It's a down-tempo Sunday for us. Brad and I are both kind of achy and fighting colds; we're run down following a climbing event in Indian Creek (I've been away for nearly 2 weeks, hence the lack of posts).
So we've lit a fire (it's been snowing since Friday night) and are taking it easy. The dogs don't seem to mind, as they're also exhausted, dreaming and sighing at my feet.
While in the desert - with no phone or email or distraction - I thought back to my first time there, down that stretch of highway 211 toward Canyonlands, and finally acknowledged what I've been ignoring.
It's been a tough few months. Year. Couple years.
I can't actually calculate how long, but Brad's been around for much of it, and I know it can't be easy on him. I've lost my fire and spark and charm and psyche. I don't have a plan or any goals, and I'm tired of feeling mediocre all the time.
I don't know what to do, what my next steps should be. I feel guilty for being so extravagant - it's not lost on me that it's a fucking luxury to whine about feeling sad and not being skinny when I have friends battling cancer and losing loved ones. But if I could just snap out of this, I would, and I'd drench myself in the vibrance I used to have - the vitality that has seen me through everything good.
But I can't. I've tried switching meds all around and having my thyroid checked and changing my diet and getting more exercise and taking more rest days, and this summer was the worst yet. I looked up the other day and realized that it's the middle of October, again, and nothing has changed. I'm still unsure of myself, I still don't know what I want to do with my life, I still feel unremarkable and lame.
Sigh.
And of course it's not all bad. Certain things - walking Arnie, playing Scrabble with Brad, cooking, yoga, dance - give me joy. An hour ago, Brad and I walked the dogs to a nearby park to let them run amok, and on the way, passed a house with a bunch of those enormous, blow-up halloween lawn decorations (a giant tarantula, a ghost, a Homer Simpson dressed as a skeleton - huh?). Arnie wasn't sure what they were, so he crouched very low and crept up to them. After a few air sniffs, he moved in for closer investigation, accidentally bumping the tarantula's leg with his snoot. The resulting tumult saw Arnie hiding behind my legs, actively avoiding eye contact with the oversized nylon tarantula and his brother, Red Dog, who was almost-but-not-really rolling his eyes in embarrassment.
I need to set more goals and work harder at seeing all the good and funny and kind and joyful things and people around me. I made a promise today - to myself, but I said it out loud to Brad so that he could help hold me accountable - to start abiding by Thumper's Rule.
Without being too self-helpy, I'll say that I believe positive energy begets positive energy, and I've been putting lots of negativity into the universe lately. It's no surprise I'm a mess.
So all day - and I know it's only been one day - I've been censoring the snarky and hateful and nasty. I am sadly surprised at the effort it's taken. I guess I'm mostly snarky and hateful and nasty. Even the sarcastic has been tempered.
And it feels good.
It feels like a start.
More goals tomorrow.
6 comments:
It's hard and I can't say it ever really ends and sometimes it really sucks having to "keep at it." Reading Intuitive Eating helped. Spending time helping other helps. Making sure I do lots of things that make me feel wonderful - dancing, yoga, writing, hiking, painting (badly!).
And I agree - positive brings more positive...but if you just aren't feeling up to BEING postive you can at least be around someone/something that is...funny blogs, movies, inspiring stories, great music always give me a boost.
So - no great solutions from me - just hugs.
Pshaw. I say more snarky. Snarky is your friend. E.g., I know someone ejected from the Laurel Mtn Inn this weekend. Absent snarky, the incident would have been a negative. Add snarky to the mix, & it's very funny
maybe you should fly out to denver and take the bus to boulder where i'll pick you up and drive you to ned. we can play with special K, walk (or ski - if you don't come right away) and cook and knit and sew or whatever you like to do. most of all we can talk about stuff and you can relax a little. hmmm?? :)
Happens to all of us KT...you are not alone. Life is not easy, especially when you hang with such talented people. Luckly, you are also one of them.
Some Teton love coming your way!!!
If I may offer a little advice: Hightail it to Colorado to see Jen. She has a great laugh and an awesome hug, and she may be just what you need. And she's now got some snow, damnit!
It sounds like you're pulling yourself onto the right track though. But, yeah. It's hard.
I'm tempted to mollify my bruised ego and google what "snarky" means, though I think I'll just keep pulling it from context. I have taken way too long of a hiatus from your blog. I'm relieved that someone else thinks Red dee-oh-double is like a tarantula.
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