Thank You!
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I noticed a few notifications about winning contest entries & I wanted to say thank you. I've been struggling to keep up with notifications, but I didn't want to be rude. I'm a bit scattered these days. In March, I learned I am now unemployed because of AI.
A week later, my doctor discovered some troubling health concerns. Adding these to the social & political hellscape in America has overwhelmed & depressed me, and I struggle to focus and participate in my own life.
My little Pomeranian and Urstyle keep me going. I dearly appreciate all the likes, kind words & places in contests even if I don't always respond individually
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@shelley-harcar Oh Shelley, I'm sorry to learn you're going through so much all at once. I wish you good health and that everything else will follow so you can function and find balance in your life.
Your sweet little Pom is such a love. Glad you are keeping in touch on Urstyle. 
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@laughingdog Thank you!! I will be here often, as it is a big help to unwind and relax. (It's hard to stress over a job when I'm desperately hunting for the perfect Art Deco teacup) I truly appreciate the wonderful people here (like you) who add to the fun and make this feel like home
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@Shelley-Harcar I am very sorry to hear this. I wish you a lot of strength in this difficult time that you are unfortunately going through, I am relieved that you can still spend some time here with us at URSTYLE to clear your mind ... this is a feeling of home port for many of us ... we are there for you to support you and pray for better times for you ... stay strong my dear and hopefully you can enjoy your weekend ... sending hugs
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@shelley-harcar OMG, Sister! I totally get you. Offline issues have held me captive, so to speak, and unable to participate here as often as I'd like for a long time now. I am ALWAYS behind on Thank-Yous and I miss contests; creating for them and running those in our Twisted Gypsies group. It would be wonderful if the reasons for this were because I won BIG in the lottery and was buying/building a home or traveling, but like you, things have fallen under the "unfortunate" category, so I truly understand your stresses all too well.
My prayers for your health, and that you find even better employment. I can understand your feelings about "the hellscape in America". I try to ignore it as much as I can. Every day, it seems, there's something new.
One things I can offer you is to create a pleasurable bedtime routine or ritual. No TV or internet after a certain time. Take a shower before bed (You'll sleep better.) Towel dry your hair and wrap it in a skull cap if needed, but just let it dry on it's own. You can fix it in the morning. Before going to sleep, slather on some lovely smelling body and hand lotions with scents that are calmative. If you have a portable music player (not a cell phone), put some meditative music on it, or a pink-noise meditation, or something soothing and peaceful. Maybe enjoy a cup of tea before this, or some other beverage that you love and will not keep you awake. Count your blessings as you listen to the music, or remind yourself of three good things that happened that day. They don't have to be hugely-good. It could simply be that you took care of yourself, that you took a long bath, and that you have your pooch to love and to love you.
@Laughingdog is so right about balance, and during the times life is off-balance, we may not have control over much of it, but we can control how we respond to it, even if that includes crying in frustration, stressing out, and shutting down. I get it. Then, follow that with some self-TLC to "dilute" all that stress.
Wishing you the VERY best.
