A few major changes are occurring in my life that are sending me on a tail spin, and I'm SO tempted to eat my through it, because food does have a calming effect, and it would be easy to eat lots of cake and send myself in to a sugar coma to combat this anxiety. In brief, my oldest child just had a birthday, which is symbolic of the fact that my husband doesn't want any more kids, and my babies are growing up. I suppose most mothers can relate. Also, a dear friend is selling her house & moving hours away.

In response to my urges, I'm blogging. The kitchen is three rooms away from me at this very moment, and I have no food upstairs with me. This is what I'm choosing: journalling on this blog.

Also, here are some coping methods I've already used today, and some plans for this afternoon:

1. Employ help: I have two of my kids at a relatives house so I can have some Me-time.

2. Visit a friend: I dropped in at a friends house, we had tea, she made the baby a snack, we talked.

3. Pray: I am praying through this because food is not the answer, God knows me & loves me. He always allows me to feel my own emotions, express them to Him, and guide me to a better way of thinking or feeling. He's so patient and kind to me.

4. Read the bible: I'm reading about how God takes our small offerings & multiplies them for His glory (in Matthew regarding the boy who shared his loaves & fishes & Jesus fed thousands). A small pebble begins only with a "thunk" in the water, but God carries that out in a ripple effect.

5. Exercise: I will do a pilates DVD this afternoon. It's not rigorous exercise, but more calming & loving movement today to honor my anxious state, yet still moving my body. UPDATE: I busted a Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred workout AND a 20-minute Winsor Pilates DVD. I decided I needed a good a$$-whooping.

6. Drink hot tea: did this morning with a friend. Maybe a hot bath would be nice too. UPDATE: hot shower, check!

7. Rest: I will rest technology-free in my room and take a siesta.

8. Laughter: a good laugh is great medicine. UPDATE: watched a few SNL clips.

Bad news happens to all of us. Life gets stressful, gets us down. God knows.

What other ideas do you have for positive reactions to bad news?
Please share.
Jessica