Go fast
Never slow down
Sleep when you are dead
Rest is for the weak
Adages we take too far
As we toil away our years
Mental health days mocked
Are you a wimp
Or are you merely lazy?
Never if you are well
And have pushed yourself too far
God forbid you recover strength
Weekends bring little solace
Errands and chores
Sleeping in a luxury
An illusion of catching up
Exhaustion will return
When you wake to the alarm once more
I am told this is life
No choice but to move ahead
Guilt is my gift for rest
When do I get to sleep?
Will I ever get to truly rest?
Or will I simply break?
Legends of Windemere 
My life in so many words Charles! ~Elle
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Same here. It’s like we’re not allowed to rest.
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This makes me tired just reading it. I have to admit, this pattern is oh so familiar. A little sleep would be nice once in a while.
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I agree. Sad thing is that every time I get it, I’m made to feel like I have to work harder to make up lost time. It’s like a punishment for relaxing.
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I know. You can’t win.
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I had a similar issue in my first marriage. I worked nights, usually 12 to 14 hours, and got the guilt trip treatment for not spending the daytime with her and the baby. Running on exhaustion I understand well. All too well…
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We’ve had a few tiffs about me trying to rest or write on the weekends. I point out that I’m the one cooking, cleaning, and child wrangling. She reminds me that her job is exhausting. I think it’s hard to remain entirely unstressed when you’re two adults trying to carve out some time.
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Hope it eases up sometime soon.. perhaps with the warmer weather you might get outside and do your work.. I am out all afternoon now and whilst I may do some work I am also taking some down time. I know tough with a young child but you are a priority too.
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I do a lot of laptop work, so outside usually doesn’t last long. Possibly one of the rooms with more windows. Though I do think it’s not just me with these issues. Many people I know are pushed to work their butts off and are barely able to relax. When they do, there’s always that one person that acts like they’re being lazy.
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I hope the last line doesn’t come to pass! Hope you can feel the pressure let up.
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Maybe some day. Sundays are really the only days I can ease into due to appointments and everything else. My son having a break causes chaos too because it means I can’t do anything until he goes to bed. Unless I get lucky and he gives me a day to work.
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Although, it tends to be strangers and other adults that give me the most grief. At least the kid distracting me is fun and creates memories.
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The poem described my past. There will be a point when all of this will be a memory. Too soon in fact. Breaking is not an option.
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I always worry that there’s less and less of a chance that one can retire and relax. It’s like we’re making ourselves destined to work for our entire lives.
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True. I decided to work until I was 70 to cover a private college education for the youngest. Of course, the last three years of retirement have been spent writing. So I work as hard but enjoy it more. (mostly)
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Is it really work if you enjoy it? 🙂
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Hard to say i’m going to go play now.
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Try making one of the adults chronically ill.
Solution: lower expectations. Cheat a lot. Rest – over and over and over and it is never enough.
Try to do these things BEFORE you need them, or you may be the one to get sick.
Life is not graded, nor won.
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Sometimes it feels like it’s graded on a very nasty curve. Just that there seems to be ‘punishment’ for taking time to rest.
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I had a crazy life like yours. The stress contributed to making me a target for CFS – and I’ve been resting for 25 years.
It isn’t worth it.
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Definitely feel like I’m heading there. Unfortunately, I don’t have a place to go to for relaxing. At least not to get any extra sleep because that’s one thing that would help.
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“Sleep when you are dead.” That phrase really struck me as my motivation in life right now. I can’t agree with you more, Charles!
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It’s an odd phrase too. Usually it’s said jokingly, but I can see many people taking it seriously.
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