hanging in there
It’ll be November in just a few days, most of the year gone by now already. This last month in particular seems to have flown by as life has toddled along. I’ve upped my hours at my one remaining job, and have had to decline a number of invitations to social events of various descriptions as I’ve simply not been up to it, having had to prioritise ‘me time’ and sleep instead.
The aftermath of (near) burn out is one that takes it’s toll, not just on the energy reserves, but on the emotional stability too, it would seem. Man, have I turned into a cranky old whatsit or what?! I want patience back, now! And love and compassion too please. I can’t stand what I’ve become half the time.. I haven’t read anything on burn out recently, but I imagine it’s just one way of keeping at bay some of the things that require too much emotional investment. I can feel the energy physically draining from me sometimes, seemingly leaving me with nothing.
A few weeks ago, a lovely lady at church reminded me to be content with where I’m at. It’s too easy to miss the point when it’s so easy to look out for what might be ahead, or to try and work out a way to get where you think you’re going. This conversation reminded me to ‘chill’, relax, and just go with the flow… a bit more anyway! Old habits die hard, as they say.
Being content when life revolves around work, getting to bed for 9pm (pure bliss!) and getting up again the next morning to do the same again, isn’t the easiest thing I’ve tried, but it’s doable. I can manage to keep my life together, more or less anyway! And I find that in the midst of it all, I am blessed.
This last month I haven’t only worked and gone to bed early, I also got to enjoy a girls night out to see the Lion King in 3D. And on my way home from work one day, I saw a double rainbow in the Tesco car park near the office. I’ve been encouraged by a timely card from the prayer group at church who had been praying for me especially that week. And today I received a book in the post, from a friend who knew I wanted to read it. Seriously, how lucky am I?! Life is good. God is faithful, and my friends are pretty amazing.
Roll on November..
