Well...
So here we are. It's the evening of the 9th day - the last day, the last evening, - of my much anticipated, much needed vacation from both work and regular life. And, even though I'll have Tuesday off to celebrate the new year (or recover from kicking 2012 to the curb more like), tomorrow morning I still have to do something I haven't done much of - if at all - in the last 9 days...
Wake up to my alarm, put on pants and a bra and makeup and shoes, and venture out into a cruel world that expects me to arrive awake and alert and sociable earlier than, say, 10.
The humanity! *shakes fists*
I'd love to tell you how productive I was on my vacation and how wisely I used my time. However, I wasn't productive. Mostly I squandered my time on naps and video games and books. I did blog more this week than I blogged during the entire month of November. So there is that to point to and think to myself, "See?! I totally did something useful on my days off!" But considering the bar was set so very low, it somehow doesn't feel like much of an accomplishment.
Still...
I did manage to learn a very important lesson.
After Christmas Day, I didn't leave The Grotto much unless I absolutely had to and that wasn't often. Instead, I squirreled myself away in my pajamas, hung out in my room, and occasionally went on foraging excursions to the kitchen. By the time I woke up this morning, I was so depressed and lost and collapsing under the pressure of so much inertia, I didn't want to get up at all.
Luckily, I had to. I had to get back to the grocery store and then I had more denhac frivolity to broadcast with Madstringer who graciously offered to pick me up and take me home. Frankly, if he hadn't offered the ride, I might have ditched out on him. The anxiety creeping in was THAT BAD.
So I took that long overdue shower and I put on pants and a bra and shoes. I went to the store and then I went to denhac and, once I was home, I realized...
I felt better. More energetic.
Being out in the world keeps me moving. It keeps me stimulated and thinking and laughing. It keeps me riled up and also asking WTF, Japan? Seriously?! It keeps me engaged. It keeps me alive.
So, even though I really really really needed some down time to re-charge my entirely depleted batteries, I learned too much down time, for me, is a terrible idea. I'm glad to be back.
4 comments:
We humans. I had inertia day on Saturday. Cried for about a half hour, said "this sucks," got up and made chicken soup. Today I forced myself out for a haircut and grocery run. HATE to admit it, but I need to get back to work. Oye.
Just a case of finding the right balance. Enjoy your one day on,one day off and Happy New Year!
You make a good point, Jane. I am still on vacation but maybe I , too, need to get out - my preference is to stay in my flannels ALL DAY and read, write, paint, and nap - well, I will take the pups on a walk but I don't want to see ANYONE. and , yes, I am in a dark funk. Maybe I need to try something different? go out? Do I dare? I can experiment. Thanks for the post!
This is an excellent reminder of something I need to be reminded of all too often. It is often a struggle to rouse myself to go to work or whatever and sometimes I think, "If only I could win the lottery..." "If only I were independently wealthy...", etc then I wouldn't HAVE to go anywhere, but I know, deep in my heart, that if I didn't HAVE to go anywhere, I probably wouldn't go anywhere at all for weeks or months at a time. And that's not good for anyone. ;)
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