This weekend I got some much-needed rest. I have the coolest job on earth and one that I love, but I was feeling very burned out recently. I’d been sick for a couple weeks and felt like I was running in a million different directions.
I’ve been a creative freelancer for a decade and a half, and I’ve felt this way before, but each time it happens I begin to doubt myself. Should I do this? Can I? I hate those self-doubts that creep in, and wish that I’d just take a break, take a breath, and put it all in perspective right away instead of letting the negative thoughts creep in for any length of time.
That’s why my weekend away with family was so beneficial. Art and poetry are more than just hobbies for me. They are what keeps me grounded and sane. They help me put life in perspective and see the good. This weekend I was able to experience art, read poetry in different forms, and even write some myself. There was a moment when I stood beneath the windchime tree in the Walker Sculpture Garden where I just closed my eyes and listened to the sound, felt the breeze on my face, and took in that moment of beauty and it made me feel like I could take a deep breath, exhale, and go back into the world a different person.
I think we all get this type of burn out from time to time. Maybe it isn’t from being self-employed or running a business, but just from running errands, going to work, raising the kids, taking care of our aging parents, or dealing with health issues. We all need to remember that our wellbeing needs more than just a life filled with activities, eating, sleeping, and getting by. We need to do things that fill our soul so we can thrive.
