Hmm, apparently in my packing frenzy, I misplaced some items:
Creativity
Energy
Focus
I didn't realize how fragile they were. I can only hope I wrapped them carefully in bubble wrap. (I know I'm not myself when I haven't played with popping all of those delightful little bubbles.)
Of course, I found some things so easily they might as well have jumped out of the boxes on their own:
Anxiety
Exhaustion
Stress
Pfft. Isn't that always the way?
Really, though, I am incredibly grateful for all the good in my life and things are definitely okay overall. They're just progressing at the pace of a tortoise dozing in the sun. So, much like the bubble wrap, I'll still pop in and out, but I'm extending my blogging break a bit longer.
What's new with all of you? How's your summer been? Looking forward to fall?
Nothing is more stressful than moving. Unless you add building the house you're moving into in the mix.
ReplyDeleteAnd add all the repercussions of a pandemic into that mix. Along with the face-melting heat of a FL summer. Blecch!
DeleteThanks! I'm probably being too hard on myself.
ReplyDeletePopping in and out of the blogosphere, I'm still seeing - at least a little bit - how you all are doing. :)
It cheers me up just to see you pop up on my blog roll. It's weird time in the world. Don't be too hard on yourself.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice thing to say, Susan! Thank you so much. :)
DeleteI'm thinking that creativity,energy,and focus are the lost sock mates of anxiety, exhaustion, and stress. I'm burned out and exhausted and I haven't even moved to a new home. Like you, I'm taking an extended break in another week or so. Anyway, you have a new writing room to organize and that should be fun!
ReplyDeleteLove the image of those "lost sock mates"!
DeleteI wish this felt more like an actual break than a crazed attempt at trying to catch up to . . . something, somewhere. I hope your break does you a world of good and is just what you need! :)
Hi,
ReplyDeleteYou just gave me a great laugh. I know how it feels. I am still cleaning up my third room next to my office that was flooded last year. I do a little at a time. It's going slow but I know I will get there. Knowing that helps keep down my anxiety over my progress.
Take care.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
I'm glad I gave you a laugh! :)
DeleteMaybe I'll follow your lead and just accept that it's going to go slow but have faith that I will get there at some point.
Pop, pop, POP! That's what you get to look forward to after you're settled in and done with that bubble wrap. Even with all your stress, you manage to write a delightful and clever blog post.
ReplyDeleteWithout moving or my life being too terribly affected these past few months, this pandemic has thrown me off my emotional game - just ask my husband. Laughing one second, ready to go all scorched earth on someone the next, balling my eyes out the next. It's been quite a ride.
Thanks, Nicki! I appreciate that.
DeleteMakes total sense to me about being thrown off emotionally even without any additional hoopla. Try not to be so hard on yourself. We're all just doing the best we can, right? Right!
I had the same experience when we were packing to move south. I was so mad that I had to take down my storyboards to help sell the house and then it turned out that I didn't have any energy, creativity, or focus with which to do any writing anyway.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your blogging break!
I hear you, MJ. I took down all of my inspirational stuff, my writing manifesto, etc, but now I don't know how/where to put them.
DeleteAw, Madeline, please don't beat yourself up. Moving is TOUGH. Unpacking is TOUGH. Do what you can in your new home, and enjoy your summer as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteOnce you're settled, your creativity will return. And besides, doesn't it take creativity to figure out where everything should go in the new place?
Hugs!
Thank you for the reminder that it is TOUGH. It's exactly what I would say to someone else, but to myself? Never! :)
DeleteI like the way you think, JH. I can play interior decorator for a bit.
Hang in there. Don't forget to imagine the little kitten hanging on a branch.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking about you and know you'll get through this.
Anna from elements of emaginette
Thanks, Anna. Your mention of the cat poster made me think of one of my all time favorite TV shows and characters - Sue Heck from The Middle. She had tons of those kinds of posters in her room. :)
DeleteGood luck with the moving and packing. And it really helps to be grateful like you are in these challenging times.
ReplyDeleteI really am grateful so I hope I don't come across as whining too much. So many people are struggling with extremely serious situations.
DeleteHope you find your missing items! I know I lose my focus all the time. It's usually due to my kids snatching it and running off with it. Then I have to search the house before I find it again, only to discover it's got a few new chips along the edges and it looks like there might be a crack forming...
ReplyDeleteHope you have a good extension to your blogging break and enjoy your bubble wrap.
Maybe you could convince your kids to give it back to you by offering them a reward or a treat, like candy or watching a favorite TV show. Wait, is that allowed? I'm not sure since I don't have kids. Bribery doesn't work on the tortoises. :)
DeletePop that bubble wrap! That's what I was thinking about when I thought about your creativity getting wrapped up. LOL. I imagine the sound of bubble wrap getting popped with glee and abandon!
ReplyDeleteI hope you have some fun this month - don't stress. Find joy!
I don't know if I can swing "glee and abandon" but I'll definitely give it a try. :)
DeleteLove your metaphor. It seems to fit my condition as well, even so I didn't move anywhere.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone is feeling at least some level of anxiety and stress. It's kind of like layers - some people have one or two layers, some have seven, others twenty-nine. Hang in there!
DeleteI hope your move goes well! I have a thing for bubble wrap. There's nothing like that satisfying pop--so addictive.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping I remember to take some time to just sit and pop, pop, pop. The bubble wrap, I mean. Not my knees or my back or my mind or anything like that. :)
DeleteHere's to finding the energy, creativity, and focus to keep the anxiety, exhaustion, and stress in line! Moving is exhausting, physically and emotionally. You'll recover eventually.
ReplyDeleteI hope "eventually" comes sooner rather than later. :)
DeleteI can only imagine how high your stress level must be. Just living through these crazy times is stress-inducing enough, but throw in moving from one house to another, and it's a wonder you aren't cowering in the corner babbling to yourself incoherently. Give yourself a break, okay? Times are tough. You've just gotta remind yourself that you're tougher... and this, too, shall pass. Eventually. Take care.
ReplyDeleteCowering in the corner and babbling to myself incoherently? That's pretty much every day around here. Okay, some days I actually do make sense. :)
DeleteI'll be moving next year. I'm looking forward to it, and and I'm not. Praying your life gets back to normal soon.
ReplyDeleteI know that feeling - anticipation mixed with dread. It is getting better around here, slowly but surely. And I'm sure it will all work out well for you! Good luck!
DeleteI hope that your move goes well, Madeline. Talk about adding stress on stress. I love popping bubble wrap too. You'll find that creativity, energy, and focus again. Take care!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I think I found the creativity, and I am slowly unwrapping it. Pop pop pop! :)
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