the adulting blues
Just like everyone I know, I find adulting hard at times. Yesterday, I returned from a two-week spring break trip with my family. It’s the last one that we’ll have together, because next year my kids will be at two different schools with two different break schedules. So this year felt extra special, and we made it into an extra-long and special trip.
But today, the mountains of laundry, thousands of emails, text messages, and calendar requests, along with looming upcoming plans, have me feeling overwhelmed, on top of the intense jet lag. You probably understand this feeling of being overwhelmed by this thing called life. I hear about it most days of the week with my therapy clients - and friends.
It reminds me of years ago when I lived in New York City. I would have the worst feeling anytime I left the city on a weekend because it took so much energy to get the wheels of my train moving again at a fast enough pace when I came back. My system is kind of like a train. I can go for long, long distances without pausing or feeling tired, but if I stop, it takes a lot of energy and effort to get those train wheels chugging again.
I know this about myself, and so this morning, when the feeling of overwhelm descended, I reached out to a dear friend and let her know. Just letting someone know about my humanity and my struggle was enough to give me a little bit of extra strength and confidence to begin getting these wheels chugging along once again.
So, if you find yourself having a hard time this Sunday morning, anticipating the upcoming week, reach out to a friend and let them know. Share with them your humanity and struggle, and then watch how your wheels begin to chug along once again.
Cheers to being human and being an adult!
P.S. I crack myself up remembering my high school days when I would listen to “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” by The Beach Boys, wishing I, too, could fast forward to adulthood and be “free.” Ha! All the things I didn’t know about love, life, living together, and being married.
