I hope everyone had a nice enjoyable 4th of July.  My guys and I spent the afternoon with family catching up and grilling burgers.  It was a nice pleasant break from the everyday hustle and bustle.  So…that was the start of last week for me.  So…how does anxiety, insanity, and humor come into play in your day to day life?  They are qualities of my everyday life as a wife, mother, daughter, career woman, and friend.  Also, throw in a healthy dose of passion and survival skills.  Passion for life, and a  passion for surviving the chaos.  You never know what your day will hold.  Some days come and go with your biggest dilemma being what’s for supper.  Other days, hmmmm.  They kick you in the teeth, but somehow you take that licking, and keep right on going.  Let’s talk about the anxiety, insanity, and humor that often rule the day.  No one remembers those inconsequential days, but oh…those crazy days live on in infamy.

  Before lunch on Tuesday, the day after the 4th of July, I had thrown a hissy fit and given my youngest son and then my husband an earful.  I normally don’t buckle under the everyday pressures that are placed on my shoulders, but Tuesday came at me pretty hard.  I was traveling in a rental car that morning for reasons I won’t go into at the moment.  My intention was to gas up in a town that is halfway between my home and my destination.  Of course, like any good woman, the gas tank was close to empty.  To my dismay, the fuel tank access lever would not work.  I could not open the fuel door to gas up the car.  I thought..”Ok. You can figure this out.  You have got to be doing something wrong.  Google some videos.”  No help there.  I made the executive decision to just go for it.  I knew the delay was going to make me late for my appointment.  The meltdown ensued.  I called my husband on the phone, and his best advice was to calm down.  It would be ok. He advised. Word to the wise fellas….don’t tell an irritated woman to calm down.  Horns will come out.  My youngest son was with me in the car.  He nonchalantly says…”Mama…it’s like we’re on the Seinfield episode where Kramer, and the car salesman see how far they can drive before the car runs out of gas.” Any of you loyal Seinfeld fans know exactly which episode he was referring to.  That statement definitely did not soothe my irritation. We did reach our destination which included a stop at the car rental chain I will not name.  That location had no cars available for a swap, but managed to pry open the fuel door, gas me up, and had me on my way.  I have utmost respect for people that are problem solvers.  It’s like meeting a kindred soul.

I have recently come to a conclusion.  You might call it a self-diagnosis. Of course, watching Instagram reels has helped me confirm my suspicions.  I have high functioning anxiety.  There I said it!  I have embraced it.  Just like my crazy Tuesday morning last week.  I might have a meltdown or hissy fit, but I snap out of it, and handle the business at hand.  No time to crawl in the corner, and hope that someone else will handle whatever stressful event is going on at the moment.  We are the problem solvers and the doers of the world.  Are you the go-to person in your family or circle or even at your job?  I don’t think it’s anything someone aspires to be, but it just somehow happens.  Maybe high functioning anxiety is a super power??  We’re the people that get things done.  

If you are living and breathing, you will experience the chaos that life can bring from time to time, and often in spurts of  days and weeks.  Sometimes, darkness comes, and I look outside, and see that big ol’ fat full moon shining down on me.  I think to myself.  “That explains a lot.”  You have days that are go go go.  Work is crazy.  Home is busy.  Kids need this or that, and of course, there is always that last minute school project.  Someone comes down sick.  Non-stop life.  The pace is hectic time your feet hit the floor in the morning.  You are constantly putting out fires, and tending others that have the capability of morphing into fires.  On the way to work you find the drive thru is lined up around the building.  That much needed coffee will have to wait.   Issues hit you square in the face as soon as you arrive at work.  Like most good Southern women with grit, you learn to bob and weave.  Dodge those curve balls or even knock a few out of the park.

So…here’s to all of you sassy women out there with high functioning anxiety that take on each day with pluck and tenacity.  I hope each of you have a wonderful week.  Know that whatever comes your way…..you’re up for the challenge.

Love to all,

       Stella Elaine

P.S. Can you believe we are halfway through 2022?!!