FALLing Back
Yesterday, being the autumn end of Daylight Savings Time, was a day about falling back. Luckily for me, we gained an hour of sleep - having been sick for what feels like forever. In the spirit of recovery and starting fresh this fall, I feel like I should admit all of the things I had to fall back on during my moment (more like week or two) of weakness, in order to heal.
I fell back on family. I guess this is the way in which they're the ones who love us unconditionally; it turns out that something I needed was a Mom & Dad day. On my rare Saturday off-day this weekend, I decided to resort to the confines of our house - and, mostly, the couch - in order to finally rest off my sinus infection. First, we watched Mom's AYSO soccer game. It was dewey and chilly, and nostalgia-inducing. As difficult as it's been to live with my Dad lately, I couldn't resist his pot of coffee that morning, or his invitation to a neighborhood bike ride. I don't have anyone to ride bikes around NP with these days! He made me do the hand signals he taught me when I had my driver's permit; he then bossed me through giving Hoppy the Rabbit a bath when we got home. I softened to him again during pet care time, particularly when he rescued Katniss from our garden tree in which she got stuck yesterday. Turns out that some bunny-cuddling and seeing Katniss-the-bitch get vulnerable were really comforting.
I fell back on friends. After taking some time to myself and recommitting to some of the things that make me feel proud of myself (like writing), I reached out to the people I need the most. I emailed Chels and shared my blog with her, in a first step of bravery. I shared it with my inner circle the next day, because I won't be able to call myself a writer for long if I don't let anyone read what I have to say. I realized that I needed to make time for three of my LA family after an early work day, because I was long overdue on seeing them. As much as I need rest and to stick with my liquids, Vitamin C, etc... I also need to fall back on the ones who have lifted me up amidst my worst quarter-life crises thus far. I knew their advice - over barbecue and Shirley Temples, no less - would be firm, but right.
Finally, I fell back on numerous classic comforts that really, always work when it comes to making me feel better. Yesterday, I tried on new, reddish TOMS because I'm so due for new kicks. I put them on hold, definitely plan on splurging - simply because I deserve it. I also started re-reading one of my all-time favorite pieces of mostly non-fiction/ travel-writing inspiration: the widely known and often mocked Eat Pray Love. Talk about an exercise in vulnerability. Taking in a bit of LG's boundless unveiling of her own despair - then, ultimately, courage - inspires me no matter how many times I read it. Sometimes, it only takes one chapter per night. On my Saturday sick day, I also fell back on my favorite shows and movies. A lot of them. Turns out, a sick day meant binging on this week's primetime from ABC (from Nashville to DC, the ultimate city of scandal). I then stayed glued to FX, after catching up on American Horror Story in daylight, watching Forgetting Sarah Marshall. I think this was because it's hilarious, and because Jason Segel is so pathetic that it's cute. Maybe his character made me feel less so.
The last thing I fell back on that day was comfort food; I won't lie. I've consumed a LOT of Campbell's chicken noodle soup lately. The liquid diet may be perpetuating my feelings of weakness, but sometimes some salty, also-nostalgic warmth is what the body needs. I'm planning on sticking with it until I'm no longer craving it.
When the going gets tough, it's okay to fall back on what feels good: from friends to guilty pleasures. While I worried that it was even weaker of me, I think it takes courage. Like Nela assured me: being vulnerable is the only way we're going to express what needs to be known. It's liberating, and bliss will follow. This weekend proved it, and I still believe it.
I fell back on family. I guess this is the way in which they're the ones who love us unconditionally; it turns out that something I needed was a Mom & Dad day. On my rare Saturday off-day this weekend, I decided to resort to the confines of our house - and, mostly, the couch - in order to finally rest off my sinus infection. First, we watched Mom's AYSO soccer game. It was dewey and chilly, and nostalgia-inducing. As difficult as it's been to live with my Dad lately, I couldn't resist his pot of coffee that morning, or his invitation to a neighborhood bike ride. I don't have anyone to ride bikes around NP with these days! He made me do the hand signals he taught me when I had my driver's permit; he then bossed me through giving Hoppy the Rabbit a bath when we got home. I softened to him again during pet care time, particularly when he rescued Katniss from our garden tree in which she got stuck yesterday. Turns out that some bunny-cuddling and seeing Katniss-the-bitch get vulnerable were really comforting.
I fell back on friends. After taking some time to myself and recommitting to some of the things that make me feel proud of myself (like writing), I reached out to the people I need the most. I emailed Chels and shared my blog with her, in a first step of bravery. I shared it with my inner circle the next day, because I won't be able to call myself a writer for long if I don't let anyone read what I have to say. I realized that I needed to make time for three of my LA family after an early work day, because I was long overdue on seeing them. As much as I need rest and to stick with my liquids, Vitamin C, etc... I also need to fall back on the ones who have lifted me up amidst my worst quarter-life crises thus far. I knew their advice - over barbecue and Shirley Temples, no less - would be firm, but right.
Finally, I fell back on numerous classic comforts that really, always work when it comes to making me feel better. Yesterday, I tried on new, reddish TOMS because I'm so due for new kicks. I put them on hold, definitely plan on splurging - simply because I deserve it. I also started re-reading one of my all-time favorite pieces of mostly non-fiction/ travel-writing inspiration: the widely known and often mocked Eat Pray Love. Talk about an exercise in vulnerability. Taking in a bit of LG's boundless unveiling of her own despair - then, ultimately, courage - inspires me no matter how many times I read it. Sometimes, it only takes one chapter per night. On my Saturday sick day, I also fell back on my favorite shows and movies. A lot of them. Turns out, a sick day meant binging on this week's primetime from ABC (from Nashville to DC, the ultimate city of scandal). I then stayed glued to FX, after catching up on American Horror Story in daylight, watching Forgetting Sarah Marshall. I think this was because it's hilarious, and because Jason Segel is so pathetic that it's cute. Maybe his character made me feel less so.
The last thing I fell back on that day was comfort food; I won't lie. I've consumed a LOT of Campbell's chicken noodle soup lately. The liquid diet may be perpetuating my feelings of weakness, but sometimes some salty, also-nostalgic warmth is what the body needs. I'm planning on sticking with it until I'm no longer craving it.
When the going gets tough, it's okay to fall back on what feels good: from friends to guilty pleasures. While I worried that it was even weaker of me, I think it takes courage. Like Nela assured me: being vulnerable is the only way we're going to express what needs to be known. It's liberating, and bliss will follow. This weekend proved it, and I still believe it.
To FALLing!
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