Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday…
Is it already Wednesday?
What are these days?
Anchors?
Stepping stones?
Rushing past you.
You past them?
It’s already… Thursday?
You’re dizzy.
Jumping from anchored boat to anchored boat.
You can’t stop. They won’t stop.
Tripping from stone to stone through the week. The months. The seasons…
I can’t believe it’s already September!
… as you open windows to the pre-October breezes.
Just yesterday you were collecting the logs…
I’ll build a fire against the cold winds of February.
January, February, March, April, …
They won’t stop.
September? I can’t believe it’s almost October!
Anchors that ground you or burdens that mire you in the quag?
I still didn’t… Where did the months go?
Stepping stones that guide you or obstacles that tangle your legs?
You can’t stop. They won’t stop.
I can’t jump high enough to clear the bramble of August! I still didn’t…
You curse the Monday.
Where did the weekend go?
You scowl at Wednesday.
I’m so far behind.
You clench your teeth through the Friday, lists, plans…
Dizzy you jump through the hours until you collapse at the feet of Sunday.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
…
They won’t stop.
I want to stop!
You cling to each day, power poles rising from the rushing river,
You flounder, grab the next, then flail to the next…
They won’t stop. You gasp for oxygen.
Limp, you collapse in the rush of the waters, colliding against the days.
Boom, that was Monday.
Bump your head against Tuesday.
Wednesday knocks the wind from your lungs.
What are these days?
They won’t stop. From stone to the next stepping stone. Day to day, and over again.
The days and weeks are swallowed by the rush of September. And it’s December and the months are swallowed by the year. And over again.
To where? Round and round… in circles?
Enough!
Begin again.
Energy of your arms. Push yourself up. Monday. January.
This time…
Throw out anchors of your own!
This is my Monday. I call it D-Day. Tuesday is Q-day. Hello, Wednesday, it’s B-day. Today we Blog.
Stand steady on your stepping stones.
Listen up, September, this is my year. River be damned.
Plant your own power poles above the crashing waters, the waters that won’t stop.
Steady your boat in the current. Dig the oars in the stream to make the days your own. Claim the power of the waters as you navigate through the stones, the seasons, the year.
What are these days?
Embrace the quiet peace of a moment you make your own, find your flow in the days.
These are my days.
©Pennie Nichols. All Rights Reserved
I’m living this. I need to take charge and begin again. It’s October 6th and I’m feeling sad because so much time has escaped me. Excellent writing, Pennie!
Thanks, Sherry.
I thought that retiring would stop the rush of days colliding with weeks and months. It didn’t. I know it isn’t because I’m still working part time. I have to find a better way to stop the rush. I can anchor myself a little in my weekly blog themes (Monday is music, Wednesday is (almost) wordless, Friday is watching the sky – but it isn’t enough.
I’m looking for the magic in my mindset and small routines. I’ll let you know if it works. 😉
What a brilliant description of something that’s hard to put into words — the relentlessness of life, of our days. Loved this so much and glad I’m not alone.
You’re absolutely not alone!
Some days are harder than others when trying to find my flow. The days I go to bed feeling I’d accomplished all I’d set out to do that day sustain me.
Right!? Feels so good to check off a list.
Pennie, this is brilliant! I’m breathless reading it. And you ate SO right. I do understand…
I was a little breathless as it spilled out. I’m glad I released that anxiety a bit.