Day 13: Kind Words

Well, I made it through a Monday!  I was nervous about having another panic attack this morning, especially since I was driving to the same street as last week.  Too many similarities.  But today was a success, and one day further away from my last panic attack.  Hooray!

Despite my excitement now, I spent most of the morning in a semi-nervous state.  I was waiting for the anxiety to show it's cruel face.  I had two visits before I started to feel a bit better, then I got a text message from a coworker.  It was a simple message and a wish for a good day today.  I read the text message, smiled, and exhaled.  A few simple words were all it took to give me the confidence I needed to get through the day.

Now, I know that we shouldn't rely on other people to effect the outcome of our days and moods.  This is something I am actually working very hard to accept, especially in the opposite regard - people's negative comments, or my belief that they have negative feelings towards me, typically ruin my whole day.  I am learning to be a more positive person and finding ways to be a happier and more peaceful person. I think today would have turned out okay even without the text message.  I had made it through the first few hours of my day, and the uneasy feeling in my stomach was subsiding.  But it's always nice to have a little backup.  The few words that popped up on my screen served as a reminder that the day was going to be good.  It also reminded me that people do think positively about me and hope the best for me; an idea so obvious, but quickly erased by even the slightest bit of anxiety.  I am so grateful for those kind words, and of course the person who sent me the message.  

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless." 

- Mother Teresa