I'm falling behind and I'm beating myself up about it!

Well, I'm at 30,000 words; but I didn't write yesterday.  Another killer migraine struck and so I decided to take the day off...now I feel guilty.  Why do I put such hard requirements upon myself?  I've always been this way - I strive for perfect and never reach it (I do acknowledge where my daughter gets it from!).  Realistically, I know that I am human and can never be "perfect" and yet; well, here I am.

I've become consumed with NaNoWriMo and struggle to complete this task I've set out for myself, to the detriment of other things...like reading all of my favorite blogs.  I've got about 20 that I LOVE LOVE LOVE! Yet, I haven't visited this month because I'm so focused on getting this novel done.

So, to all of you wonderful bloggers (you know who you are!), have no fear; I'll be visiting your sites and catching up on November's posts - just not until December!

Until then, keep posting and definitely keep writing!  I miss you! :)

BTW: I'm thinking of hosting my own little contest for the holidays!  It is still in my brain's planning phase, but I hope to have it all worked out by December 5th.

Deep Questions? Or Self-Pitying Speculations??

When I began puberty I also began to have migraines. Debilitating migraines that make it hard to stand without puking all over the place, impossible to open one's eyes in any light, severe dizziness/vertigo, and a general wish for death. When I was in my 20's I would call in sick (barely) and stay in bed all day...suffering. I thought I had it so bad! ;)

I had such a migraine today. But I have kids. And so, there is no lying in bed all day; there can be no self pity - no silence and darkness and a cease to all movement. That is an impossibility with a 5th grader, a kindergartener, and a 15 month old.

I sit here now still asking myself the question: How did I do it? How is it that I got out of bed at 6am, puked for about 10 minutes, woke up the kids, fed them breakfast, helped pick out their outfits for the day, double checked backpacks, and drove them to school (all while feeding, dressing and changing the baby). I then attended a 90 minute PTA meeting, puked some more, took some more medication, fed the baby lunch, got him to nap and went to pick up the kindergartner - took him to swim lessons - then went back for the 5th grader. I had to help with homework, deal with the Sears repair man that said nothing is wrong with my oven that won't bake, got dinner on the table, kids bathed and ready for bed - all by the time Daddy got home. HOW DID I DO IT? Well, I do it every day so I guess it is sort of muscle memory at this point! :D

So here is the question...

Why is it that some people, when faced with great adversity, rise above the challenge and continue to live their lives - as though they will not let anything effect their quality of life; while others wallow in self pity and cease to live any kind of life that does not revolve around creating pity in others about how pitiful they are?

Now don't get me wrong, I'm in no way equating my stupid migraine to those amazing people who fight cancer and refuse to let it win...it is just that my day today was full of pain and it got me thinking. What do you think? Do you have an opinion? Is this one of those nature vs. nurture arguments?

I'm still in my head about this one, and just thought I'd put it out there and see what you think.

Here is an amazing song about surviving...


And another inspiring song...