Bedraggled
Bedraggled
Dishevelled, disordered, untidy, unkempt, troubled,
disarranged – that is what Google’s dictionary offers for my title word.
Looking at my sunflowers perhaps just plain ‘droopy’ says it all! And it’s not just the sunflowers. That’s how I
have been feeling lately.
I don’t want to complain. I love the English summer. Basking
in the sunlight with my favourite book or perhaps the writing pen, was my
winter vision for this summer. But oh, the heat! Disturbing, exhausting,
tiresome. My summer break has been extended. I’ve given myself time off from
writing and the accompanying social media paraphernalia. YouTube can wait, as
can Instagram, FB, and Tik-Tok.
I was exhausting myself trying to keep up. FOMO. Then I
injured my back. It was a blessing in disguise. I’ve had to slow down and
simplify. Slow down because any activity caused me great pain. I no longer had
to feel guilty if I just sat down and read my book. The NHS website didn’t help
as it advocated movement for lower back pain. Luckily, I went with my gut
instinct and recommended rest instead of activity for myself. No doctor’s
appointments were available to confirm my self-diagnosis.
Simplify. Yes, if you can’t do much, it becomes do only the
essentials. So, a bit of washing where the machine did the work, was a good
idea. Visiting was curtailed to fun family and certainly no duty calls were
allowed.
What was once a joy can become a millstone, if you let it.
What words can I offer to help us get through this climatic crisis?
Start a new writing project or revise an old one – anything
to break out of lethargy. Working on a novel or full-length non-fiction book,
in this heat, is draining. Take time off to write a short story or poem. Enjoy
the break rather than be driven by a guilt-ridden anxiety by what you are not
writing. Cherish the extra family time. Do something with the children or
grandchildren during the school holidays. I’ve cheered myself up already.
I’ve been reading “Midnight Library” (book club choice) by
Matt Haigh. Nora Seed tries alternative lives as she hovers between life and
death after a suicide attempt. Although clearly not a Christian book, it offers
some points for us all to consider. We all make wrong choices which affect our
lives but instead of wallowing in regret, get on with the life you’ve got. Your
attitude to the hand you’ve been dealt is the deciding factor in your
happiness.
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be
weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)”
Thank you for this Rosalie. I agree with you about Midnight Library - thought provoking in an enjoyable way.
ReplyDeleteAs a healthcare professional who has had back injury myself, the NHS advice for movement is in contrast to old recommendations of bed rest for back injuries! It's more about gentle movement, adapting rather than completely stopping activity, and changing position regularly to prevent stiffness and more pain. But definitely not trying to your normal routine before recovery. Sounds like you've done a good job of caring for yourself.
And isn't God wonderful when He uses injury or illness to help us grow?
Ah good advice there, Rosalie. I should really try to take some of it, although I am very sorry your rest is because of a back injury. I am tired, but tired because I'm working hard doing what I have always yearned to do. I agree about the heat. As a delicate English flower with Celtic blood, I am not suited to these roasting hot temperatures!
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