Day 3 - 215 -- Forgetfulness?

A tired feeling filled the day -- not great sleep for several nights due to heat inside. It is much cooler outside than inside today -- we just can't get that cooler air inside. I headed for groceries and some school supplies. When I got home, I was looking over the grocery receipt and wondering why it was so expensive. As I went through the list, I realized that I didn't have the pet food in the house or in the car. It was left on the lower part of the cart when I returned the cart to the corral. It wasn't easily visible from behind. I returned to the store and there at customer service was my $20 bag of boy food. The cart wrangler had returned it when he gathered the carts. Only in a small town <smile>.  I left my wallet in the child seat a few years ago and it was still in the cart in the corral when I returned -- adds to faith in humanity <smile>. Also, today's shopping list contained the brand name for shampoo, which was on sale. When I put the purchase away in the cupboard, it became obvious that I was supposed to have purchased conditioner -- there are several shampoo bottles but very few conditioners and I use more of the latter than the former. <sigh> So, yet another trip back to a store to exchange. (Another good thing about a small town -- at least it isn't far so won't use too much gasoline <grin>)

Lack of sleep brings a variety of thought disruptions -- forgetting and anxiety being two that seem common. This leads to the need to repeat tasks, resulting in reduced productivity, which can result in increased anxiety and the wheel goes round and round. Not being in the moment, that lack of mindfulness, occurs when tired. While we may be mindful of our internal tiredness, we can become less mindful of external happenings. When we are forced to see that we seem to be zoned out, the feelings of fear or frustration or any of a number of emotions arise. Learning to relax the mind without losing touch with surroundings isn't as easy as it sounds. It must be a control thing -- like Goldilocks we need to avoid too much or too little and find the amount of control that  is just right.

Lyrics of a song fit the idea of working to change a situation. While more sleep may help me, there are still thinking patterns that need to be addressed. With will, time and work this can happen. Enjoy!

Unwritten -- Natasha Bedingfield