Walkin’ on Sunshine in Yellow Gingham | A Mood Booster

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This week and the few previous weeks have been tough on my family and my in laws. Parents on both sides have been ill – and frighteningly ill at that. Not to mention the weather is gloomy, foggy, and rainy – which helps absolutely nothing about our current state of affairs. That being said, I’ll fill you in a little bit about what’s going on and how I find some sunshine on the darkest of days.

My father has been increasingly more ill for some time now. He has progressed from heart failure into multi-organ system failure – landing him in and out of the hospital. Most recently he suddenly developed hepatic encephalopathy – scaring the wits out of my mother. Fortunately he turned around but the burden of disease has significantly impaired his liver, heart, and kidney functions. I wrote a post not too long ago about what I call boomerang parenting – and I have to say, it doesn’t get any easier. Becoming a parent to your parent, especially one as stubborn as my father, is no easy feat. I get particularly irritated when I’m asked for my advice (as a healthcare professional and seasoned nurse) and it goes to the wayside. At some point I’ve had to throw my hands up and sayĀ I give. Not that I give up on my dad, but I give up on trying to manage the situation. Ultimately he will do as he wishes and there’s nothing I can do to change that except love him nonetheless.

This week I’m in Boston to tend to and support my husband and his family while his mother is in the ICU. A slew of events has concluded a grim diagnosis of large B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and HLH (an autoimmune disease) triggered by the lymphoma. His mother has always been the epitome of determination, strength, and a force none should reckon with. If you imagine a New England born woman known to be as domineering as a Wall Street wolf – then you have Sarah. She’s as business-savvy as they come, with a will and spirit second to none and the purest role model of feminism I’ve ever encountered. I often wish we lived closer just so I can pick her brain on ideas and current events of the world – she’s a genius (and the only person aside from me I’ve met who can finish the New York Times Sunday crossword)! She is currently fighting for her life at one of Boston’s finest hospital and can use all the love, support, and prayers we all have to offer. For those of you, whether you be friend/family/a loving human being, who have sent your well wishes to us,Ā thank you. Please continue to pray for her, her team of medical professionals, and our family as we all surround her with our strength and spirit. Ā The disease is scary – but not impossible. And if anyone can fight through something so treacherous – it’s Sarah.

Now – I’ve also shared with you all before my extreme depression and susceptible nature when it comes to the weather. While my depression comes and goes, has good and bad days, and is being treated on a constant basis – I always seek out something positive every day, and seek a source of sunshine in the gloomiest of weather. Sometimes sunshine comes in the form ofĀ wearingĀ it – wrapping myself up in not only the color yellow, but a brilliant smile as well. Have you ever considered the impact of a smile? Even making yourself smile when you’re feeling blue can lift your spirits, if even just a tiny bit. I take full advantage of the days when the sun is shining and the weather is bliss – I take a drive with the rooftop open and the windows down, just letting the radio and the wind take over my mood. It’s my little slice of heaven, especially in the Texas countryside. Wearing yellow is also something I’ve started doing more of as I increase my wardrobe – I used to hate the color on me. But I tend to find people are drawn to it in some way or another – often remarking on the color or the outfit as a whole, which also turns around your mood!

So in the midst of finding a source of sunshine, I hope you all have something in your lives to be happy about and remember those cherished thoughts when the days get rough. How do you lighten your mood? Share with me!

 

yellow gingham dress

Photography by Megan Weaver

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40 Comments

  3. Life throws a lot of challenges our way and it’s really never easy! Sometimes it feels as if we’re drowning in problems that needs to be solved. During those days, I try to look at all the good things in my life and everything that I’m thankful for.

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  8. Iā€™m loving this dress!! I wished this style would work on me but Iā€™m too too heavy for that LOL. The shoes are adorable too! Yellow does tend to change the mood for the better. Cute!

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  10. I’m sorry to hear about all the hard things that are going on! Its great you are reaching out and sharing so that you can get help pushing through! Also, it looks like you have still found some time for selfceare with you outfit- great look.

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  14. Your dress is so cute and looks great on you! I lighten my mood by taking a little me time to do something I love like reading, pedis, etc šŸ™‚

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  16. Having health issues is hard enough and when you have to set that aside to help ailing parents, it can get downright difficult, especially when your advice is pushed aside. I totally agree with you, sometimes the clothes we wear will brighten our moods! And this dress kills me!! It is so ridiculously cute and full o’ sunshine! Annnnd, the shoes are a perfect match!! šŸ˜‰

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  18. You and your family are in my prayers. I have faith that everything will work out for you and that everyone will recover!
    That yellow dress is stunning and yellow and gingham look incredible to you!!!

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  19. I’m so sorry to hear about your dad, I bet is das for mom to see him this way. Keep positive and optimistic. I love your outfit Yellow looks great on you. šŸ™‚

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  20. I’m so sorry to hear about your father and everything that’s going on. Wish I could give you a big hug! <3 You look stunning in this dress – such a fun spin on gingham!

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  21. I”m so sorry for your family’s struggles. It’s so hard to watch our parents age and experience health problems, and ultimately succumb to them (I’ve lost both parents to cancer). But I admire your courage in posting about them, and then finding that bit of sunshine in your beautiful gingham dress. Love the blue necklace as well! Blue and yellow together is one of my favorite color combos. Gingham really seems nostalgic to me, bringing back a lot of memories from childhood.

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  26. So sorry to hear that you and your family have been struggling! But you are absolutely gorgeous and that dress is to die for!! Iā€™m obsessed with bows, and this just made the obsession worse lol!

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  32. First, my thoughts and prayers are with your family. Second, I am with you on the color yellow. Yellow is my favorite color because it is bright and invokes happiness in me. I love this dress and it looks amazing on you!

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  34. You look so beautiful! I am so sorry to hear that you and your family are going through such a rough time. Illness of a parent is really tough. My dad had a kidney transplant several years ago and it was a rough time for us. He passed away 5 years ago, very suddenly, about 3 years after his transplant. Honestly the only thing that got ME through it was my faith and trust in God that He would take care of me and my family. Will keep you and yours in my prayers, lady.

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