Always, Always, Always Available

I love being there for the people that I love. I find so much joy and fulfillment in being available when my friends and family need me. Whether it be a phone call, or a pizza date. If you want me there, consider it done. It dawned on me a while ago that I do this because I would want that kind of treatment from them. On days when I need someone to vent to or just share good news, I would want to know that it brings them joy to make time for me.

Over the past two months, I have had to spend more time with myself for the purpose of recharging my batteries. Being around people and interacting with them, is kind of what my job is all about. I love that about my job, but it can also be taxing. I don't know if you've ever heard of social exhaustion before. In an article on Psych Central, Sarah Newman writes about how introverts can burn out from too much social interaction.

In the article she shares how she experienced burnout when family members came to stay with them. Hosting people is a task that requires you to always be on alert, and needs you to be attentive to your guests. After about 24 hours of having them there, she hit a wall. She was "peopled out". And I can totally relate to her story. By the end of week, I'm ready to go into hibernation mode.

As I mentioned before, I love being available for my loved ones. I feel at peace and happy knowing that they are okay. But I realised that I wasn't making enough time to recharge my batteries and check in with myself. It's so easy to check in with how everyone else is doing, and in the same breath we can lose touch with ourselves. At times there can be some guilt in wanting to prioritise yourself. But if you don't prioritise yourself, then who will?

I am an Occupational Therapist by profession, but I have many roles that bring meaning to my life. In short, I love people, books and love.

Popular posts from this blog

Last Paper Syndrome

I think that every student has experienced what is known as the last paper syndrome . When you know that you’re about to reach your finish line, you’re about to face the last hurdle but you just don’t have the energy to start studying. Last Paper Syndrome or LPS , as defined by Syahmi Sazali, is a mental distraction for those who are having their last paper but already have the feeling of starting their holiday early and not studying at all. AT ALL . Procrastination reaches exponential levels and everything except actual studying is done. I know people who even start packing their bags to go home instead of studying! That’s how intense last paper syndrome can be. I think that last paper syndrome can be seen in many areas of our lives. Think about it. When you’re cooking an elaborate Sunday lunch and you get down to having to make that last salad. Does that thought of rather skipping it not cross your mind? You probably convince yourself and say “nah, if I add one more salad the pl...
Read more

A Friend Through the Storm

On the 20 th of December 2017, I earned my Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy. It was a long and eventful four years, and when the day of my graduation finally came I felt as if it was a dream. I won’t lie to you, there were moments when I felt like the end was going to come, but I just wasn’t sure if I was going to make it. There were long stretches of time where I would just wake up and go about my day with zero enthusiasm for anything. Now that I am a graduate, from the best university in Africa, I don’t know which feeling is greater. The feeling of gratitude or the feeling that this is just the beginning. On the afternoon of my last exam, I sat on my couch with the adrenaline from finishing finally wearing off. The feeling of “this is the end” finally rested in my mind, and I sat there trying to count all the things that I was grateful to God for. If I had to go through every year from 2014 to date, I would need another four years to document it all. But in th...
Read more

How Girls Are Raised

Girls aren’t raised to break. Girls aren’t raised to shake or show signs of fear or weakness. Girls aren’t raised to buckle under pressure. Girls aren’t raised to object. They aren’t raised to raise their voices or their concerns. Girls are raised to listen. Girls are raised to continue loving even when being thrown with rocks. Girls are raised to value the opinion of others and make them their truth. Girls are raised to remain strong no matter what. They are raised to forget their opinion when men enter the room. We are taught to be soft and dependant when needed, but told that we have the strength of a rock when life takes a swing at us. Girls are raised to stay indoors and keep the house clean. Girls are raised to be afraid of going out when it is dark. Girls are raised to not learn important life skills like driving, until it is absolutely necessary. Girls are raised to wait until everyone is served, and then they can help themselves. They are ...
Read more