Thursday's Thoughts about....taking a mental health day.

After the complete craziness of the past few days at work, a very ugly breakdown at in front of colleagues (sorry Karen and Val!), a successful training session hosting VIPs from Social Security, and the general overall loss of control I have felt in all aspects of life, I decided it would serve everyone best if I took a day off. When I take days off for no particular reason, I refer to them as mental health days. I needed a break, and today I got one!

Morgan and I headed out to meet with one of my college friends, Brandy, and her son Simon, in Clarksburg, WV. I haven't seen Brandy in more months than we both care to admit, and being with her is always a breath fresh air for me. After playing at their house and eating a picnic lunch outside, we headed to the pool.

The Clarksburg pool has a fantastic kids pool. Brandy and Simon introduced us to this great place last year and I have been trying to get Morgan back there this summer. Since the kids are older (and taller) Brandy and I were able to do a lot of catching up while keeping an eye on the kids.

They played so well together. They jumped around in the water, ran cars all over the pool, and we even enjoyed some time in the big pool. Simon is a super splasher, and Morgan just enjoyed the freedom of being in the water and playing with Simon. She even made a new friend, who stuck by her side for about an hour.

After 4 hours at the pool, we parted ways with Brandy and Simon. You will be happy to know I did NOT have a repeat performance of the "literally made me vomit it was so bad" sunburn of last year. We stopped at Dairy Queen on our way out of Clarksburg. Today across the nation all proceeds from Blizzards were being donated to the Children's Miracle Network. Being the budding philantropist I am, I thought it would be a great way to help out (OK you can stop rolling your eyes, you're right, I went for the blizzard!).

Morgan played so hard she zonked out in the car. Driving home I felt so refreshed. A little time with a friend, out in the sunshine, listening to children having fun sure did help my mental health.

And isn't that what it's all about??