Indulging my OCD

Getting my mom into an Adult Family Home has changed my life. 

Knowing that she is well cared for (even if her mind is mostly gone) has  freed me up both emotionally and physically. 

Since I'm not taking care of her all the time, I’ve been able to spend more time on my own self-care.  Oh, not the stupid “self care” that all the InStAgRaM InFlUeNcErS talk about endlessly...the Botox, the facials, the eyelashes, manicures, etc etc.

Who has time for that?  For me, self care means eating right, working out, getting enough quality sleep, making medical appointments, spending time doing the things I enjoy.

So what do I do for relaxation?

I indulge in my OCD tendencies.  After years of therapy and medication, my OCD isn't cured but it's managed.  So now when I clean, I actually enjoy it.  I organize. I rearrange.  I straighten up.  I “futz around” as my husband calls it.  Sometimes it makes him nervous, because he remembers how I used to be.  But now he sees that I'm enjoying what I'm doing and not cleaning because I'm stressed or distressed.  (It's kind of an inside joke for us "I can quit anytime I want!" but the truth is...now, I CAN.)   

Now that I don’t have so much on my mind, I can just go with the flow and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment one drawer, one box, ONE ROOM AT A TIME. 

I’ve started in the basement and over the last 2 months, I’ve gotten rid of so much stuff.  Yesterday, I started setting up my office downstairs.  I got to clean up an old desk in my husband’s office, and re-arrange the space my own tidy image.  

I love how my house and yard are looking really nice…  clean and tidy.  I feel so accomplished.  So now my OCD has become productive, relaxing therapy!  That’s progress.