This past week did not go as planned.
I had every intention of posting for Teaching Tuesday, but I ended up getting sick—again. I pushed through work that day, but by the evening I felt awful. Exhausted, achy, congested… the kind of sick where your body just says, “Stop.” So I did. I went to bed early, stayed home the next day, and spent most of it sleeping or parked on the couch.
By Thursday, I felt just well enough to go back. Not great. Just barely functional. And honestly, this time of year, missing class feels harder than pushing through at times. Especially a semester like this one. Where I’ve had conference travel, my daughter ending up in the hospital and my own illness holding on.
The challenge wasn’t just being sick. It was being sick during a week that was already full. Girl Scout meeting Monday. A Teens Take Over debrief Thursday (after last Friday’s overnight, which may have contributed to all of this). Then Saturday, my daughter and I spent the day at our Girl Scout council’s annual meeting at Camp Bothin as regional delegates. Good things. Meaningful things. But they don’t pause just because your body needs a break.
So today has been a bit of a rest and reset. Slower pace, catching up on grading, laundry, dishes—the usual pileup that happens when energy is low and life keeps moving. I’m finally starting to feel better, but I can tell I’m still in that in-between space where you’re not sick anymore… just drained.
And here’s the part I’m trying to pay attention to: the stress of everything waiting for me is almost more exhausting than the illness itself. This coming week I have one big after-work commitment: FYE’s Community Empowerment Summit. I’m genuinely excited about it, but it’s going to be a long day from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. And then Friday, we head back to Camp Bothin for Golden Gate Bridging weekend, which I’ve been looking forward to for a long time. It hasn’t happened in the Bay Area since before COVID, and we’ve never been able to go. And I’m really happy for it to be happening before my daughter graduates high school! There are still logistics to figure out for this trip. Meals, a possible overnight stay on Sunday for me and my daughter because of a Monday heart clinic appointment. But, that will require a pet sitter while my husband is out of town for work (he leaves on Sunday morning). But, I will figure all that out.
I always do.
What I am trying to do differently is get back to some sense of control before everything ramps up again. I started using a smaller planner this week. I have tried to go digital in my planning so many times and I tried again. But, I just need something paper-based that is simple. So, I’m back to a paper planner and hoping the smaller size makes it easier to carry in my bag of bricks I carry to work every day (at least that is what it feels like).
Because honestly, I feel completely off track. Like I’ve gone from being organized and on top of things… to behind on everything and struggling to catch my breath.
And maybe that’s the real takeaway this week: Sometimes it’s not about getting ahead. It’s about stabilizing. Finding my footing. Resting when I need to.Doing the next small task. Letting “caught up” wait. And rebuilding my rhythm and peace one day at a time. Maybe one hour at a time.
How has your week been? What are you looking forward this upcoming week?
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