Feeling So Restless

Once again, this proves that one needs a vacation to recover from one's vacation!

Coming back home from a nice time, vacation or otherwise, can feel like a letdown. I way I shake the feeling is by getting busy! I have plenty of things that need doing right here, whether I feel like doing them or not. Getting active helps me get my mind back where my body is. Then I can look around my "real life" and see a whole lot of people and things to be thankful for.

If you are feeling like a change, change the things you can. Rearrange the furniture in your house, Paint the walls, put up wallpaper, buy a new rug for your bedroom, organize your closet by color, have a garage sale, make new curtains for your windows, get creative with crafts or art, take each room of your house, one at a time and do what you can to make it your dream home. It will give you such a feeling of accomplishment. You can get started by getting decorating ideas on BHG.com or HGTV.com. Have fun and good luck!

Is there something you've been wanting to do, just for you?

When I get a bit nutty with the sameness, I try to figure out what it is I'm really needing. Obviously, I can't presume to tell you what you are wanting or needing, but maybe some open-ended free-writing "If I had a million dollars and plenty of time, I would....." and just write, explore what it is that sounds interesting or intellectually stimulating for you, and maybe go further, revealing what you hope to get out of some of those experiences or activities. I know that when my brain isn't engaged beyond the mundane, I get a bit crabby.

I've struggled with this too, from time to time, and don't want to give you any trite answers, because this is sometimes deeper than the "give your house a whole new look" happy-homemaker advice I've found online. Sometimes, a bit of angst can provoke us to look deeper and see where we might carve out a new niche for ourselves or find a new way of growing into the person we want to be. I can't tell you exactly what that will look like for you, but I do empathize.

It didn't sound like you had fallen out of love with your husband, it just sounds like you need some excitement....some new energy in your life! I ALWAYS have a vacation on the horizon. I need it like a carrot dangling for me to keep on keeping on. It has nothing to do with being ungrateful, but I need more stimulation than most....or at least I admit that....and don't drug myself into feeling nothing so that everything feels ok.

My girlfriend just moved to Costa Rica with her 2 kids and she's loving the change. They rented their home in Oregon to a family from France for the next year, so they decided to take off and figure things out. They sold everything and took 1 bag per person to CR. Not that you have to move to CR, but shake things up a bit. Buy some Groupon, look on TravelZoo for some good vacation deals, re-do a bathroom or room in your house. Change up your front yard.

I just got back from Peru and thinking it might be a fun move. ;)

One of my favorite quotes is "Wherever you go, there you are." So, moving to a new place is unlikely to solve anything.

When I felt the way you're feeling, it helped me to think of all the things I am grateful for in my life. Try to get a new, more positive perspective. For example, look at my kids and say, wow, I can't believe we created these little people. Feel so grateful that they are healthy and thriving -- instead of focusing on how much they can drive me nuts!!

And definitely try doing something new for yourself! Make time to read a good book, take a class, exercise. Best wishes to you!

Do something. Check out Groupon for cheap classes, usually Yoga or dance or just something to do. Or, if you have a skill, try going to the city and ask if you can teach a class. They are always looking for instructors to offer classes to the city. When I get restless, I redecorate too, move beds... heck, I've rearranged my kids' room (bunk beds) in the middle of the night while they were sleeping in it.

Hi, Mama:

Sounds like you have fallen out of love with your husband.
8 Ways to be God's Lover to Your Husband
R Revise your vows
O Offer your body as a gift
M Mentally shift into sexual gear
A Admire him
N Nurture your sexual feelings
T Touch him in a sexual way
I Ignite passion
C Commit to romance

Good luck.
D.

Do you work? If not, maybe getting a part time job could be the thing. Getting out and meeting new friends and seeing different people everyday is sometimes so nice. If that is not your cup of tea, go find a good book! Reading always takes me away for a little while. Good luck!!!