Writing

Many of us need a break

Amy

As I’m reading through everyone’s responses today, I can’t get over the similarities. Many people need a break from work, their own thoughts, life, winter, health issues, and several other valid, important reasons.

Some people don’t need a break from anything, and that’s wonderful. I’m glad you are in that elevated state of mind.

But I have to tell you. This morning, I was needing a break from every single thing that I could imagine. I had vertigo all night. I have an ear infection, which is getting worse, not better, after taking medication. I have an earlobe infection from an earring, (Ridiculous, since I’ve had this piercing for a long time…) spread to my lymph node. It is excruciatingly painful. My migraine is flared up and angry. I was in tears this morning, not knowing who to ask for help, feeling pretty desolate. I wasn’t sure how to shake it.

But I have work to do. An entire day of work. I had two sick days in the past two weeks, so no more sick days. I sat crying on my floor, thinking this is no way to live. Feeling sorry for myself. It takes a lot of strength to get up off the floor and dry your own tears. Some of the reason I did that was because my cat doesn’t like to see me sad. It upsets her, and she’s almost 16 and doesn’t need to be worried about a human. Another reason I got up was because it’s sunny today. And I remembered that the trees have buds on them. And it’s a clear blue sky and even though I feel alone, I’m not alone. As I read all of your words, I see I am not alone.

When Elmo asked how everybody was doing, and millions of people responded that they weren’t doing very well, I felt that. We all feel that. Millions of us.

Somehow, knowing you’re not alone in what you feel, is comforting.

I also fed the birds and the squirrels. The squirrels try to open the peanut jar if you leave it unattended, which is comical, but naughty.

I tried to find joy in the small things while feeling overwhelmed by the large things.

My doctor is going to give me a new prescription for my infection in my ear and my earlobe. I’ve gotten a little bit of work done. And I hope to go for a walk in the sun.

If you are hurting today, and you need a break, just remember you’re not alone – we’re feeling it too.

See?
I want her live unbothered
Spring is coming

Published by Amy

I love words. And animals. Photography and fedoras. Welcome. And stay awhile.

62 thoughts on “Many of us need a break”

  1. I actually got a break today – from being long term unemployed. I got my first job as a web developer today after almost 3 years of trying since graduation. I can’t believe it to be honest 😂.

    So sad to hear about your vertigo. Sending you some love. ❤️

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  3. I made a comment elsewhere that it saddened me to see that there were so many folks who felt they basically needed a break from life. The sheer volume of posts of that nature was a bit overwhelming. I actually had to stop reading for a spell because it was dragging me down hard.
    Sorry you’re feeling so miserable, Amy. Hope this episode doesn’t last too long.

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    1. It is sad, isn’t it? The sheer number of people feeling that way, tells me that somethings wrong, and the bigger picture of things. I tend to avoid news because it doesn’t really do anything positive for me, so it took me a while to learn about Elmo question and all of the responses.
      I’ll be OK. Being physically sick. Kind of makes you feel emotionally sick. How I ended up with the earlobe infection, I don’t know. But I know it’s making me sick and when I am sick, I always want my mother. Maybe that is common. Then that makes me sad.
      Anyway, I appreciate your comment, Kevin. Know this isis nothing that a substantial amount of chocolate can remedy. And yes, that was a spoiler for tomorrow’s daily prompt.😊

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      1. I don’t follow much news either. Just enough and that’s it.
        That was the thing for me – the bigger picture. Something is terribly wrong in the world for this many people to feel this way. While there is a comfort in knowing we’re not the only ones who feel this way, it’s also troubling.
        Feeling the way I felt was one of the reasons I committed to trying to be a more positive force in other people’s lives. I hate to see anyone hurt and devalue themselves the way I have.
        I understand how the physical pain can make you hurt emotionally as well. I think it does to everyone to some degree. How does one stay positive when you feel so ill after all?
        Aye – I’m already all over’s prompt for tomorrow. And for once, I am thankful it’s a fairly bland one lol

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      2. It’s really, really hard to stay positive when you don’t feel well. But I think some of the emotional sadness causes the physical symptoms. The body and mind are connected. So trying to weasel your way out of the emotional stuff to heal the body is the tricky part. Most days I’m OK at it but some days I suck at it. Since C happened globally, I think the whole world went topsy-turvy and many people struggle mentally emotionally and physically as a result. But that’s just a theory of mine.
        You’re one of the most positive people I’ve seen on WordPress, or anywhere really. I commend you for that. I’m sure it’s not easy.
        I’m hoping to get back to my more upbeat, snarky self tomorrow. It’s about candy, right? That should help.

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      3. Thank you very much. I appreciate that a lot. 😊
        It’s also a bit of a sad commentary on the state of things lol
        It’s not always easy, and sometimes I fall flat on my face, but I’ve spent enough time in the dungeons of negativity that I made a conscious decision to break out or try like hell at least. For myself, but I hope for others too.
        And I agree that since the Big C, people have been emotionally, physically and spiritually drained. Finding a balance is very tricky. But not impossible. That’s the caveat for me.
        Yes, tomorrow is candy day LOL

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      4. You’re welcome. 😊 it really is a conscious decision. And it’s not easy. Some days I don’t do well at it, other days I do better I think that’s just human nature.
        Still trying to find my balance, which is why I write it helps get things out so I can ponder them better .
        Woo hoo candy day!

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      5. I think the most important thing is that we keep trying.
        Like the great American philosopher Jon Bon Jovi says: You live for the fight when that’s all that you’ve got. 😄
        +1 on the writing. If I write a really dark or aggressive piece, it’s usually something that needed to be purged.

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      6. Always. The great American philosopher Jon Bon Jovi was correct. Fun fact: Runaway is one of my favorite songs, and I tried to hit all the high notes.
        Yep. It’s cathartic to write what is begging to be let loose.

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      10. Wow! Thanks, Kevin! I just now saw this link and it was posted 11 hours ago lol.
        You were not kidding when you say, there’s like many versions of Runaway on this album. I think they should’ve called the album “Runaway and two other songs” lol

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      23. I had to watch the video for Runaway last night to see if I could still try to hit the high notes. Kind of could, but not like Jon. Those clothes, though… what were we thinking?! lol

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      25. Please tell me you went to merry-go-round to buy your clothes. I started out an acid, wash jeans, white leather jacket, white leather boots with fringe and a matching purse. By 12th grade, merry-go-round had Madonna inspired clothing. So I was wearing bustiers shirts and getting sent to the principal office on the regular. 😂
        I no longer have my Z Cavarichi shirt nor my steel toed black shoes. 🤣🤣🤣

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      26. I probably did go there from time to time. I remember some Gap runs in there too. lol
        I don’t recall where I got eh Z Cav stuff though. I want to say it was a dedicated store, but I don’t remember.
        I had acid wash jeans, black leather jacket, a bomber jacket, all that shit lol
        And my Pony high tops! lmao
        Liked to violate the dress code, did we? 😃

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      27. We also had the gap which was very popular. I wore high top chucks as a freshman, they were peach. I wrote I love Johnny Depp with a heart on the sole of the shoe. I don’t know why I got rid of those shoes! I still think about it to this day and it hurts me to my very soul lol
        Ha, yes, actually. I have violated the dress code in high school, my college job, and another job after that. Come to think of it, people don’t understand fashion.😆 my mom approved all my clothes and they were very fashionable. Hey, my undergrad degree is in fashion, so I am going to say that my dress code violations were case studies and experiments leading me into higher education. 😅🤣

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      28. You turned a negative into a positive there from the sounds of it lol
        I had a couple pair of Chucks too. Sometimes I would wear one of each color because one of Ozzy’s guitar players used to 🤣

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  4. Awesome post, and you are spot on, Amy. I saw the story in the news and it resonates because, for some reason, we have the tendency to answer the question with a simple “I’m fine” when, in reality, most of us are not fine. Humans are not perfect, so we are always dealing with problems, pains, dissatisfactions, etc. It is okay to say that we are hurting and that we need a break. Like you said, millions of people are in the same boat. By the way, the picture of the squirrel is pretty hilarious and your cat looks pretty relax but her pointy ears are telling us that she is very present 🧘‍♀️ 😆

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    1. Agreed, Edward. There is a very big problem. We can’t always say we’re fine when we’re not. That repression causes more harm than good.
      You should’ve seen the squirrel get the lid off with her teeth. She had that in the marigold pot overnight. Then went back out at the next morning and got the lid off. And she looked at us like she would definitely do it again. And we believed her.
      My cat listens to everything I do in case there’s some type of food situation that she needs to be involved with .🤷‍♀️😊

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  5. I so appreciate your post today, Amy. I’m sorry you are hurting *and* must pull yourself up off the floor because you do not have the option to call off work.

    I read an eye-opening post on Substack awhile back by Kirsten Powers called “The Way We Live in The United States is Not Normal.” It resonated so much with so many people, including me.

    I feel guilty ever complaining about being too busy because I am pretty much in complete control of my schedule. But I can really relate to people who are overwhelmed or otherwise just trying to deal with too much.

    I’m sending good thoughts your way, wishing for quick healing for your inner and outer ears. Thanks for your consistent posts. They are a bright spot each day.

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    1. Thanks for your kind post Susan. I would have to agree with that sentiment that this is not normal in this country. At all. We feel guilty for taking time off and we always have to say we’re fine when we’re not. It’s a number on us. off work if I hadn’t already called off work last week. My boss is great, but there’s only so much time you can take. I didn’t realize my earlobe would cause such a big crisis. Only me lol.

      Thanks for the good thoughts and the healing wishes. Don’t worry my post will remain consistent and I will try to be a bright spot. Always.

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  6. When it rains, it pours! So sorry you don’t have your mom. As a mom, I think you should also try a hot, wet washcloth on your pierced ear infection. Just hold it on there as long as you can a couple times a day. ❤️‍🩹

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    1. I’m hanging in there, Rob. Thanks.

      I remember reading your post the other day about the Elmo question and peoples’ responses. I think that’s why so many people answered Elmo question: they felt comforted, knowing they weren’t alone, and the comfort of a Sesame Street character asking them how they are made all the difference.

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  8. This may sound trivial, but I don’t mean it to be.

    There’s a 1990 sleeper movie out there called “Joe vs the Volcano.” It’s one of Tom Hanks’ earliest ones… with a very young Meg Ryan… and while it’s silly and a bit vacuous, there are two things that always stuck with me:

    1) the absolute wretchedness of Hanks’ job. Miserable people shuffling into a Dickensian factory…cold, gray scudding clouds. A single flower on the sidewalk gets crushed by someone’s work shoe. That misery seems to be what has been mentioned here, the dissatisfaction, the malaise, the despair of anything ever getting any better.

    2) much later in the film, Hanks’ perspective, through a variety of circumstances, has changed dramatically. He and Ryan are floating on a pile of wreckage in a glassy Pacific under a canopy of stars. She looks up in awe and says this:

    “My father says that almost the whole world is asleep. Everybody you know. Everybody you see. Everybody you talk to. He says that only a few people are awake and they live in a state of constant total amazement.”

    This to me represents the bookend to the first outlook. Your thoughts about spring coming, the beautiful blue sky, getting an Rx for your ear, etc… all radiate optimism.

    I hope you’re feeling better soon. Keep looking up 😎

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  9. Lovely photos Amy. I feel your pain. Animals and nature are such a joy, especially in troubled moments. I find mine in writing and piano lessons, which aren’t exactly like having to go out to work in a school or office. I’ve been suffering from chronic Viral Fatigue, a chronic eye infection which keeps returning, all while dealing with a major clear out as am on the move in two months – hence my poem on the subject. I wake up with arthritic pains, and often I don’t want to get out of bed, even though I know better. And other things. I find solace in coming here to this WordPress blog and writing and reading other posts when I have sufficient time to do them justice. Keep focusing on cats, squirrels and nature!

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    1. ps – we have a product called Germaline here, it’s antiseptic cream in a tube. I spread it round both ear piercings then on the hooks that go through them, so they are taking the cream right into the ear lobe. It has worked wonders because I too had similar problems recently. Am sure you would find something similar in a pharmacist.

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    2. I’m sorry for your struggles, Marie-Gaye. I do find writing to be helpful, as well. It makes me smile to know that you give piano lessons. I think I mentioned to you before that my mom used to teach piano. I myself have never been able to learn, but I miss the sound in the house. I find if I focus outward, like on cats, squirrels and nature, then I don’t feel as bad. I also find that to give myself to others when I am feeling the worst is helpful. Even just a call to check on someone. Thanks for leaving a comment, and I enjoy reading all of your posts on your blog. I’m glad you find solace in the activity. Please keep them coming!

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      1. Thank you Amy, keep your posts coming too. I took myself out to lunch today and bought some gifts for a friend as am going away to stay with her next week. You are right, projecting outwards really helps. At least you know you are not alone. I’m not one for moaning – quite the reverse – however there are times when one has to acknowledge these things. You did tell me your mom gave piano lessons, I found that so incredible.

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