My New Happy: Looking For The Positive

Monday, November 10, 2014

Looking For The Positive

My hubby and son are fine.  The truck, not so much.

Six months ago my husband told me he had been invited on a pheasant hunting excursion in South Dakota, and wanted to bring our older son.  The trip would last seven days, and he was excited to share this experience with C.

I was less than thrilled for many reasons, all of them due to the fact that I'm a huge worry wart.  There was the general anxiety about having my hubby gone, with me left in charge of our business.  

Mostly I was worried about the drive - 24 hours each way.  Big trucks, fast speed limits, and long stretches of rural areas with lots of wildlife.  I wasn't happy as they drove away last week, but I waved goodbye with a big smile on my face because I wanted them to have a good time.


Which they obviously did!

I practiced my anti-anxiety techniques and tried to put the worry out of my mind, and when they arrived at their destination, I breathed a sigh of relief.  Yesterday morning as they prepared to leave South Dakota, I said a little prayer and got ready for another worrisome 24 hours.

When they pulled into the driveway on Sunday, I was shocked to see my husband's truck - because it didn't look like that when they left seven days earlier.  An hour into their trip home, at 75 miles an hour, they hit a deer.  Neither of them were hurt, although the deer wasn't so fortunate.  My son said it was equal parts luck and good driving by my hubby. The accident was reported to the proper authorities, and soon they were on their way again. Hubby decided not to tell me until they got home.  Probably a good idea.

My initial reaction was anger.  THIS is why you shouldn't drive long distances to have fun! What if the deer had come through the windshield?  What if they had veered off the road? But then I realized that I was slipping into old habits - playing the ridiculous "what if" game and focusing on the negative.  

I pulled myself together and looked for the positive.  Maybe the thing I feared HAD happened - but they were okay.  The truck is a mess, but it can be fixed.  My guys are back home safe and sound.  For that I am very thankful.

C had such a good time, and hopes they'll be invited back next year.  I told him I don't know if I'll let them go.  But I will.
  
Life needs to be lived, and I refuse to hold my family back because of my fears.

But I'm buying my husband a bumper guard before they leave.


20 comments:

  1. How scary! I'm so glad they are both okay!

    Jill
    www.dousedinpink.com

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    1. Thanks Jill. They don't seem to be as upset as I am!

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  2. So glad they are safe. I live in deer country and they are hit all of the time...in fact someone hit one in morning traffic today. It is good that only the truck (and sadly, the deer) were damaged.

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    1. Thanks Pam. I can't believe how many deer are hit daily around here.

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  3. So scary! I can't imagine hitting an animal going that fast! Glad that they are okay. And yes accidents can happen anywhere, so you might as well live your life and try not to worry so much. Easier said then done right? I'm a worrier through and through.

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    1. I'm working on my worrying, but things like this sure don't help!

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  4. What are the odds of posting a story about a deer causing a car wreck on the same day!!! So glad that no one was hurt in yours and that the hubby and C had a great time. My husband is very jealous, except about the messed up truck. I'm supposed to ask if it is a Chevy for some weird macho reason (he loves Chevrolet). Men are so weird.

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    1. We are on the same wavelength for sure. It looks like your accident was much more serious though. My hubby is very sad about his truck, but soon it will be good as new. It's actually a Toyota - hard to tell from the picture.

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  5. Eek! I'm glad they are okay! My husband would freak if that happened to his truck.

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    1. He was definitely more upset about the truck than himself!

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  6. I am right with you on the worrying scale, Lana. I'm glad that at least most of the trip was fun, and that your family was not injured!!

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    1. Thanks Susan. I imagine this is a big problem where you live.

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  7. Channelling worry into something a little more pro-active. Tempering it with planning. Genius!
    And I'm so glad your men are okay!

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    1. Thanks Diane. I think maybe I sound braver than I am!

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  8. Very scary! And nice to look into the positive.
    I'm not sure if you have moose up there. I think you do? Here, they can be so dangerous!

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    1. We do have moose here, but they're pretty reclusive. I would not want to hit one!

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  9. Isn't it something how different they can be from us, Lana? I dealt with this a lot after an accident...the fear and anxiety. The PTSD from the head on collision has been a game changer for sure. But I wrote a post about it called Defining Moments, and it is all about framing things. Oh, how important it is to shake it off, put on a positive spin as soon as we can. I think it could have changed a lot for me if I had done that at the time. I think the guys might be onto something. They probably called it an adventure. Ha ha.

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    1. Yep, they thought it was an adventure. I'm the one who's upset - but dealing with it, I hope!

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  10. Those kind of accidents scare me! My husband had a bad one in a snow storm last winter...he just had to go see this customer in the middle of a bad snow storm, even though I thought he should reschedule. Of course on the way home, he slid out, and was hit by a tractor trailer. The car was a disaster, but he was ok! And he too did not tell me how bad it was until he got home. I'm glad your husband and son were ok too!

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  11. How scary - so glad you're husband is ok! Mine would do the same thing I'm sure - go see a customer no matter what.

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