’ve read about the books) takes a back seat to the love story.