"Whatever it takes"

Those were Chris' words to me a couple of days ago when he had about had it with my melancholy attitude. Wednesday night after another moment of breaking down and crying for no apparent reason, he kindly told me to "do whatever it takes to get back to yourself . . . what's up with this funk you've been in for the last couple of weeks? Seriously, tomorrow, you have the entire day, get outside, go for a hike, work in the yard, go do something to feel happy again, because you're never like this and I don't know how to handle it."

I have to laugh now because he was right, I was having a period of low energy or something - melancholy - that's the best way I could describe it. I just wasn't myself, wasn't talkative or outgoing at all, didn't want to go out much, wasn't interested in much, felt almost robotic in my daily activities. Plus, the weather was just lousy and dreary, and all I really wanted to do was sit at home and read (I did - i read two books in just over a week).

Thank goodness for Thursday morning and the SUN that finally decided to make an appearance. Ahhhh, I woke up refreshed and determined to change my attitude and get my energy back where it needed to be to function normally. It was Liza's day to play at her friend's home after kindergarten, which meant I had from 9am until 3:45 pm to myself. I had been in a quandary all day Wednesday trying to figure out how to spend those precious hours, when all I really wanted to do was get the kids to school and go back to bed! But with the sun rising above the canyon and the colors on the mountainside becoming more brilliant by the minute , I couldn't help but feel alive myself and ready for a fresh start.

The temple. That's where I needed to go, that's where I needed to be on such a beautiful morning. The drive along Wasatch towards the Draper temple was rejuvenating, walking inside that magnificent edifice made my heart lighter, and participating in an endowment session within it's beautiful corridors brought me peace and comfort. Besides the open house, it was my first time inside this temple and I couldn't have chosen a better place to spend my Thursday morning. The love I felt was incomprehensible.

As I was driving home, and already feeling more myself, I thought, "a little retail therapy can't hurt today." If you know me, you know I rarely shop anywhere else besides the the tables at Costco, however there is one little boutique in SLC that I have come to adore the past year and unfortunately stop inside to see what's new more that I should. Soooo, taking Chris' words "whatever it takes" to heart, I just had to drop by to see if they still had this jacket I've been drooling over for the past month but couldn't justify the price tag. Well, it must have been karma, because there it was in my size, just waiting to help me feel better . . . along with a new skirt, sweater, and an oh so cute blouse . . . sigh, I really don't like shopping, but oh, did it help bring back whatever part of "Julie" was missing! Apparently I still need "retail therapy" because tonight two of my good friends talked me into the most amazing new ski jacket and pants at the ski swap . . . sigh, but it sure brought a smile to my face :-).

Next part of my day, and the one thing Chris KNEW would make me feel better: the mountains. Get myself up into the canyon for an afternoon hike when the sun is at it's peak and the leaves will be their more brilliant. HEAVENLY. I hiked up Neff's canyon towards the back side of Mt. Olympus and it was truly spectacular - bright blue skies acting as canvas to the display of radiant yellow, red, and orange, with the towering granite walls to the east and the impressive views of the Salt Lake Valley to the west, it was exactly what I needed to wrap up my time alone before I picked up the kids at school.

Thank you Chris for your awareness of what I needed, to get that part of me that makes me "me" back again. I feel alive once again and hope you'll still remember telling me to do "whatever it takes" when you see the credit card statement ;-).