When I’m in Survival Mode, I’m concentrating on simply making it through an experience, to the exclusion of everything else.
Yesterday, I was in survival mode as I:
- went to the funeral of my wonderful father-in-law,
- declared my intention to survive into my 90s, as he did,
- hugged many people I love,
- cried,
- asked the rhetorical question, “Is this the worst day ever?”
- told somebody I’d just met that my job was helping people be in the moment,
- talked about the book Everything Happens for a Reason,
- shocked somebody I hadn’t seen for years by telling him I recently survived open heart surgery,
- got an INR blood test at Tufts Medical Center,
- drove by several properties with a view of water,
- ate some delicious food,
- drank tea,
- listened to music,
- said to my boyfriend Michael, “I survived the day! Maybe I’ll give thanks for surviving every day now, for the rest of my life,” and
- took these pictures:
What do you do when you’re in survival mode?
Survival-mode thanks to all who helped me survive writing this post and to you — of course! — for surviving everything that’s happened to you so far.
The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally 
Condolences on the loss of your beloved father-in-law, Ann. I am glad that you survived the day and I am sending you a hug by heart-waves.
You help me survive, Maureen!
i take pictures also. 📷
We both survive in similar ways.
PS, the Bach fugue from Sonata in G minor is lovely.
Thanks for another lovely comment.
Sorry for your loss, Ann.
I use to do my best for living inside myself, do meditation and try to find out, for what I feel grateful in such times.
I am grateful for you, Irene.
Send you ❤
Love back at you, Irene! ❤
Thank you Ann
I’m so sorry about your father-in-law. Always hard to say goodbye. I’m glad you survived the day. It was a difficult one, but you made it the best you could. And you made it better for others too, I’m sure. Hugs do that.
You make it better for others, Dawn. Many thanks.
i’m so sorry for your loss, and yes you did indeed, survive. even better than that, you live to tell your tale. i hope to do the same for a long while.
I love the way you tell your tales, Beth.
You have the best outlook of all of us!!
I love your outlook!
Survived the day in Pittsburgh. Sorry for the loss of your FIL, Ann.
I’m so glad we both are surviving, Ruth.
Me too, Ann.
So sorry for your loss, Ann. But you have amazing survival instincts. And you share some beautiful music. 💛 💚 💙 💜
Thanks for another amazing and beautiful comment. ❤
You are a true survivor Ann💛 So sorry for the passing of your father in law. ((Hugs))
It takes one true survivor to know another one, Val. Hugs and love back at you.
My commiseraions.
Your empathy helps me survive, Derrick.
Ann, I’m so sorry for your loss, and funerals are usually such emotional affairs, reminding us so vividly of our own mortality as well as signaling the moral end of a loved one. I salute your plan to celebrate surviving every new day!
I celebrate you and your wonderful comment, Sunny!
Sorry for your loss Ann. I now fully understand your ‘heart’ comment on my post from last night. We’ve both had a rough start to 2017. I hope to be like my Dad, who is still with us at 90, and starting another chapter to his long life. I think all of us should be thankful for every day we have on this earth.
I am very thankful for you, Carol. ❤
Fought day for you yesterday. Sorry, Ann.
Today I will survive the rain and wind in Tucson as I March in the Women’s March. Neither rain nor snow nor … Well, T get it!
I love the way you survive, Emilie!
I’m sorry for your family’s loss but glad you could celebrate your father-in-law’s life, and that celebrating was part of your survival mode.
When I think of survival mode I think of isolation which is strange because according to all tests I am an extreme extrovert. Knowing that none of us can be defined by a single term, that we are multi-faceted individuals who process different events in different ways, is key to survival.
Many, many thanks for another multi-faceted comment, Chris.
Sorry of your loss Ann. On survival mode with Grumpy and Bach:
Magnificat! Thanks for helping me survive.
Funerals are sad and happy events, sad because we miss the loved one but can be happy when we get to catch up with those we haven’t seen in a long time, the happy is a sad type of happy, I hope to live a nice long life as well just like my nan did
You living a nice long life would make me very happy, Joanne.
I’m sorry, Anne. it sounds as though some of the hugs may have helped tremendously, along with the conversations. Onward into the year!
Thank you for this hug of a comment, which helped tremendously.
I am sorry you lost your father-in-law, Ann. Thoughts and prayers are with you.
Thank you for your kindness, Lavinia.