© 2008 Debbie Overton Merry-Go-Round at Davenport Park, St. Augustine FL
This 75+ year old restored Merry-Go-Round is at the Corner of San Carlos and San Marco Avenue in St. Augustine, FL. When we take the coastal highway from Fernandina Beach to St. Augustine Beach you come out right in front of this wonderful park.
Several weeks ago Lisa Sonora Beam the author of The Creative Entrepreneur had a blog post about how to deal with setbacks that derail your plans. Oh boy, could I relate to that post. Not only was her post excellent, but the comments she received were filled with great advice. I had already made the decision several months ago to remove anything that was causing extra stress and focus on myself for a change, rather than always being there to support others. In just these few months, even with not having the energy to do much of anything, I have found I am enjoying the things I am doing more than I have in a long time. I have said no to so many things, been able to create art for myself, read, journal and get many of the new features I had been working on for months going on the Marketplace Blog and am redesigning both of my blogs. It is a matter of putting me first, then doing the other things as I feel up to it. The artists that volunteered to be Creative Contributors on the MP Blog do not know how much I appreciate the work they put into each of their articles. You will not believe the next few I have already scheduled to post in the coming weeks. And then the new features....have people sharing info with me to add and there is a list of great artists and business owners lined up to share "A Day in the Life of"......Wait till you see Jenny Doh's typical day next Monday! You will be worn out just reading it. If you would like to share a typical day in your life with the MP readers, send me an email and let's see if we can work something out.
So back to the Merry-Go-Round.....
Why the Merry-Go-Round you ask? Because I have felt I was on one going round and round and round and round non-stop for the past 8 months dealing with all the health problems. Just when I think it will stop, it picks up speed and here we go again. I have seen more physicians, had more tests, surgeries and needle pokes in the past 8 months than I have had my entire life. And we still don't know completely why all this is going on. I know the stomach ulcers are not allowing my body to absorb the nutrients it needs, therefore I am severely deficient in iron, ferritin, B12, D, magnesium plus 18 others. Some of the supplements are helping, but in order to get the numbers up I have had to start taking Vitamin D and B12 injections weekly and will see a hematologist in a few days to start Iron via IV in order to bypass the digestive track.
With all of this going on, I am happy to say the Bone Density Scan I had a few weeks ago came back excellent. In other words my bones are as good as someone 30 yrs or younger!!! Not bad for a almost 52 yr old. So once I get all the deficiencies up to a normal range, I should be able to get the ulcers healed and live a LONG and hopefully healthy life. But I know I have a long road ahead of me as my numbers are so low, even with injections I have been told it could take me another year to be back to myself.
So when you stop by for a visit and I don't have any art to share, I ask that you remember I am taking care of myself while working on new ideas and sometimes it is best to keep your ideas to yourself until all the details are worked out unless you are willing to take the chance that everyone that reads about it will just sit back and let you have your moment when the time is right.
I may have had a few setbacks and derailments, but I am still hanging in there. The time has actually been good for me as I was able to really think about decisions and ideas and know I am heading in the right direction as an artist and entrepreneur.
We all have setbacks, how did you handle yours? What advice would you give others?
Debbie
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