On to something completely frivolous...

...AND completely therapeutic!

Last week was craptastic (explain later) and under "normal" circumstances it would have reduced me to a blubbering and perhaps bloody mess.

Granted, I did spend an inordinate amount of time curled up in my church's baptismal (weird but effective!) in the past 7 days, but I'm learning that regulating my emotions does NOT mean removing them entirely.

I get to cry. And not feel stupid for it.
Anyway.

One of the skills I'm supposed to be working on is "building positive experiences." But I have to be honest, when it comes to doing things for myself, I seem to have lost all creativity. I couldn't even come up with fun activities to do. My biggest treat to myself recently was my tattoo and... well... while tats aren't excruciating, they are painful. And I'm kinda, sorta supposed to be moving away from the whole pain-as-relief thing.

I digress.
Point is, I'm not really good at fun and frivolous.

So I enlisted the help of a friend (remember that post about treatment and the whole whine about being alone? Well... sometimes you just have to open your eyes to see what God has already put in front of you) and she dragged me off to a pedicure.

MY FIRST PEDICURE EVER!!!
I know, right? Tragic. I have been seriously deprived for 32 years.

I have to admit, it was a bit surreal. I mean, I'm not exactly a fashionista, and I'm not big on feminine frills, and I HATE feet (ew). I especially hate people touching my feet. I thought my friend was going to have to strap me down, but I was amazed at how little it bothered me... perhaps the massage chair had something to do with it.

Never had that experience before either.

My feet were washed and smoothed and oiled and massaged... my toenails were clipped and shaped and painted purple. With flowers. Pretty little white flowers.

Oh my heavens.
It's amazing what the simple pleasures can do for you.

My life is complicated and likes to implode at a moment's notice.
But my toes are pretty.