“Kel, why have you been wandering around Target for the last two hours in the middle of the day?”
My best friend called me on Tuesday afternoon. It was 73 degrees and sunny in Minneapolis (where she lives) and she was calling to tell me that she wished we lived closer because we could have a Happy Hour beverage outside on such a glorious March day.
It might have been the tone in my voice when I answered the phone. Or maybe, because she has been my best friend for 20+ years, she has spidey-senses and just KNOWS when something is wrong. But her question to me wasn’t really a question, but a concerned statement.
My answer…
“I don’t know. I just had to get away. I’m not sure what I’m doing. I’m burnt out.”
And that was the truth. I’m burnt out.
Burnt out on dealing with my oldest child about school.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT MIDDLE SCHOOLERS THAT MAKES THEM LOSE THEIR BRAINS?
Burnt out with being a mom.
WHAT PART OF “NO” DO THEY NOT UNDERSTAND? AND CAN’T THEY FILTER…I DON’T NEED TO KNOW EVERY THOUGHT…ESPECIALLY ABOUT UNICORNS AND SOME STUPID SHOW ON CARTOON NETWORK.
Burnt out on being PTA President.
WHY CAN’T SCHOOLS RUN LIKE BUSINESSES?
Burnt out with being a wife.
SEX? SERIOUSLY? I JUST WANT TO WATCH HOUSE OF CARDS AND WATCH KEVIN SPACEY SCREW OVER PEOPLE.
Burnt out on a being a business owner.
AWESOME. SO THERE IS SOME NEW SOFTWARE I GET TO LEARN ABOUT WHEN I JUST LEARNED ABOUT DIFFERENT SOFTWARE LAST MONTH. TIME WELL SPENT. OH…AND I SHOULD PROBABLY WRITE A BLOG POST.
Burnt out on SHIT not working.
THANK YOU SUREWEST FOR NOT HAVING INTERNET SERVICE FOR THE LAST FOUR DAYS. AND YOUR CUSTOMER SUPPORT WAS AS HELPFUL AS TITS ON A HOUND.
And here is the deal…even though I feel burnt out, I also realize I’m being a complete whiner.
I have no room to lament and complain. My kids are healthy. I live in a wonderful house. I have food in the refrigerator. I don’t have Afrikan Warlords trying to burn down my village and genocide me. Compared to about 90% of the world’s population, my complaints are CRAP.
Yet, I feel empty.
So, after the call ended, I decided to get out of my head and my pity party and get “filled up”.
How? Well, I’m glad you asked.
My dear friend Kristen posted on her Facebook Page that she had just done a volunteer stint at KCCK Chef. (You may remember it from UPWORTHY … it’s a soup kitchen that disguises itself as a restaurant in Kansas City.) It was such a great experience for her, she decided to do it weekly and wanted to put together a recurring “team” of people.
Call it a God Moment or Fate or Whatever…but I signed up.
My first shift is March 28th.
I’ll let you know how it goes, but all I can say is that I’m giddy. I’m ready to serve. I’m ready to get over myself and my lame as complaints. I’m ready to be humbled. To do something that isn’t about me or my family. To be uncomfortable. To be present and not online. To be unplugged. To be connected.
But most of all, to be filled.
See past editions of I LOVE These Things.
Needed this post today! Thank you! You are not alone.
Thanks Miranda. I love that there is a whole army of women who want to be and do more and realize sometimes it is just about getting out of your own way. I’ll let you know how the volunteering goes.
This post has probably made me like you the most of any post. The harshness, the blunt take me as I am dialogue made me realize you are a real life woman, mother, entrepreneur. And you have the same feelings I have been experiencing for quite some time. I need filled too. Looking forward to hearing how the volunteering works out for you. Thanks for sharing your not so glamorous moments also. 🙂
Thanks Carol. I suppose I should keep being this real, huh? I’ll let you know how the volunteering goes.
I get you on so many levels here! There’s a reason they’re called “first world problems,” and yet they’re still extremely taxing and valid issues. It’s essential to refill ourselves to be able to handle what’s on our plates every day. I can’t wait to hear more about this awesome endeavor! Go you!
Thanks Alicia…I will be sure to do a follow-up post about the volunteering experience.
I can relate to much of what you wrote! I don’t really have any friends – have all moved away, etc. I have been whining about it for too long and recently decided I needed to stop thinking about myself and do some volunteering and serving and thinking about others. However, I have not acted on it. So – the point of my comment it to applaud you for stepping out and taking action!
Kimberly – It’s easy to get in the rut…believe me. This post wasn’t just a moment of me being a whiner, but probably a cumulation of month’s of whining. I’m hoping by getting out of myself, I can pour out to others and in return get myself filled. I bet the same would happen to you…and who knows, maybe you’ll make a new best friend along the way too.