My
phone buzzed this morning. It was a text message from a good friend of
mine asking how things were since we hadn't spoken in a while. While we
chit chatted to catch up, she mentioned that she could barely believe
that it was December, and that 2012 was nearly over. I mentioned that,
compared to previous years, it barely feels like I've accomplished much
this year. She, being the smartypants I know her to be, responded by
telling me that you can't declare bankruptcy, get divorced, sell a
house, and move twice every year. It would get old and pase in a hurry.
I
laughed, and told her that she had a point. Though, she did cause that
ole 25 watt bulb over my head to go off because I think that might be
why I've felt to restless and kinda useless these last few months. I've
had nothing to do.
Sure,
I've had little stuff like the mountains of dishes in my sink that
appear every night, and the tumbleweeds of dog hair aren't going to
sweep themselves. But I'm more talking that I haven't had anything that
needs to have my teeth sink into it and feel the ichor of confrontation
and achievement drip down my chin. Perhaps it smacks of "poor little
rich girl" always wanting what she doesn't have when I say that really,
all I've done this year is moved in Feb, and gotten a new job in
September. Previous years saw my blood singing with vigor to make
appointments and court dates and contract signings. This year has been
calm, and it's unnerving. And the choir of humanity who doesn't
understand that restlessness that comes with not having any fires to put
out cries that I should enjoy it. Pipe down, relax. Put your feet up
and enjoy.
That's
the thing. I don't know how to do that constructively. Time and time
again, I've seen the same behavior. When I had the opportunity to take
part in some fantastic and 100% free training with a former employer, I
never did. Even when I knew there were classes I wanted to take. I have a
list several pages long for classes I'd like to take from the likes of
MIT that offers their classes online for no credit, but no cost either.
That list has only grown because I haven't ever been back to start my
journey of the mind. For the majority of the year when I was looking for
work in 2007, I did little beyond sleep, mope, and look at funny cat
pictures on the internet. I had all the time in the world, but not an
ounce of motivation. It's all potential. And I thrive in the kinetic.
There
is a scene from the Batman The Animated Series that I can't seem to
find that illustrates what I feel like quite well. Even after spending
an entire afternoon watching every episode that mentions Clayface, I
can't find it. But, for those avid fans that remember, there's a short
bit where Batman has found some leftover pieces of what he believes to
be part of Clayface at a crime scene. The small lumps of nearly liquid
matter are in a petri dish and are inert and motionless until Batman
shocks them with a small prod. Then the clay violently reacts, forming
shapes and faces in rapid succession for a moment or two. This is the
best way I can think of to express what I feel like when it comes to
Getting Stuff Done. Left to my own devices, I'm a lump in a bathrobe. I
need that shock, that urgency in order to stoke the coals of my internal
powerplant to set me on the road to accomplishment.
After
determining that, it's no wonder I haven't felt like 2012 has been very
productive. I mean, really, all I've done this year is moved, started
dating Thunderhead, and changed jobs. You may say that should be enough
for one person, but for me, I feel like I've been slacking. What's even
stranger is if the feeling of being unproductive is left to fester, I
wallow in it. I become a bon-bon eating, fuzzy slipper wearing, book
devouring, people shunning hermit who dreads the idea of leaving the
house, but desperately wants the world not to forget she exists. It's a
paradox wrapped in fleece and pressed like a puppy waiting for her human
to come home against the big picture window of life.
Not
that I'm a danger-seeker, or an adrenaline junkie. The closest to
having the experience of the wind whipping through my hair at a high
rate of speed is using my car windows as a hair drier in the summer. I'm
pretty sure getting me onto one of those zip line, free fall simulation
rides at any major amusement park would bring new heights to the field
of projectile vomiting. I like my feet on the floor and my nose in a
documentary in my spare time. My thrills are of the low speed, medium
sweat, high volume variety. Somewhere along the way, I've lost the
needle on my compass that helped me find my misadventures. 2012 has
hasn't have enough laughter, blushes, and the "Oh no you didn't!" factor
of misbehaving in public that leaves me with contented sighs and
declarations of "That was fun! I'll have to add that to the list of
stories that sound like lies." as I put my head on the pillow at night.
So,
perhaps I'm jumping the gun, the shark, or even rope, but I think I
want to make a New Years Resolution well before the end of the year.
(Though, it's less than 2 weeks till the end of the world in Mayan
time.) I pledge to get myself in more trouble, pick a new hobby, find a
new cause, and be more accessible in 2013.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.