Put it on the shelf

There's a fine line for me in recovery...

between prioritizing personal space and withdrawal
between overeating and nourishment
between staying up late on the weekends and getting important sleep
between feeling strong enough for a crowd and not anticipating what others will say

I've noticed I seem to "toe the line" often.  

I won't deny that sometimes it would be much easier to hole up in my comfy bed with a box of cookies, stay up late watching Y&R and turn off my phone.  
As delightful as that all may sound, it's the depression talking.  

Sometimes other people make life way more stressful than it needs to be.  We all react differently.  I react with avoidance.  I make assumptions which can be dangerous for all involved.  I take minor things and make them major in my mind.  This is why I have professionals involved in my life to help guide me and make important decisions about what I need to shelve and what I need to address.  Shelving.  It's an important word.  Really it's important for all of us if you think about it logically.  There are some people in life who thrive on stress and negativity.  It keeps them relevant and needed.  Needing space from a person or a situation doesn't mean you have to stop caring or loving that person.    

It's really Life 101 if you think about it quickly.  Positive people are happier.  Negative Nancy's are miserable.  In recovery, we learn to re frame negative thoughts into positive ones.  It only makes sense to marry that with people who are affirmative, positive, and accepting.  I don't want to hear negative things about other people.  I'm battling daily not to talk negative about Natalie.  Shelving.  Here's to the first week of summer!  May we all work on shelving the negatives and living the positives.