The Intrepid McKenna's Guide to Coping and Handling Unforeseen Bullshit

Hey snow loving braggarts! I was going to blog today to bring to your attention to the fact that it is 50 and sunny here in Northern California today but something else has been brought to my attention.

Sadness. Snow.

Actually snow and sadness are very much the same thing in my book. It's part of the reason I am happy to be here in Cali where "Winter" means a smidge of frost on your car. But I know it is snowing back home so something sad had to be happening somewhere.

In 2010 we had the first snow 3 days before Thanksgiving. It also happened to be the day my husband was let go from his job of 9 years.  ( Curse you Snow!)

In 2012 we had a huge January shitstorm snowstorm and after being snowed in the house for several days I woke up with out being able to see properly and was subsequently diagnosed with MS. ( A plague on both your houses Snow!)

And now it's December 2012 and the snow is falling again. I am 1100 miles away so the Snow has decided to take another McKenna hostage this year.

I have no advice for the crisis Cousin McKenna is going through. I've never been in a situation like hers, but I do know what I do when a shitstorm snowstorm of shit  snow happens to me. I introduce to you...

The Intrepid McKenna's Guide to Coping and Handling Unforeseen Bullshit ( 1st edition)


Step 1: Wallow
    
     Wallowing is okay. Wallowing is healthy. Wallowing is mental healthy. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. When Chris lost his job I gave him a 2 week wallowing period. He was allowed to be day drunk and play video games 24 hours a day. This is a mourning period. Unforeseen Bullshit takes a part of you and it's healthy to mourn that loss.

Step 2: Make a point

     Do something impulsive. Unforeseen Bullshit makes a turning point for you so make a turning point for The Bullshit! This will help you take control of the situation. After my diagnosis I cut off all my hair. MS may have taken hold of my body but I had control of my hair! New Hair = New Me. So get a tattoo. Skydive. Go heads Carolina, tails California.  Eat Fugu. Make your own turning point with something YOU decide to happen.

Step 3: Make a plan

I like to think about how my personal idols would handle my situation. WWDD? WWBD?

What would Dolly do?
     Is there anything Dolly Parton can't do? No. Is there anything she won't do? No. Have people been judging and ridiculing her for years? Yes. Does it slow her down or make her change who she is in any way? Hell no. Dolly Parton is brains. She plays a dozen instruments. She has been married to one man for 48 years. She is the founder of the Imagination Library. She built a theme park in Pigeon Forge Tennessee specifically to create jobs in the dirt poor town she grew up in. If Dolly Parton had lost her job, I like to think she would pack up all of her rhinestones and carry them with her while looking for a new job. She wouldn't hide them and misrepresent herself. While sending out my own resumes this year I sent out pink resumes.  I got a phone call or had an interview with nearly every place I applied to. I turned down two jobs the week I took the job I have.  So what would Dolly do? She would keep her well coiffed head held high while letting you know what you are missing by not having her around. She knows her worth even if you don't.

Step 4: Ask for help

WWBD?

     What would Buffy do?Well Duh! Buffy would kick ass! Always. Yes, Buffy had her emotionally weak moments. We all do. But when it came down to it she made the hard the decisions, executed them, and dealt with the personal repercussions later. The other aspect that makes Buffy Summers worthy of inspiration is that she was never afraid to ask for help. Buffy had a whole team of besties that helped her through every battle she ever had. Where would Buffy be without her Willow? Her Xander? Hell, where would Buffy have been without Spike? So when your personal Hellmouth opens and The First is coming for you, don't be afraid to assemble your Scoobies.

Step 5: Grab your golden lasso

     That's right. You have work to do. You are responsible for your future and you are prepared for it. So pull on those red boots, grab your golden lasso and be the Warrior Princess that you are!


Also, remember to laugh. Laugh through all of it.

Laughter is the best slap in the face to Unforeseen Bullshit. Laughter is the " Hey bitch, you can't bring me down" that Unforeseen Bullshit hates. Laughter is winning.

Cousin McKenna, I haven't any babies. Or kittens. Or toddlers dressed as Darth Vader.
I have nothing to help you with your laughter except pictures of me me doing silly ish.
So I give you this...

If you would also like to wear the pelt of Sam the Eagle Muppet, it's available for sale at your local JC Penney.

 

Namaste