It’s mid-March, and I’m in the middle of multiple muddles … all of which strangely begin with the letter “S” … sleep, spending, and scents.

Multiple Muddles No. 1: Spending

First, I completed my monthlong No Personal Spending pledge. Hooray and hurrah! I did it. More precisely, I didn’t do it.

I make not one single impulse purchase during the entire month! No red Keds, no silly snow cone-scented(!) earrings, and no new dreamy, buttery soft sheets in buttery yellow.

It was surprisingly difficult to keep my wallet in my pants (a-hum) and my finger off the “buy now” online purchase button, but I succeeded. It was a fascinating exercise in self-control, one shop-aholic me sorely needed.

For a long time, as in years, I’ve been telling myself that I don’t do that much impulse shopping, that I don’t spend that much time online shopping, and that I don’t spend that much on frivolous little purchases, but I have to tell you that the end-of-the-month credit card statement tells a different tale.

You can read about my No Personal Spending Pledge journey here.

March Muddles Number 2: Sleep

I’m on Week 4 of my Inspire-d sleep apnea device journey. As regular readers of this blog may recall, I have sleep apnea big time. Yet, I cannot tolerate wearing that infernal CPAP mask. So, on December 8, I had the Inspire sleep apnea device surgically implanted. The device stimulates the tongue muscle during sleep, which prevents it from blocking the airway.

Six weeks after the surgery, I was “turned on.” More precisely, the device was turned on. Each week, I increase the strength … the frequency … (the whatever) of the tongue-darting implant does. (Aren’t I the tech-savvy one?)

Inspire “seems” to be helping. It’s too early for me to offer you a full-throated (full-tongued?) endorsement, but I do seem to be sleeping a little longer and a bit better. I’m not bouncing around, wrapped in full-on energy and joy, but I’ve got a grip on my over-eating, one of my big bad “tells” for being tired. And also, in the interest of embarrassing but full disclosure, Handsome Hubby, who alleges I snore (I hotly deny this, of course), says I am sleeping/breathing quietly, which is good for both of us.

So, fingers crossed, maybe this sleep apnea device will offer sleep salvation!

March Muddles Number 3: Sneezing

For some, Spring heralds the start of allergy season. For others, like me, the entire year is a sneeze/itch-a-thon.

One of my most tedious allergies is to fragrances. It’s a shame. I used to love perfume, but for decades, I have become increasingly sensitive to smells. It’s now so bad that I get instantaneous headaches when I walk through makeup counters in department stores.

Worse yet, if I sit next to someone in a theater or a lecture who’s wearing perfume, I start itching, and my head starts pounding. Just this month, that’s happened twice! Both times we had to change seats.

So, ladies — and gentlemen — please be sensitive to scent sensitivities. If you’re going to attend an event where you’ll be in proximity to others, please consider the possibility of allergies. I know it’s a bummer to forgo perfume if you love it.

My late mother was a perfume queen. I cannot imagine how she would have felt if I had to tell her to skip the spritz! But still, I know she would have been kind.

Anyway, that’s my story — at least so far this month. Gosh, I really am Muddling through Middle Age these days!