It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life."
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I went to bed a little after 10 p.m. and slept deeply for ten straight hours, only to wake up feeling oh so crummy. I wanted to snuggle deeper under the covers, and linger in bed, in the quiet, all alone.
I can be a very talkative, ‘engaging’ person with others. I enjoy meeting people and hearing their stories. But, wow, sometimes it hits me full throttle:
I am an introvert
and
I
must
find
a
cave
and
get
away
from
all
humans.
Yesterday was one of those days. I had a full and marvelous weekend in the company of 20 women on a church retreat, in rural West Virginia.
The surrounding nature was absolutely lovely – I always feel uplifted when I spend time in this gorgeous environment. The area is very remote with no wifi – which is nourishing, I think. I slept (poorly) in a bunkhouse with six others. I traveled to and from the retreat with two women. Conversations were rich and thought-provoking; it is one of my favorite experiences, to be on retreat.
However, I didn’t get a moment to myself.
When I got home, I was just in time for a (planned) visit from a very dear childhood friend, who was passing through the D.C. area and able to visit for the afternoon and evening. There I was listening to more amazing stories – and finding myself
on empty.
Words and images were sputtering spitting spinning around in my head by the time I went to sleep – and, oh my, how to describe the bliss of laying down in my own cozy bed?
It feels terribly wrong to feel so exhausted from so much goodness.
What a gift it was, to wake up to a quiet Monday with no responsibilities or expectations. Write. Walk. Nap. Be quiet. Sip tea.
A day of renewal.
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It’s good to be exhausted from the goodness! It was time spent in the fresh air, rejuvenating your soul.
Lovely photos and poem!
Thank you, Stacey. I just read your heartfelt, heartbreaking post about the attacks on Israel this weekend – I have no doubt these atrocities were also key to my wiped out feeling yesterday; I was without any news all weekend and got slammed by the reports late Sunday night, after my company left. There is so much excruciating pain in this world. So much need for prayer, and working for peace.
It’s good to be exhausted from the goodness! It was time spent in the fresh air, rejuvenating your soul.
I am realizing that I can leave a link to your blog post for others to read; it is powerful –
https://raisealithuman.wordpress.com/2023/10/09/heartache-from-afar/
Maureen,
Jesus went into the wilderness for forty days an nights so he could be alone. Moses went up on Mt. Sinai—alone. We all need quiet, alone time, which doesn’t mean we don’t love the together time. To every thing there is a ti
r and a season under heaven, as your gorgeous fall photos show. Lots of introverts get pressured into groups filled w/ conversation. Sometimes I think we all need more quiet time alone to heal our minds and souls.
In feedback for the retreat, I suggested blocks of time when we were truly ‘quiet’ / alone. So hard to do when you only have two days of togetherness! As my title suggests, balance is elusive – when it rains, it pours. You are probably more in condition for such get-togethers with all the substitute teaching you do – but my days (except when babysitting!) are really quiet. My conversations are mostly with myself, lol, as I write. Thanks, Glenda!
I could feel how things sped up : Words and images were sputtering spitting spinning around in my head … and how you slowed down: a quiet Monday with no responsibilities or expectations. Write. Walk. Nap. Be quiet. Sip tea. This slice truly captures your days, what you enjoyed, what you needed.
Thank you! I definitely needed my slow day yesterday!
Maureen, wow. The retreat and your time with your childhood friend do sound nurturing and wonderful. But, I can relate…too much people time is exhausting. I like the feedback you gave the planners that some alone time would be great. The photos are so beautiful. What a lovely time of year to be there. I love that sweet row of yellow flowers.
Thank you, Denise! It was a wonderful weekend – and tiring.