Have you ever been so overwhelmed with life, that you can't see beyond your next breath? That it feels as if everything is pushing so hard on you, that it's all you can do to not cave?
It sucks, doesn't it?
Well...just yesterday, I was folding laundry...and if you'd've seen my living room, you'd know why I was feeling overwhelmed. But, I sat down...resolved to try to dig my living room out from beneath the pile of clothes that rested atop it.
And you know what? It really didn't take all that long before I started to see that, really...it wasn't so bad!
Then I remembered something...once upon a time, waaaaaayyyyyy back when I was a senior in college, I was facing my last few weeks of school. For ever.
It just so happens, that life decided to take the opportunity to slap me upside the head, and I got an ear infection. (P.S-have you ever had an ear infection as an adult? HOLY HELL!!! They hurt! No wonder our little ones get so cranky with them!)
Then, life took a running start and gave me a round house kick right to the solar plexus, and I had an allergic reaction to the antibiotics I was on that was so fierce I'm pretty sure I had hives in places that weren't meant to have hives.
It was ugly.
And, I'm not speaking metaphorically. One of my profs took one look at me, gasped, and said, "You need to go home and take some Benadryl!!!!!!!" I think she may have even recoiled at the sight of me.
Anyway...missing class in the last few weeks of your college career can be a bad thing. I got behind...became incredibly overwhelmed and dissolved into a puddle of tears.
Enter: LouAnn.
The best, most wonderful, amazing, kind, generous, understanding, wise professor on the face of this earth. Everyone needs a Lou in their lives.
We sat down...me and my tears and Lou. Lou patted my knee and kindly said, "Let's write it all down. Everything you need to get done. Let's write it down."
We wrote. And you wanna know what? My list. My horribly overwhelming, all consuming, dissolving me to tears list?
It was about three things long.
That's it.
It made me realize...that when you feel overwhelmed, chances are it's really not as bad as you think it's going to be and sometimes, just tackling it head on makes you discover it's much more managable than you ever dreamed it could be.
Sometimes...all a girl needs is a deep breath.
And a Lou.
Excuse me now...I have a mountain of laundry to fold.
I AM A BELIEVER IN LISTS!!! - ALWAYS HAVE BEEN ALWAYS WILL BE. RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT I HAVE A STICKY NOTE ON THE BACK OF MY PHONE THAT SAYS:
ReplyDeleteMTG @ MD LIBRARY(EVEN THOUGH THIS IS ENGRAVED IN MY BRAIN FOR THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS)
BILLS
LAUNDRY
BLOG (;0)
1 HOUR WORKOUT
AND THEN DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STICKY IT SAYS:
CP
(THIS IS SOMETHING I MIGHT WANT TO DO THIS WEEKEND, MAYBE)
SEE?? SOMETIMES LISTS CAN MAKE YOU CRAZY TOO! ;)
Amen, sista.
ReplyDeleteBut I know how crappy it feels to be overwhelmed... that gasp-y, wide-eyed, knotted-stomach feeling just before that next breath that brings with it determination... it's a yucky moment and I feel ya. Good luck with your laundry - I'm facing a mountain of it myself. And a very, VERY messy rest of the house to go along with it. But, I have to tell myself, it won't stay messy forever :o)
I totally understand!
ReplyDeleteI'll have a meltdown and think that my life is just falling apart and my husband will sit me down and say something like "ok, tell me what's going on so we can work on it together"
And I'll come up with about two things.
He's quick to put things into perspective for me. He's my LouAnn :)
That is the best advice ever! I am going to have to remember that next time I have one of those moments! I could have used a Lou in my life many times!
ReplyDelete#1 - I had a double ear infection a couple of years ago...and I finally understood why it's such a big deal for kids! My kid never had one, ever...so I didn't truly understand until I had those infections. It was horrible.
ReplyDelete#2 - I completely and totally understand...that was my week a couple of weeks ago and I finally made a list so I could know what had to be done. I think the list helped me to be more focused on my work AND it gave me a sense of success when I could mark things off!
Good luck with the laundry and hope that you begin to feel a little better about "life" right now! :)
Oh yes. I have been smacked across the face by life so many times since our little N was born six months ago that I have a perma-bruise. Well, not really. But, it sure feels like it. I *think* I'm on the other side of the season of crap but you never know. Hang in there, mama. :)
ReplyDeleteP.S. I wondered why you hadn't shown up in my dashboard and where you had gone ... until I realized you had somehow accidentally been deleted. So glad to be catching up on your life again.
I needed this today. I am hitting that overwhelmed stage before you have a baby. Realizing that in 11 weeks our world is about to be rocked, and realizing I have put off pretty much everything that needs to be done until the last minute. AGHHH.
ReplyDeleteSo true. Life has been super overwhelming to me lately too, but then when I write it all down it is really only 4 BIG things to get done. Which does not make it any less overwhelming and wishing it would go away, but makes me think about other who have WAY more to do than me and then I stop feeling sorry for myself (ugh only sometimes....okay now I am rambling. sorry. )
ReplyDeletePS. my laundry needs folding too-my house next?
I needed that today! :) Thank you!! I am feeling pretty overwhelmed lately and I always have an ongoing list, but it does feel great when you can cross something off. I think I will cross off "be overwhelmed" now, haha!
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel. I, too, am overwhelmed A LOT and I only have two kids. Long ago, I decided that my goal in life was to make others feel better about themselves. Not to brag, but I do a darn good job...all you'd have to do is stop by my house for a visit. When you see stacks of STUFF everywhere-clothes/toys for the next charity pick up, library books, mail, laundry, dishes in the sink and on the countertop, beds not made, etc., you can automatically think, "Whew, and I thought my mess was bad! I'm feeling better already." I have no excuse except that I'm completely overwhelmed and don't know where to start. The Better Homes and Garden home (complete with fresh cut flowers in crystal bowls and homemade swags) I dreamed I would live in as a SAHM does not exist and never has for me. (I know, I know, bust out the violins and play a sad melody.) I just can't seem to get it in gear.
ReplyDeleteLists, however, are my lifeline. I think I was using the "put it in writing" phrase long before Sprint ever existed. It feels good to cross stuff off, but most days 2 things get crossed off and 5 more get added. I just can't seem to get thru the basics (laundry, dishes, mopping, etc.), let alone the extras (scrubbing baseboards, the top of the frig, rearranging stuff, etc.). I feel your pain! Soon (I say soon; I mean as soon as I stop procrastinating and being "overwhelmed" with life") I am going to post before and after pics of some rooms in my house. It's just that getting around to the "after" pics that's got me tied up right now. I'll let you know so you can stop by and see what I'm talking about. You will feel better immediately!
Thanks for sharing. This was just the right reminder at just the right time for me! I am currently taking a deep breath...and writing my list.
ReplyDeleteWell written! So true.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing I have been feeling this way for the past couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteOkay, you know how when I actually used to blog, you and I would sometimes write about the same stuff? Well...I was just about to post about this very same thing! However, I would be coming at it from the totally overwhelmed perspective. I honestly do feel very near the puddle on the floor mess.
ReplyDeleteThis was the perfect post for me to read! Ironic seeing as how it's the only one I've read all day.
Lou! Lou was the absolute best--an angel . . .we should go visit her or write to her or send her a fruit basket or something . . .
ReplyDeleteT
I live with lists every day. I couldn't function without them.
ReplyDeleteI've had an ear infection as an adult. It. is. terrible!
I wouldn't make it through my day without lists... I desperately need them or I feel like everything is spiraling out.
ReplyDeleteI even write lists for the weekend.
That's probably not normal, right?!? ;)
I so understand and agree with you. but even more than that you have made my day to know that I am not the only one who has a pile of laundry in the livingroom
ReplyDelete