ME! Creating New Rituals

As I have mentioned so many times before, my life/family has been in a heckuva transition.  For the past 3 months, I have been living with my Aunt during the week, commuting an hour back and forth to work, then heading 3 hours to be with my family for the weekend.  Knowing it would be tough, not knowing for how long, I instinctively created rituals throughout the week.  Some of them were good mental health things, like some things I mentioned here.  Some things, maybe not so much....like watching The Closer on Monday evenings with my aunt (she introduced me to the show).

Well, my husband got a job offer on Monday (to start the following Monday), and everything kicked into high gear.  My family came out to look for a place to move into, and since they were getting a hotel, I wasn't in need of staying with my aunt anymore.  So Monday night was my last night with her.  It was sad.  I had to say goodbye to her.  Even though we could get together for visits, living with her for these past 3 months, even if only for part of the week, grew us closer together.  And I kinda bonded with her cat.  In fact, her cat (Sugar) had joined in part of my rituals.  She would sit in the chair with me in the mornings while I drank my coffee, read and journaled.  And sweet little Sugar (cute little play on words there...she is a sweet kitty, plus...well sugar is sweet) is an older cat and has some health problems.  So Tuesday morning, I had my last morning ritual with Sugar.  I teared up.  I wondered if this was a permanent goodbye to Sugar.

Laugh if you want, but Tuesday morning it really hit me that I would probably NEVER sit and drink coffee with Sugar (ha!  another cute play on words) again!  I wanted some security.  I took my books and journal to Starbucks....it was ok.  I was really sad.  Then, when I got to work....struggling with the stress of everything happening so fast....and with this overwhelming sadness....I wanted some tea.  I had tea bags that I had put in my desk, but in the 3 months of being here....not once had I had any.  I struggled to make some tea.  I didn't have a mug.  I heated up water in a measuring glass and made the tea on a styrofoam. cup.  But it really hit me that I was creating a new ritual.  The tea was warm, felt nurturing...

So....Thursday, before work, I bought the mug pictured above and decided to repeat the ritual.  An intentional ritual gives you some grounding....at least it does for me!  So....that's what I did for ME this week!  Head on over to the ME!  hub for other ideas!