January 8

One week in

I wrote to Tom today about my drum machine, I accidentally lied because I said I got a drum machine for my birthday but it was a Christmas present. I often get Christmas and my birthday mixed up.

I noticed about drumming that I thrive on momentum. I’ll be in time, and high on the feeling. Until I misstep, then I panic/stop/thrash. When that happens it’s hard to get back in time… or try again. I wait on the sidelines for a moment when I feel like I can jump back in.

That’s what this time feels like… waiting for a moment, and composing myself, to jump back in.

curing my hair as I type

curing my hair as I type this blog post

I had a great meeting today at work; it was positive and supportive. In moments like these I remember why I love education outreach. It feels amazing when you meet someone who is so passionate about the way education has changed their life that they want to support others into education.

I find it easy to get swept up in my work. So easy to beat myself up for not achieving the goals I had hoped for my role. Frustrated with incomplete data, angry at policies, hurt that I haven’t been able to obtain actual practical support for someone who asks for it… But then I sometimes meet people who are vocal and want to make a change. And I can see the good they are bringing to their life and community.

It makes it feel worthwhile. The spreadsheets and ugly website plugins, the what-sometimes-feels-like-endless meetings where I can’t sleep for days because my anxiety is sooo bad because I may have to talk or give a presentation, the news and briefings I have to scroll through with a mixture of confusion about the terminology used and sadness that the statistics are so bleak, my emails that never get answered, the oddness of finding the very sector that aims to support access so incredibly inaccessible.

via GIPHY

But, meh, I’ll get there.

January 7

Whatever

Everyday this week I’ll be pulling a (virtual) card from the Universe Has Your Back deck and reflecting on it.


I do whatever it takes to get closer to consciousness.

This evening I’ve been weaving, I had planned to cycle and have a shower afterwards but I was too tired. When I went to bed I noticed my neighbour had left my latest book order in the communal corridor. I tried reading but my eyes hurt… which helpfully reminded me to book an eye test! The earliest I could get was at the end of February.

I am so excited to finish my weaving and start my reading.

We are the Weirdos book and weaving loom

We are the Weirdos book and weaving loom

I have my first meeting of the academic year tomorrow. I’m a little nervous. I’ve just been feeling weird for a few weeks now; excitable and haphazard. I’m scared I’m going to overshare*.

* share. Talk about my feelings, experiences and ideas. I don’t want to talk about them but I’ve been finding I do despite my reluctance.

January 6

Choose

Everyday this week I’ll be pulling a (virtual) card from the Universe Has Your Back deck and reflecting on it.


I recognize that I have chosen fear, and I choose again. I choose love.

Wow, what can I say about the news? I know I won’t be saying anything new (no pun intended), and most of the people who stumble upon this post will not find anything interesting or surprising but I feel like I want to record my feelings for review later. I’d like to look back at this time and compare my feelings. It seems a bit grim now, saying I’d like to recall January 2021 – but I want to see what I/we got through.

Everything changes eventually, at least according to Headspace. Navigating Change Meditation by Headspace (found via headspace.com/articles/election-anxiety)

January 5

Letting go

Everyday this week I’ll be pulling a (virtual) card from the Universe Has Your Back deck and reflecting on it.


I let go of the shadow of the past by seeing someone for the first time with the eyes of love.

This card feels appropriate for my first day back at work. I also forgot that I don’t have any seminars until next week, so I have a day off tomorrow too. I had a slow day, reading emails and reviewing my various notebooks that I’ve stored around my flat. I had a big clean last week – kinda like a spring clean but at the end of December. I filled four bags with bric-a-brac/clothes for charity shops when they opened. And I organised my stationery so everything is packed away, and I put a lot of unused collage/zine materials into the recycling bin. Because I had so much! Now I feel neater but not as creative. I feel tidy but not informed.

Now when I look at my notes I see new tasks to do, rather than see a reminder of who hasn’t replied to me. When I look at my art supplies I have to think of new ideas, rather than glue/sew together half-completed scraps I have lying around. It’s hard to start anew but I don’t miss the baggage one bit.

January 4

Good

Everyday this week I’ll be pulling a (virtual) card from the Universe Has Your Back deck and reflecting on it.


Instead of praying for an outcome, I pray for the highest good for all.

Mondays are my days for writing, and I’ve written a lot. I don’t expect to hear back from any of the jobs I applied for today, or any of the pitches I sent off, or any of the competitions I entered but I hope for the best. I ordered We Are The Weirdos today, I felt such an affinity to Maranda Elizabeth‘s writing that I wrote them a letter-zine.

My partner returned to work today, it was my first day alone for weeks. I went out to buy stamps and bread. I came home with a tub of ice cream too. I felt like I wanted to celebrate.