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Cana McGhee's avatar

was planning to write about vulnerable moment with my mentors, and the only thing i could say in the moment was "im just tired." they understood, but also didn't because my saying "im tired" did not fully capture what i was actually trying to convey. sometimes i wonder if i'm always tired, or if i just say i am because it's easier than addressing the things that i can change to mitigate the tiredness. it's just easier to be tired and crave the comfort of a couch or a pillow. (not saying that that is what you're saying here Cassie!!! just that the idea of tiredness is so complicated and can have so many meanings and levels to it, and your thoughts reminded me of the fact that im still on this journey of leaning to navigate the rest-making-exhaustion triad... sigh)

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Cassandra Charlick's avatar

Big hugs! And so glad you are resting. I get caught in hustle culture all the time, constantly trying to find the balance without burnout! So keen to catch up and write for joy too! X

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Cassie Wilkins's avatar

I get you Cass. Yeah, it's a tough old balance, especially when we're our own bosses, hey?! Maybe it's finally time for us to have that co-writing call we always talked about! Xx

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Cassandra Charlick's avatar

Yes please! Also, I'll have my leg up after surgery all May so lots of time for it :P x

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Cassie Wilkins's avatar

Oh gosh, nothing serious I hope! But it definitely sounds like it's a good time to be writing, especially as the days are getting cooler and cosier! Tea and writing under blankets, sign me up! 🥰

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Sarah Robertson's avatar

Here’s to not having it all figured out and finding the learning in the living. So excited for write club! 💛

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Cassie Wilkins's avatar

Cheers to all that - and to us for showing up anyway! So excited for it too! Here's to writing these books this year :)

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Cassie Wilkins's avatar

Oh yeah, the rest-making-exhaustion thing feels so real. Especially when you add sharing into it in any form. I can make and write and journal and draw and take photos for fun and find it regenerative, but then the act of sharing them, in any form - or even emotions or how we feel or whatever - kind of draining.

It's a funny pet peeve but I hate it when my therapist or whoever I'm working with asks me what my biggest takeaway is at the end of a session. Every single time my mind just goes blank and negates everything that's gone before just to find something to share in that moment. Most of the time I just want to let everything that's come before sit first, a bit like murky water settling after it's all been stirred up.

Having been on the other side as a mentor, too, I get why people do it, but I'm also just like I feel like goo right now and you're asking me to piece myself together for you but I don't even know any words right now 😂

Anyway, long reply, sorry, but I think "I'm tired" can mean so much. I'm sure in other cultures and languages they'd have words for the deep bone tired that comes when you've given everything you can to something and haven't had the time/space/energy/capacity/opportunity to regenerate and recover, but in ours it's all we've got so it just has to do!

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