Take Care of My Own

I haven’t long popped out of the shower, I’ve also shaved and changed into my nightclothes. With an ice pack resting on my forehead I’m decompressing by looking over today’s messages and emails. Maybe that’s not how you decompress from the day, but as a caregiver, I’m usually having to run around taking care of everybody else’s business. This in turn leaves me with less and less time to take care of my own. Creatively this used to not affect me much. But lately being locked in this house all day due to the crappy weather. There’s not much freedom to move around and be creative unless you like cold rain.
 
My wife and son, God bless ‘em, they don’t mean to irritate me. But lately, they are doing a damn good job of it. Each one of them has their own little quirks that can really get under my thin skin. I guess in the “real world” a decent person would keep quiet about such things. But considering I’m a “let the hare go with the hide” kinda guy, I might as well speak of my exhaustion and frustration. My main reason for getting into this is simple. The burying of emotions such as frustration and exhaustion is a key reason many a good person suddenly breakdown.
 
Over my lifetime I’ve suffered a major breakdown or two, both mentally and physically. And it was due to my lack of valid coping skills that tumbled the one problem into another. Lord knows, I can’t nor will I write any technical manuals on how to overcome stress, anxiety, and exhaustion. All I can tell you is what I have done to make my life livable. Some of those things include being honest with myself, knowing when to ask for help, and using the tools I have been given. Such as mindfulness training, compassion towards myself, and empathy towards others. Right now it looks like another storm has passed over Alamo and it looks like another peaceful night. So please don’t let fear and anger fester within you, and learn to take care of yourself as well.