Treading Water

I've been so busy lately that it seems I barely have enough time to breathe.


At work, this project is coming to a close, and there is an unbelievable amount of work to be done. The next project is starting up, and I'm working on that too. I've been coming in to work earlier than usual, and putting in a tremendous amount of overtime.

Working 16-hour days are fast becoming the norm for me. What's frustrating is that just when I think I'm getting a handle on my workload, another huge pile comes in. It's all I can do to keep my head above water.

Most days, I don't have time for lunch - I take 20 minutes at most. I refuse to log on to Twitter, as that would just eat up loads of my time. I rarely log on to Facebook.

Thank goodness for people like Neko - when she's not online, I feel like something's missing. Also, she makes me smile and laugh, which goes a long way in chasing away the Monday doldrums.

Then there are classes for TESOL. I'm on my final module for the Advanced Diploma, and then I'll have to complete my assignments, which will take an awfully long time. I'm also doing the course to attain a Certificate in Teaching Phonetics, Phonics and Speech. I'm finding it really easy, and sometimes it gets boring. I've done all of it before, and even the first time I studied it in school, it was a cinch. I might have slacked off a lot as a student, but that was a class I aced with the barest of efforts.

Of course, this doesn't bode well for my attention span; Last night's class was extremely boring, and I'm afraid I might have let that show. I quite like and respect Trainer P, and I think it was awfully rude of me. He is fully aware that I know the material and he's smart enough to realise it'd bore me, so hopefully he didn't overly mind. Also, everyone's expecting me to score a distinction...and I'll be dissatisfied with anything less.

I desperately need to get moving on my assignments, as I am so far behind and the longer I take to finish them, the longer it'll take for me to get my certificates.

Once come September, I'll have more time - classes end then. Of course, then I'll still have my assignments to complete. And that will be done...just in time for me to do my Masters next year.

I'm really happy right now; despite my exhaustion, I do so love the adrenaline rush that comes with meeting challenges and deadlines head on. I love that the head honchos find me competent and capable. I love the satisfaction that comes with completing tasks well, and doing a good job.

I'm so excited about how each new day brings new challenges and opportunities. With each passing day, I receive even more blessings. I know that all my hard work will pay off; I'm already reaping small rewards.

But I'm also feeling rather overwhelmed right now. I am only one person, and there are only so many hours in a day. There are moments, like this one, when I don't know how to handle it all, and I feel like I'm on the verge of collapse.

Then again, this too shall pass. And like all other times when I feel myself losing it, I shall take a deep breath (and a sip of coffee), and all will be right in my world again.


And this is one of the (many) reasons I want and need to start running again:
Running is a statement to society. It is saying 'no' to always being on call, to sacrificing our daily runs for others' needs. When we run we are doing something for ourselves.

-- Phoebe Jones, runner

And goodness knows I need to do something for myself right now.