Thankful | Migraines

I had coffee with my brother today. Nothing fancy, just in my livingroom, with River Cottage on in the background. We talked awhile about his plans for the future. I remember being 19. How exciting everything was. All the possibilities. Now I'm 24, and life is still exciting. Yet, sometimes I need to be reminded that life is exciting. Like this weekend. Friday was a hard day, but when it was over it was wonderful. We finished our 40-page report we've been struggling with for the past couple of months. Saturday I was in bed with a migraine. I have monthly migraines, no biggie, but this one was rough. I spent all of Saturday in bed. Usually a couple of pills and a nap cures it. Not this time. I thought it might be over by Sunday. It wasn't. It got better, but never completely disappeared. In the end I got so sick of it I just ignored it. We had sushi with a friend, and it was wonderful. Except for the fact that my head was still quietly exploding every now and then. Surely it would be over by the time I woke up this morning. It wasn't, not completely. I still had this numbing pain behind my forehead,  but I had to get up. I had to hand in that report. So I did. And now, the migraine is finally gone.
A weekend spent in bed with a migraine is no fun. Days like that don't feel exciting. I start thinking how life isn't fair. How it isn't fair that I have to deal with monthly migraines, while others go through life without ever encountering one. I start complaining, I start having negative thoughts.  I start to get sick of my life. I forget that I have many more good, exciting days than I have days with migraines. Focusing on the negative causes you to forget the positive, although the positive should far outweight the negative.

Image found on Pinterest

I have a wonderful, exciting life,

but sometimes I forget.

I need to be reminded that the bad days don't overpower the good days,

because they don't.

I would never trade in my life for someone else's, 

not even if it meant being rid of the monthly migraines.

If this life requires a migraine now and then, 

then that's how it's going to be.

I'll take it.

- Lea Binta

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Thankful Thursday | Sleep

Obelix can sleep anywhere, in any position.

I used to be able to sleep anywhere, in any position,

but not anymore.

Lately, my body has been acting up.

I haven't exactly been good to it staying up all night

for both the American presidential election,

and then a couple of days later for my birthday sleepover.

Almost a year ago I had 2-3 weeks where I couldn't sleep.

I couldn't function properly, because I didn't get any sleep at night,

but no matter how tired I was I just couldn't sleep.

It was because of stress.

These days it's sort of returning, this whole not-being-able-to-sleep-thing.

It's horrible.

I'm really tired all day, 

but when I finally get to go to sleep at night I can't.

Yesterday I finally feel asleep almost right away.

I really needed it too.

So much that I overslept this morning, 

even though I had a late class.

I take sleep for granted a lot, but sometimes being able to sleep

isn't just a necessity - it's a blessing,

and today I'm really thankful that I could sleep last night.

- Lea Binta

Thankful thursday

Yesterday I was thankful because my hubby bought a big cake.

Today I was thankful because there was still some cake left over.

Did I mention that I love cake?

And TGIFT!

(Thank God it's friday tomorrow)

- Lea Binta

Thankful thursday

Today has been filled with negative energy! 

Mostly my own fault, but when my day starts at 6:30 am, 

then I find it hard to be positive.

This may not be early for some of you,

but for me it kills.

Every single morning. 

It's not like anything majorly terrible happened, 

just lots of little things to irritate me.

Like the fact that the bus was 7 minutes late.

I mean, 7 minutes is enough to time to brush my teeth,

put on makeup and pack my bag. 

I could have slept 7 minutes longer! 

That just annoys me.

And then, when on the bus, I saw the sunrise.

A sunrise is genuinely one of the most beautiful things ever,

but witnessing one always creates a tug-o'-war in my mind,

between how beautiful it is

and how it's way too early to be awake when the sun isn't even up yet.

And then I spent my 2 first 15-minute breaks trying to call the doctor's office,

which was virtually impossible.

And that just annoys the crap out of me every time I have to call them.

So then I figured, this would be a good day to focus on the positive,

and be thankful.

So here goes, things to be thankful for..

1.

 I spent all saturday celebrating my daddy's 45th birthday.

Lots of cake, good food, and lovely company.

2.

This weekend we will be celebrating hubby's daddy's 50th birthday,

both friday night and sunday,

which means even more cake, good food and lovely company.

(Of course, company comes before the food, even though they're

listed the other way around. Well..

Who am I kidding, the cake means as much as the company!)

3. 

I got to spend an afternoon and evening hanging out with my brother,

and some seriously delicious coffe and cake. 

And obviously, cake is always a plus.

(Said brother is now in Prague, and he better bring me something!

A piece of cake will suffice..)

4. 

Speaking of coffee, I am sooo thankful I have a husband who takes the time

to make me coffee every morning, 

even when he doesn't make any for himself.

It makes my day!

5.

Speaking of hubs, he bought me some christmas chocolate the other evening,

when I had a migraine and spent the whole day/evening in bed.

It totally cheered me up, and even made my migraine better!

(Or so I like to think.)

6. 

Speaking of migraine, it's finally gone! It pestered me tuesday,

all the way through wednesday, and finally left me alone

wednesday evening. 

7. 

I also finally suceeded in getting through to the doctor's office,

so now maybe something can be done about this horrible migraine 

that comes to visit once or twice every month.

8. 

Lastly, but not least, tomorrow is friday.

And friday is always better than any monday, tuesday,

wednesday or thursday.

What are you thankful for today?

- Lea Binta

Thankful | Simple joys

In 7th grade, when I was at an American school in Nigeria, I had a discipleship teacher who introduced me to the concept of Simple Joys. Once a week we had to write down at least 5 simple joys from the past week, and it introduced my 13-year-old mind to a whole new world - being thankful for the little things, as well as the big things. 

Although I don't write down my simple joys once a week anymore, I often think what I would write down, and these days I have so much to be thankful for. 

I'm thankful that the backpain I've had since Sunday is lessening, and that my hubby and my dog are quite understanding when I spend the entire day on the couch, because it hurts to be up and about. (rhyme!)

I'm thankful that I got a job, but also thankful that I still have a week and a half before starting.

I'm thankful that spring seems to finally be here. I'm thankful that I'm no longer freezing when I take Obelix outside, and I'm thankful for all the flowers and greens sprouting forth.

I'm thankful that my hubby bought beautiful tulips for me the other day.

I'm thankful that in just 5 days I will celebrate my one year wedding anniversary with my wonderful man, and I'm thankful we get to celebrate it with good friends around. 

I'm thankful that my brother's new (but 11 month old) great dane and our little dachshund seem to be getting along alright. I'm thankful the great dane - Plato - didn't eat Obelix.

What are your simple joys today?

/Lea Binta

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone