Hi! We’re back from a few days at HersheyPark. I think this is the sixth year we’ve gone. It would be seven years but y’know…2020. I used the only decent and bloggable photo on yesterday’s Wordless Wednesday post.
A lack of worthwhile content means I’m back to resorting to a journal prompt to keep the writing juices flowing. This one comes from a Reddit thread: What is a reminder that you would like to tell yourself next time you are in a downward spiral?
When I spiral it’s usually due to one of three things:
1) I am overwhelmed about a chain of events or tasks. This could be at the very start of a work project or just a week where I have appointments or errands to do every day. Or one day stacked with personal appointments and meetings.
2) I become fixated on death — more specifically that I’m going to have to witness a lot of people I adore die. This is predictably getting worse the older we all get. Or sometimes I’ll get into my car and think, “An 18-wheeler could roll over onto my car ten minutes from now and it’s curtains for me!”
3) I read too much news.
For scenario one, I just have to remind myself that I’m fully capable of juggling work and home responsibilities. I’m able to drop Murphy off at the groomer, attend three zoom meetings, pick Murphy back up, exercise after work, meet Mom for dinner, and stop at the grocery store on the way back. I’m doing well at my job. I don’t have to do everything at once, just one thing at a time.
For scenarios two and three, it’s the phrase, “Right now it’s like this.” I’ve written about this before during the depths of Covid. And boy is that post a time capsule! Look at me “honoring my mental health” only one week into staying at home. Oh you sweet summer child, it’s going to get so much worse before it gets better. You didn’t even dye your hair purple yet!
Right now it’s like this: I’m lucky enough to have many living family members and friends. And while the chance of me being skooshed by a tractor-trailer on the road isn’t zero, it’s low.
Right now it’s like this: the news is terrible but I help where I can. Reading the news doesn’t make it go away.
And that’s true even for the moment I feel myself begin to spiral: This moment isn’t forever, it’s right now.
