From melt downs to awesome realizations
The last couple months my husband and I have been in the trenches. We moved to a new city‚ quit our jobs‚ started new jobs‚ and transported to an older than … apartment. At first‚ the vibe was of excitement and grateful for change. However‚ challenges‚ and growing pains come with change.
First off‚ the residence is 40 years old. Obviously‚ appliances‚ and lights didn’t work like the Scottsdale apartment. Did I think of that? No. The first night of moving in‚ the kitchen light wouldn’t come on‚ the kitchen faucet did not work‚ and the stove would not come on. I felt a slight irritation creeping into my chest. However‚ I sucked it up and rolled with it. I called the maintenance guy and had him fix everything. Then‚ last week‚ two hours before I am about to get in the shower to get ready for a wedding‚ black crap is coming out the faucet‚ and the toilet wouldn’t work. Prior to this day‚ the toilet broke two times before that. I had a full fledged meltdown. My poor husband who had to witness a breakdown‚ stood patiently. I was walking in circles‚ flapping my arms like a bird‚ shouting‚ ” this place sucks‚ ‚and my hair looks disgusting‚ and; now‚ we have to go to the wedding in an hour. “Mind you‚ my husband is watching the craziness unfold. I thought the world was about to end. I realized I was being dramatic‚ and calmed down. Everything got fixed‚ and if something breaks again‚ I can handle it. Thank God for humor because we can laugh at all the shenanigans that have happened with the new place. Change can be scary and sometimes it will push a person to their breaking point. Be that it May‚ change also comes with amazing experiences. I concluded that I can handle more in life then I thought. If something breaks; again‚ I will say‚”Crystal‚ get your big girl pants on and chill out.” God has not left you in the dust so far.” In my heart‚ I know God never will.
What meltdowns have you experienced? Did you come away with a lesson or an epiphany?
As of now (33) people have had something to say...
Lenie -
April 15, 2014 at 11:28 am
Hi Crystal
I love your husband – for someone to be calm in the situation you described‚ he’s a keeper for sure. Hope life in the apartment settles down for soon and everything that can go wrong‚ already has and no more. Appreciate you faith. When I was going through crises quite a few years ago the song I Believe by Frankie Laine saw me through.
All the best
Lenie
crystal -
April 15, 2014 at 8:21 pm
Lenie‚ thanks for the sweet compliment. He is a keeper! I will have to check out that song. =)
maxwell ivy -
April 15, 2014 at 12:22 pm
Hi Crystal; Thanks for sharing your story. It reminds us we can do all things through faith as long as we remember that god is still with us. He is still on the thrown and nothing brought against us can ever prosper. glad to see you not only grew in your faith but got a blog post out of it too. take care‚ max
crystal -
April 15, 2014 at 8:19 pm
Thanks Max!
Chandler -
April 15, 2014 at 4:52 pm
All of my greatest awakenings have come from the hardest struggles.
crystal -
April 15, 2014 at 8:12 pm
I agree!
Paul Graham -
April 15, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Crystal‚ moving is always stressful and requires a lot of good humour. Generally each partner handles some stresses best and relies on the other during their own meltdown tendencies. You will certainly laugh about all of this even more in years to come
crystal -
April 15, 2014 at 8:13 pm
Thanks Paul! I know I will. It so ridiculous one has to laugh.
crystal -
April 15, 2014 at 8:14 pm
Thanks Tim! I like the metaphor.
valerie Remy-Milora -
April 15, 2014 at 10:06 pm
Amen God will always have your back and He never gives us more than we can handle! So grateful that you were able to find the humor in your situation and that you have an angel of a husband who stayed clam rather than jump in on the ranting! Crisis come and go.. I know when I feel overwhelmed I like to step out and go for a quick walk.. It helps me come to my senses and realize that life is much bigger than whatever problem is at hand. Happy new beginnings… there’s always something magical that comes out of chaos!
crystal -
April 16, 2014 at 4:10 pm
Valerie‚ thanks for your kind words. I will use your suggestion a take a walk next time. =)
Arleen -
April 16, 2014 at 12:07 am
Crystal the bright side to all of this when you are both old you will back on this experience and laugh. Just thin of the great memories you made. I keep hearing people say God doesn’t give you more than you can handle. Somehow when things happen I do always land on my feet.
crystal -
April 16, 2014 at 4:12 pm
Arleen‚ this is very true! My husband and I have a sense of humor and we end up making jokes of difficult situations later on. Thanks for the awesome words. =)
Welli -
April 16, 2014 at 11:30 am
I can just see you in that state of walking in circles and flapping your hands like a bird. I normally start talking to myself asking questions no one can answer. It helps though for some reason.
Welli recently posted…Teabags‚ hot water and character
crystal -
April 16, 2014 at 4:15 pm
Welli‚ that is too funny. I have sweared to myself under my breath.However‚ that gets me more riled up. I think talking to your self in a kind and gentle way can definitely get you off the ledge.
Beth Niebuhr -
April 16, 2014 at 2:12 pm
It is so hard when your home‚ your safe place‚ betrays you!
Beth Niebuhr recently posted…Little Free Libraries
crystal -
April 16, 2014 at 4:16 pm
Beth‚ this is true!
Jeri -
April 16, 2014 at 6:52 pm
Moving is so hard for so many different reasons. When we moved to Charlotte‚ we ended up renting an older unit in a duplex in a really nice neighborhood. It didn’t have too many maintenance issues‚ but it was older and a bit out of style. My meltdown came in the parking lot of a Target one day. I can’t remember what I had been looking for in the store‚ and I just knew that the Fred Meyer back home would have had what I was looking for. All the stress from moving just came to a head at that point and I had a good cry in my car.
Jeri recently posted…#WriteTip: Breaking Habits of Seeing
Shelley -
April 18, 2014 at 1:50 pm
Um‚ I would be freakin’ too if I had to take my dirty hair out to a wedding.
crystal -
April 21, 2014 at 12:53 am
lol Thanks for agreeing with me Shelley!
Jay -
April 18, 2014 at 10:36 pm
I’m a big fan of not getting too upset at things when they have already happened and there is nothing you could have done to prevent it. now people who piss you off in the moment is a different thing. I hold that right up there with black crap coming out of the faucet.
Jay recently posted…Would You Stay With Someone Like You
crystal -
April 21, 2014 at 12:53 am
haha Thanks Jay! Exactly‚ it is hard to hold your tongue when people are being rude.
Meredith Wouters -
April 18, 2014 at 11:35 pm
There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned meltdown to clear the air‚ especially if you have a supportive husband who will let you get it all out of your system when you need to. Why do these things always seem to happen when you’re getting ready for a wedding or something? One of my favorite quotes is “If God only gives us what we can handle‚ He must think I’m a bad-ass.” Hang in there!
Meredith Wouters recently posted…Why Mom is Brain-Dead
crystal -
April 21, 2014 at 12:52 am
haha! I love being called a bad ass. I know it always happens at the worst times. Thanks for the encouraging words!
andleeb -
April 20, 2014 at 8:21 am
Hello Crystal
Normally when we move to new house ‚ we have to fix and re-adjust a lot of things to our needs and style but when something breaks like this ‚ when you are in hurry it normally makes us sick.
I had that experience many times and I can understand how you will be feeling . When I shifted to new apartment few months before almost all the lights went off. That was a scary experience for my 3 years old daughter as she never experienced power break down before.
But I am sure over the time you will get use to it. But I hope something will not get wrong when you are in good mood to attend parties….
All the best.
andleeb recently posted…Mysterious Moguicheng
crystal -
April 21, 2014 at 12:49 am
Thanks Andleeb for the encouraging words! I hope so too!
crystal -
April 21, 2014 at 12:54 am
Thanks Sandy and you are so right!
crystal -
April 21, 2014 at 12:56 am
Niekka‚ thanks for your kind thoughts. I know God will not give me more then I can handle and I have had to pray alot too. lol
crystal -
April 21, 2014 at 12:56 am
Thanks for the kind thoughts! Balance is key!
crystal -
April 21, 2014 at 12:58 am
I have laughed in stressful or awkward situations too. Its like what else are you going to do. Laughter does help with stress. =)
crystal -
April 22, 2014 at 9:32 pm
I know I need to not sweat the small stuff sometimes . lol
Debra Yearwood -
April 23, 2014 at 3:06 am
What meltdowns have I had…where do I start? I’ve had meltdowns over laundry‚ over work‚ over all kinds of things‚ but my personal favorite is the meltdown I had over winter wind. Yes‚ that’s right‚ the wind was blowing relentlessly in my face and I’d had enough and had a complete meltdown that ended with‚ “Stupid wind!”
When we’re tired‚ fed-up‚ worried or just rushed emotions take over and look out! If you’re planning on having kids‚ wait till you see what meltdowns they inspire and even better‚ the meltdowns they have. I thought the picture with this post was PERFECT!
Debra Yearwood recently posted…Warming Up The Audience Before Delivering Your Message
crystal -
April 23, 2014 at 9:18 pm
Debra‚ you crack me up! That is something I would have done. I probably would have started hitting the wind with my hands. lol haha I cant wait for when I have kids. I have heard some of my friend’s stories about their children and they have had to take a time out from their children to collect themselves. lol Thanks for your funny comment. =)