I’m writing this blog with water pouring through my ceiling….and I mean literally POURING.
Not in the room I’m currently in (obviously), but in the room next door.
I feel a bit like the string quartet on the Titanic.
Ignoring all the chaos and keeping playing no matter what.
(Clearly I’m not comparing the severity of my leak to what went on on the Titanic. It’s just that scene from the film keeps popping into my mind)!
I’m trying to keep things business as usual.
I’ve been away for a few days (gallivanting and having a lovely time) only to return to a whole BIG mess.
The amount of damage would suggest that it’s been leaking for a good while.
My plumbers are here, sorting it out.
It’s the third time they’ve been here in 3 weeks.
Each time to repair a different mini-leak.
Even when this BIG leak is fixed, there’s going to be a lot of damage.
The ceiling, the floor, the doors, the furniture – everything is severely water-logged.
This is my seventh big leak whilst I’ve lived in this house.
7th!!
Normally I like 7s, but not this time!
I’ve only made one previous claim before now, as I’ve generally just sorted out the repairs myself. So I’ve just rung my insurance company.
They’ve informed me that because it’s an internal leak, rather than an external one, it’s not my usual excess; it’s going to be 3 times as much!
I can’t weigh up why that should make any difference whatsoever, surely a leak is a leak, but there we are.
They’re such slippery critters insurance companies.
It’s fair to say, I’m fed up.
Mightily fed up.
BUT I’m still being LOVELY.
Pleasant, positive and grateful for any help.
My plumbers (2 big burly blokes in their mid- 50s) are being LOVELY too.
They couldn’t look more deflated on my behalf.
They’re trying to be positive, but they both look totally crushed for me, as they survey the fallout.
If I told them that they were two LOVELIES they’d think I was completely mad.
But they are.
All the tradesmen who look after my home for me are LOVELIES.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I feel SAFE when I deal with LOVELIES.
I know they do a great job, don’t rip me off, and they care.
If I could, I would only EVER deal with LOVELIES.
I’d have a LOVELY cleaner and a LOVELY PA and a LOVELY doctor and a LOVELY dentist etc etc 🙂
I know where I am with a LOVELY.
I know that they’ll give me the kind of service I give to all my clients (and everyone else I meet).
LOVELIES come in all different shapes, sizes and flavours 🙂
There are male ones, female ones and transitioning ones.
There are mild, gentle ones.
And there are feisty, strong ones.
There are big grumpy ones (ahem, both my plumbers).
And there are light fluffy ones (these ones are so unbelievably gentle, I want to wrap them up in a cotton wool jacket to protect them as much as I can).
The point I’m trying to make here is not all LOVELIES are the same.
Some are HSPs (Highly Sensitive People), some are not.
But they’re all still LOVELIES.
I sometimes have clients who say to me. “But Christina, I did this bad thing once so I CAN’T be a LOVELY”.
“Oh yes you can”, I say.
“But I swear and get angry and occasionally cut people up in traffic, or I have bad thoughts…”
“So what??!!!”
You don’t have to be an angel all your life to qualify as a LOVELY.
Like most things, there’s a scale of LOVELINESS.
You might be a bit of a LOVELY…or you might be a FULL-BLOWN through and through, hardcore LOVELY.
It doesn’t matter, you’re still a LOVELY.
If you are one of the latter, please be careful.
You may just be too delicate for this world in your current state.
An UNHEALED LOVELY is someone who because of their low self esteem/low self-worth over-gives and always puts others before themselves.
They ALWAYS do the right thing.
They’re very fair (usually too fair and often to their own detriment).
Deep down, they believe that other people are more important than them, so they constantly put themselves second (or even last).
Working harder for the other persons benefit than they ever would their own.
They wouldn’t dream of cheating anyone…of tricking, lying, conniving or deceiving.
They have a core of integrity and great morals and values.
They work to amazingly high standards and overall are just truly LOVELY people.
Most of these traits are very positive.
But not when done to excess.
When that happens someone’s strength is being tipped into their weakness.
Don’t give all of your gorgeous LOVELINESS away to others.
PLEASE keep some for yourself.
I want you to top up your own cup first and then only EVER give from your overflow.
A healed LOVELY still does most of the above, BUT they have limits.
They weigh up what‘s fair and EQUAL for BOTH parties and then take that course of action.
They’re no longer a doormat that constantly over-gives.
They still give, but from a healed, healthy, balanced place.
They’re assertive and always look for the win-win for all involved.
So they’re still nice, but no longer too nice for their own good.
They don’t allow others to take advantage of them.
They say no, when it feels right and appropriate.
They give the benefit of the doubt, but only to a certain extent.
They put up appropriate boundaries when necessary.
A HEALED LOVELY is a really amazing person.
That’s why I often joke about starting a club or dating agency for LOVELIES who’ve been Christina’d!
You’d all get on so well 🙂
It breaks my heart when I see a LOVELY being taken for granted/taken advantage off.
It brings out the protective mother in me.
All that’s needed is a bit of healing and a tweak to your self-esteem.
Honestly…that’s it.
We’ll get on like a house on fire, because I’ll understand you like no-one else.
You are me…but just a few years ago.
The sessions wouldn’t feel heavy or super painful.
They’d feel just like a chat with an old friend.
I promise.
I’ve done this now, hundreds of time.
Is it your turn?
Time to throw away your cotton wool jacket?
Or you pretending to have a grumpy exterior, when really underneath you’re a teddy bear?
I think it should be.
Right, I suppose I ought to get back to my leak/chaos/damage.
It’s not the end of the world. Nobody died or is sick.
That’s all that really matters.
And I still had my lovely weekend, oblivious to what I was coming back to.
Have a great week my LOVELIES.
Much Love
(Soggy) Christina xx