Kristen Blog

It appears I have fallen into an every other week blogging routine.  I'd say that is better than nothing!  Even if some little entries have to be short and sweet. I'm finding that I don't exactly have MORE time since I left MU.  However, I do have more freedom with my time.  It's just...there is so much around here desiring my time.  I still end up spinning plates.   And in many ways, I am feeling so much healthier: mentally, physically, spiritually.  For example, Matt makes me take these pictures, and despite my inner critic and my utter discomfort...I choose to see myself through his eyes.  And I post them. And speaking of time...Spring Break breezed through here like a hurricane.  I spent a lot of time on little cleaning projects that have been on my to-do for about a year.  Despite a pity-party here and there as I watched others post their vacation pics, it is ALWAYS a relief when I get to the nitty-gritty around here.  I feel s...

 Hey!!  Long time no...blog. It has been a busy couple of weeks, in a good way.  I had every intention of blogging last Sunday, but I had a surprise opportunity to watch my great nephew for the VERY first time, so...sorry, not sorry. I think we wore him out with all of the people and attention.  He fell asleep on the 2 minute drive from our house to the restaurant, where we celebrated my Dad's birthday.  Then, he slept through the whole dinner, which was an hour - in a busy restaurant!  What an amazing little guy.  You can clearly see who he prefers... It was, literally, my favorite day.  And, given I have my hands quite full these days, I was extremely grateful my little invite came on a day when I was home and available.  It's not every day you get a chance to snuggle with a little great! And speaking of hands full...let's talk about laundry. I came, I saw, I conquered the laundry.  Seriously...I have had overflow for the last month or...

Ho...Ho...Hooooooly Roller Coaster, Batman.  Have I been on a wild ride the last two weeks!!  I have had every extreme in the emotional sense, from the highest of high to the lowest of low, it seems.  Half the lows originated from right within my own self, and for that I am so disappointed.  But...it's a reminder that I need to always be aware and continuing the work of growth and development within my heart and mind. Just because I have the knowledge of a counselor doesn't mean I always remember to personally apply it.  And besides, counselors need some backup, too.  I am only human, after all. My very appropriate Valentine and birthday gift from my love. 🍷 Anyway, I completely failed last weekend and became a major contributor to a couple of really crummy days around here.  I'm not exactly sure the root of my failure, but I have a few sneaking suspicions.  For one, I have been carrying some heavy stuff in my work (a natural part of the job). ...

Happy February!!  It happens to be one of my favorite months.  😁  No bias, of course. As brute as he can be...he has his moments.  Jesse sure can be sweet sometimes.  If only we could get past the NOT sweet times. I had a happy balance of appointments and down-time to plan this week.  As it turns out, Sunday was probably our most hectic day.  What do you do?  When you live with health care, you have to be adaptable, because this schedule is flightier than my moods. I managed to get a Facebook page,   Instagram and Linked In for Kristen O'Hara Counseling.    Thanks to all who have already put in the effort to support through likes, comments, referrals, etc.  I love this job! I am definitely thinking ahead.  I don't know that it will be sustainable to keep all three going.  I barely even post to my knitting pages anymore.  I may have to archive...or let them sit, so I can streamline my focus.  I would miss ...

How do you take it when your enemy wins? When you are down in the count, out of time, and the victor is dancing over your defeat...how do you tend to respond?   I get knocked down, but I get up again.  Ain't NOTHING gonna break MY stride. I have not figured this one out, yet. I am a terrible loser.  True, I have learned to take it better over the years, but there are still certain losses I can NOT tolerate.  What instantly comes to mind is when the victor is particularly insensitive in their celebrations...and I am most sensitive when my child is their victim. However, there are an untold number of situations of my own.   For example: when a lesson doesn't land well; when, a client doesn't seem to click with me; when I am in a group of people, and I feel excluded; when someone admonishes me with snooty silence or non-verbal judgments...; when a friend I thought was close just up and ghosts me.   I am continually heartbroken by every failed relationship I ca...

I can not even begin (nor am I at liberty) to describe ALL of the details that have contributed to making the last couple of weeks feel like a tsunami had hit me.  When I described it to Matt in that way, he said, "Except it wasn't just a tsunami.  You've been hit with a tsunami, an earthquake, a tornado and a hurricane all at once." I find comfort in the day to day joyful routines.  In the midst of trauma, a little happy normal can also satisfy the soul.  My creek...in every season.  💕 Oh the empathy!  (This is why I told my counseling supervisor that my husband is my therapist...and meant it.). He made me feel valid in my emotions.  I mean, I worry about being overdramatic and just feeling sorry for myself, but...to say it's been rough would be a gross and disrespectful understatement to the tragedy we've endured, alone.  Add to it a series of other back to back emergencies and heavy responsibilities, and I'm just grateful I'm still able to sta...

  “Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around - nobody big, I mean - except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff - I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be.”   ―  J. D. Salinger,  The Catcher in the Rye If ever I were to question my choice of career...this would have been the week. As I sat in my little counselor's office at the school, meeting one-by-one with deeply grieving souls in the tiniest of bodies, one child took a sidestep away from the conversation at hand, "So...what are you going to do tonight?" A hollow laugh escaped...