Identify it first. That overwhelmed feeling. Give it a word. The first word that comes to mind. The word I am giving that feeling today is: prepare.
Breathing helps. A good declutter of the brain helps.(not sure how to do that yet, but like my cutlery drawer it is long overdue).
We are icebergs. Or ducks. Or paddle boats. There is so much stuff going on under the water line. And usually no-one knows the ‘all’ of it. We dart up for air and a quick bite then plunge back down to carry on.
So, if we hear a simple “how are you”. We pause – just for a second. That ‘how are you’ is going to feel like a lifeline. It is one of our society’s most precious sentences. I see you. I know you struggle. I am here. No, really. How ARE You? You don’t even have to answer that question honestly – after all we seldom do – but if honestly asked; there is magic at work.
How. Are. You.
There are two people in that sentence.
Is the ‘you’ the operative word. Or is it the ‘are’. Or maybe ‘how’.
So, how are you, my farmy friends. The fellowship of the farmy. Talk to me.
And once or twice shock someone by answering that question honestly.
I am feeling pretty shit, thank you. A little overwhelmed but paddling strongly. Later today I will spend a little time just breathing then I might spend a little time decluttering my brain (once I work out how).
But first I need to tend to all my day’s tasks.
Thank you for being here. And being you.
I see you.
How are you?
Celi
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The Kitchen's Garden 
34 responses to “When you hit that overwhelmed feeling”
I usually say, “I’m fine”, but it’s not always true.
I hope you are feeling OK, once you’ve tended to the farmy 😉
Much better now thank you! As usual – once a person voices a concern to good friends, it is halved. By ten I had forgotton I felt overwhelmed at all. But. Boy. There is a lot on at the moment.
I think we often fear both the asking and the answer, and that is from both sides actually. Like Mad, I automatically say “just fine” because I realize no one wants to hear or deal with the real answer. I am sorry my friend that your answer is “shit”. Can we help? Can we listen? Can we just say how well we understand…
Being in such an isolated situation I am almost never asked the question. So if I were I would answer For Real!!
I am recovering from Covid, which I woke with on the next to last day of my travels. I am on day seven of a ten-day quarantine. I have left behind chills and fever and a hacking cough, but the mucus factory is still in production. I am resting in bed, except for making meals and doing dishes.
Get well soon, horrid covid🤞🏻
Thank you, Andy. I am the queen of masks when I travel, but a lot of people travel while sick without masks: I avoided Covid for nearly two and a half months while traveling.
Bloody Covid! I have only had it the once and it was like being bit by a snake! Came out of nowhere and laid me low! I hope that every day is a little better than the day before. And you recover in short order. It must be hard to sing when that mucus factory is in full production?
Apt description, Celi, like being bit by a snake. Yes, Covid does make it harder to sing, but the solution is the usual one: hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. This is my second time around (I had it early on before we had widespread testing and vaccines).
Water really is essential to health. I forget that by about two in the afternoon!
Cecelia, Mad and Deb, agree, slways say “fine” regardless! But l do know people who always answer the question the opposite way! Funny things people. I’m sorry you feel overwhelmed at present, it’s a horrid feeling! But l do know we are all thinking of you and wish we could help.
I am over it! You and the others have brought me back from the brink. Though to be fair – I have such a terrible memory – I can wake up overwhelmed then forget I am overwhelmed by ten!
I’m trying to navigate through being “the tailender” by being 13, 10 and 7 years younger than my siblings. I knew as they all left the nest to live their lives that there was a good chance that being the youngest was going suck again when we got older. That time is here and they all live far away to boot. So how am I ?
Oh that really is an interesting situation. And a sad one. I never thought about how our little brother would be left behind. (I am second eldest of 6) But (feeling for my words here) I love him so that I would rather leave him behind than have him die before me. I think losing Tim would break my heart. How selfish of me. I feel for you. I really do. Can you reach your older siblings? Or are they too far away.
Oh that is a difficult situation. As the youngest of 6, with gaps of 11–23 years, being the last to leave (leaving my mother living alone for the first time, in her 70s) has been very tough. My heart goes out to you.
I'[[ take the two seater any day of the week…….
Much more elegant I think!
I’m doing well, thanks. Honestly I am.
Good luck with the brain decluttering Cecilia. That is the hardest of all decluttering tasks and my cluttered brain likes to play tricks on me when I’m trying to sleep! I’ve often said that I wish I could take my brain out and set it on my nighttable along with my glasses so I could get some decent sleep.
Yes! Oh what a brilliant idea. I am sure I could fit my brain into one of those little denture boxes my MIL has!
My usual answer is “hanging in there” as that is the literal truth. Good days, not so good days. Dealing with things I have no control over and others that I do. working toward getting a place of my own and during the last couple weeks being told It would be best to do that as fast as possible. Hoping the repairs to the vehicle will be relatively cheap, easy and lasting so I can get myself and Brat the cat out of here. So I’m hanging in there.
You are on the move again! I love your tenacity. You and Brat. What a pair. Holding my fingers crossed you find a place of your own soon. Let me know! c
Will do. First the truck needs to be fixed, I’ve been looking and trying for a place of my own since 2019.
Good morning Ceci…….How am I? You asked, I’ll answer. Recovering from some fairly significant breast surgery. Not in as much pain today, as yesterday…..each day is a little better.
My wonderful soul mate tells me I had better hurry up and mend as Halloween is rapidly approaching and I get to be my best version of my self…..”A little witch!” hahaha!!!!!
I rarely put the real me out on the “net” but for some reason I feel relatively safe here. You are so very approachable in your posts and that does give one a sense of comfort.
Try not to work too hard.
Jo
Oh Jo. This hits very close to home. Drink lots of water, eat lots of protein and read trash! I have faith in you. It takes a while doesn’t it this whole surgical process. Thank goodness you are into your recovery period now. That is the only part of all this you do have some control over – I have always thought, anyway.
YES. This is a safe place. The Fellowship is loaded with generous souls.
All my love darling girl.
Keep me in the loop – my email is celima.g.7@gmail.com
Sending hugs (though I am not much of a hugger I will send hugs to you!).
c
we all have those times, and it’s sometimes hard to get through them
Just working out on the farm helps!
Hanging in there is a good response most of the time. Overwhelmed can be another although that might elicit a whole conversation which many people don’t want. I only share how I actually am doing at coffee dates or other gatherings. And only among sympathetic friends who understand the complexities of life and relationships. Sorry that you’re shit right now. We make fertilizer out of shit, right? It helps new things grow. Perhaps there is a saying in there somewhere?
awesome!! I never saw the fertilizer thing coming! You are such a wit! And yes. I am never shit for long. Much better now.! Thank you!
Hi Celi and my farmy friends. I always respond that I am extraordinarily well thank you even if I’m not. Long ago I found that if I tell myself it’s a good day, it becomes one. Even the dark days going through TBI I told the staff at the rehab centre that I was extraordinarily well. Positive thinking does help. And to Jo, I don’t know you, but I’m thinking of you. I’ve been there where you are now, and I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. it takes awhile, but you will get there with the help of your friends and family and strangers like me on the other side of the world.
what a glorious message Judith. And you are right too. What is that expression? Fake it ‘til you make it. Have a gorgeous day!!
I love it when people go off script and answer this honestly. I’m ok but I’m extra happy that you’re ok. But get some rest and a massage. Take care!!
Oh a massage!! Wouldn’t that be a treat!!
I’ll go off script. Today I had my first go at being part of a Parkinson’s Support Group. It was sooooo good to be able to ask others about their medication routines, about how they manage the leg pain… etc. Came away with four different new resources to check out. One a voice strengthening app – interesting how much softer my voice is – and how it is a challenge to make a sound last up to ten seconds. Another great tip was to a Zoom Parkinson’s Dance Group. Every day for half an hour they lead a dance session as a morning warm up. So today I am feeling ‘supported’! Glad you are feeling a little on top of the overwhelmed start of things. Sally forth!
absolutely brave and with a stunning outcome. I am so proud to call you friend. I love that you feel supported – that must be the best thing! So pleased for you.