Episode 34: Real Life Wednesday

A Very Unexpected Reminder

Welcome

Hello, and welcome to Real Life Wednesday and Episode 34 of ADHD Life in Real Time.

Have you ever had one of those moments where your day takes a turn you never saw coming?

Well, that's exactly what happened to me.

If you're not a fan of spiders, don't worry. I'm not going to go into much detail, but let's just say I had a very unexpected visitor.

It Started with One Spider...

Right before I was about to record my Momentum Monday episode, I noticed a spider on my downstairs steps.

I grabbed my sandal, thinking, "No big deal. I'll take care of it real quick."

Well... apparently she was pregnant.

The next thing I knew, there were tiny baby spiders everywhere.

I immediately went to the kitchen, grabbed some paper towels and cleaning supplies, and started cleaning everything up.

I'm pretty sure I got all of them, or at least all the ones I could see.

You Know That Feeling...

But you know that feeling afterward?

Even though you know they're gone, your body is just like, "Ew."

Every little itch suddenly makes you wonder if something is crawling on you.

If you don't like spiders, you probably know exactly what I'm talking about.

I was very thankful that I still had time to take a shower before going to bed because I was definitely ready to wash that entire experience off.

Before I Hit Record

The funny part is that all of this happened just minutes before I was supposed to record my Momentum Monday episode.

My heart was racing, and my whole body still felt unsettled.

Instead of immediately sitting down and pressing record, I took a few deep breaths and gave myself a moment to calm down.

That experience reminded me how important it can be to check in with ourselves during moments like that.

• What is happening in my body right now?
• How am I feeling?
• What do I need before I move on to the next thing?

Listening to Our Bodies

Sometimes we become so focused on what we need to do next that we automatically try to push through whatever we are feeling.

But our bodies often give us information before we even find the words for what is happening.

Maybe your heart is racing.

Maybe your shoulders are tense.

Maybe you feel restless, shaky, irritated, or completely overwhelmed.

Those signals can be an invitation to pause and listen.

For me, I needed a few deep breaths and a little time before I could sit down, focus, and record the episode.

A Different Kind of Reminder

As I was cleaning everything up, I also realized something else.

My house has been needing some extra attention.

It is not dirty, but life has been very full lately.

I've been recording daily podcast episodes, building my business, preparing for graduate school, working, and balancing everything else that comes with everyday life.

For the past few months, I also had a tenant who worked night shifts.

During the times when I had the energy to do deeper cleaning, he was often sleeping. I didn't want to disturb him, so some of those bigger cleaning projects kept being put off.

He has since moved out, so now I have more freedom to clean during the times that work best for me.

Sometimes our homes reflect the seasons we are in.

They may simply show us where our time and energy have been going and what might be ready for a little more care and attention.

The Bigger Lesson

Apparently, my reminder came in the form of a spider.

I would have preferred a sticky note.

But the bigger reminder was not only that my house needed attention.

It was also that I needed to pay attention to myself.

To notice what my body was doing.

To recognize how I was feeling.

And to give myself what I needed before rushing into the next task.

So the next time something unexpected happens, you might pause and ask yourself:

• What am I noticing in my body?
• How am I feeling right now?
• What would help me feel ready to move forward?

Sometimes the next step is not immediately doing more.

Sometimes it is taking a breath, checking in with yourself, and then deciding what comes next.

And hopefully, your reminder does not involve hundreds of tiny baby spiders.

Until Next Time

Thank you for spending a little bit of your day with me.

Until next time, I'll see you for Thought Shift Thursday, where I'll share how one unexpected change reminded me to notice something that had changed in me.

Until then, I hope today's story helps you create a little more clarity, feel a little more calm, and have a little more confidence. 💜💚