You’ve seen ’em, right? Everybody with their shiny, hashtag-worthy word for 2019. Like, #achieve or #love or #pony. (Hey, a girl can #hope, right? Also, why doesn’t anyone ever keep it real with a word like #cheese or #nap?)
In the past few years, my words have been about career growth, writerly encouragement, and other money-making, soul-enriching kinda stuff. Good stuff, really.
But then I started feeling not-so great towards the end of last year. And, as anyone who’s felt not-so great for extended periods of time can tell you, when you’re feeling not-so great, your mantra becomes less #LevelUp and more #LayBackDown.
Long story super short: I started having a bad reaction to my immunosuppressant right after Thanksgiving. (The kind that’s listed on the medicine insert under “Call a doctor immediately if…”) And whether it was standalone badness or compounded with the general stress of stomach bugs/the death of a family pet/my youngest child’s 5th birthday/Christmas events including the multiple ones for 3 school-aged children/the fact that it gets dark and cold in Chicago at, like, 3pm- why did we choose to live here…
…I wasn’t feeling my best.
So I have a new word for 2019.
Heal… As in, Hey Keely:
…Go to bed as soon as you’re tired, regardless of work load or perceived self-importance.
…Read a book, a magazine, or anything that doesn’t require a “like” or forward immediately afterwards.
…Stop thinking of doctor or specialist visits as frivolous expenses.
…Lay down on the floor with your children as often as possible (not because they’re growing up in the blink of an eye, but because you genuinely enjoy these people and snuggle endorphins are very real).
…Get rid of any guilt associated with doing anything with or for your children under the umbrella of “they’re growing up in the blink of an eye.”
(…Maybe lay down on the floor with your husband as often as possible, too?)
…Eat good food, all day long, with plenty of hydration and vitamins in there, too.
…Get fresh air (and now go get some more fresh air).
…Utilize your Happy Light. Put more Happy Lights around the house. (Hang Happy Lights from your eyelids and repeat the phrase “Happy Light” until someone throws a blanket over your head. Which would be pretty awesome, if you think about it.)
…Say no to more things and and say yes to more naps. (#Naps!)
…Say no to more things and say yes to ‘Jeopardy’ under a heated blanket until 11pm, whereupon you’ll fall pleasantly and deeply asleep. (See also: “Bob Ross.”)
…Thank people for helping/understanding instead of apologizing for burning out/trying to do it all.
(…Let people help, dang it.)
…Find things that restore energy– and, barring that, rest up until you can try again later.
…Post blogs on days that are decidedly not Thursdays, on a schedule that’s decidedly not normal.
…Seriously with the hydration. No, really. Go drink a huge glass of water right now.
…Stop worrying so much about what people on the internet are doing. Except for the “word” thing.
That one’s pretty neat.
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