While stress has taken over my life in recent weeks, keeping me up at night, triggering erratic eating and totally consuming me, I am careful to also count my financial blessings.
Stressed.
A recent storm damaged our home. It damaged our roof and caused leaking in our master bedroom and master bathroom. What has followed is several contractors running in and out of our home. We’re on our second insurance adjuster after the first one quit. Per the second adjuster, “He was in the wrong field. He has left the industry.” Apparently, we were one of his first clients. It showed. There were a lot of clumsy responses at the outset of the claims process.
Blessed.
At least we have insurance picking up the tab, minus the deductible, which has been discounted and is super reasonable.
Stressed.
My husband and I have had to move out of our master bedroom into a guest room. Our home is chaotic.
Blessed.
At least we have a guest room to move into and we’re getting used to the chaos of dealing with contractors.
Stressed.
Until the repairs on our house are complete, I am sharing a bathroom with my husband and son. There’s a reason why bathrooms are often separated by gender.
Blessed.
Not at all happy about this, but at least we have multiple bathrooms in our home.
Stressed.
These same repairs forced us out of our home for a few days—me, spouse, teen and doggy-daughter. We had to pack two SUVs and my teen’s tuba to make the trip.
Blessed.
We landed in a wonderful, pet-friendly extended-stay hotel. For a few days, we had a sense of normalcy outside of our home.
Stressed.
I have two big deadlines looming at work and I am down two key staff members.
Blessed.
My other staff has stepped up tremendously, with one even offering to delay her vacation to pitch in. I also have an extraordinary headhunter who has found me some wonderful candidates to interview.
Stressed.
Interestingly, my husband and I have found ourselves repeating 9th grade—compliments of our teen, who started high school this fall. We are tired. We’re too old for 9th grade. Different schedules on different days. Varying ways to engage teachers. Learning and keeping up with the different expectations of each teacher. Figuring out the ebb and flow of work. The hour-plus drive, round trip, five days a week.
Blessed.
Although my husband and I are exhausted, our son is doing well. His transition from at-home, COVID-impacted learning in 8th grade to in-person learning as a freshman has worked out well so far. He’s thriving.
Stressed.
I believe the stress is impacting my health. Over the past few weeks, I have fallen off-track with my eating regimen. There’s been a definite uptick in stress eating and downtick in exercise sessions. My sleep has been off. Our chaotic, unsettled home has left me exhausted. I’m pretty sure this is also what’s causing me to shed hair.
Blessed.
Overall, I’m in good health. All it will take is recommitting myself and finding the space to prioritize my health. Thankfully, we put in a home gym last year during the pandemic. That will go a long way to getting back on track.
We understand that the past few months could have derailed us financially. It didn’t. In the end, we are counting our financial blessings.
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