Musings: On Being Worn Out and Other Things

With Photos of the Day: Tulip Portraits From My Winter 2024 Desk Tulip Collection

*** Apologies To Readers This Post Is Too Long For Email ***

I was off getting an MRI on my right shoulder on Sunday afternoon and I came home to find that a reader had found their way to this post from May 2024. When I clicked on the post to re-read it, I felt very strongly that I needed to repost it. Just the night before I had asked on Notes if anyone struggled with occasional burnout writing here on Substack.

My motive for this Note was simple on Saturday night, I was exhausted and once again feeling the occasional burnout that sets in for me when I am over doing things including trying to keep up with a regular 3 - 4 post a week schedule here that my readers are accustomed to.

Burnout is pretty common for online writers. I know this only too well because I’ve been writing online in various capacities, from entrepreneur ( 1996 - 2016) to political writer/blogger (2003 - 2017) to creative writing (2008 - current). Having been online for 30 years, I’ve come to know a lot of other writers and the conversation between online writers frequently finds its way to the theme of burnout.

Now, I’m the first person to admit I am a Type A, over-achiever. Even now at 68 years old, retired with Chronic Fatigue/Fibromyalgia and other health issues, I like to stay busy, and writing and photography is my go to to keep my mind and body moving. Lately I’ve been having some a great deal of success with CBD and turmeric for the pain and it seemed I was successfully getting back to a higher level of activity than I had had in recent years, until I tested positive for Covid on Christmas day. But even a mild case of Covid left me feeling fatigued enough that some errands on Saturday wore me out. So, one step forward and a few steps back again for me.

I hope you all will indulge me and read this re-post that was actually one of my most popular posts in May 2024, with 164 likes and 100 comments. Many of my readers could relate to feeling worn out and appreciated the level of honesty and vulnerability I brought to this post. In sharing this post again, and I am saying again, I Am Worn Out.

I hope we can have another conversation about the need for self-care and honesty when we feel worn out or burnt out and we know we’ve been doing too much. Blessings to all… I hope this re-post resonates with you.

Greetings Readers,

A few days ago I shared my truth here, that “I Am Worn Out,” and it seems that quite a few of my readers could identify with that sentiment.

I felt the need to make it a little more real in the midst of all the Daily Affirmations and feel good stuff I write and post here, because let’s face it, there’s a lot of us out here that are clearly worn out from everything happening in our own worlds and the world around us.

I’m all for the feel good, daily affirmation vibe that I post about here. I am all about helping to lift others up, for I recognize that in doing that, I also lift myself up. However, I also belief that it is absolutely acceptable to own the fact that we all have days when we are worn out, tired, fed up, overwhelmed, you know, stuff is just straight out hard somedays, and I think it helps to be honest about that.

No one’s life is perfect. We are all struggling and there are a lot of us who feel like they don’t want to talk about their stuff. That’s fine, I get it. I feel like that sometimes myself.

However, there is one thing that I learned a long time ago — if you don’t talk about it, it festers. And we’ve got enough to deal with, without our struggles and troubles festering.

So I just want to say this today…

It’s okay to be real. It’s okay to be honest. It’s okay to say, “I Am Worn Out.”

It’s okay to be sad, scared, feel lonely, be grieving, be angry, be unwell. It’s okay to feel all the feels and go through the stuff you need to go through.

Say it.

Own it.

Revel in it.

Cry about it.

Feel mad and sad.

Do what you gotta do to work through it.

It will pass.

It always does.

You will get through it.

You always do.

There are times in our lives when every day is a struggle to get through, and there are times in our lives when every day is a joy. At 67 years old, I am finding I have more struggles then I used to, and that’s okay, because life happens. I know you all get that.

I just want to end this post by saying to all of you, Dear Readers, just know I see you and I hear you all in your struggles and your joys. Thanks so much for reading and being here for me.

Stay tuned for new posts... I am digging in, trying hard to keep up, because that’s all anyone of us can do.

The comments are open as always. Leave a comment, strike up a discussion, talk among yourselves, be part of this community.

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For as little as $5 a month or $50 a year, you can help sustain my work here. Other ways to support my work here include donating to my PayPal Account or to my Buy Me A Coffee account.

P.S. I hope you all enjoyed the Desk Tulips!

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