Oh how I have advised people in the past about taking care of themselves, not overworking, eating properly, getting more sleep, you know the kind of thing. As always, we are not so good at taking our own advice.
I’m tired, there, I admit it, the last two months have more or less worn me out. I empathise with carers so much more now that I have an understanding of their plight, looking after a loved one. I at least have the knowledge that Mom is recovering slowly from the broken hip and each day gains a little more power in her leg, gains independence and also confidence in her walking. I am still working from home but this week sees me begin a slow, phased return to the office, one afternoon only. But it has been very tiring, caring for my parents, cooking, cleaning, shopping, working the day job from home, catching up with studies and attempting to follow my love of singing.
I’ve not done badly, I have returned to Zumba class on Wednesday evening which I love. The music is so wonderful you just escape into that Latin Beat, the moves can be difficult but it really doesn’t feel like a work out and although I ache afterwards, it is a good ache. I’ve escaped for an hour for some me time and yes, that is important. At first I felt selfish at leaving the house to attend the class but my lovely Mom, bless her, said I needed to do something for myself and get out of the house.
Last week I returned to my vocal coaching and oh how good that felt. The drive there, the hour going through my breathing exercises, the vocal scales and then singing a couple of the songs I had been working on, it was like a release of the soul. Thankfully, although I had not been to my vocal coach since mid August, it seems I have not lost my pitch and my breathing hasn’t gone to pot, phew!! This week I have been learning “You raise me up”, surprisingly not many lyrics to this song but a lot of variation in notes.
These two small steps have helped me to feel like me again. I can see how easily it can be to get lost within yourself, when you are indoors 24/7 and suddenly plunged into a different life course. How apt that my current studies are about our perceived life course and our plans and how things we do, or perhaps things that happen to others can alter our lives.
Tomorrow afternoon I face the wide world of the city centre when I venture to the office for the first time since mid – September…I’ll keep you posted.
Thank you for reading my blog 🙂
Dawn. The Sparkle Diaries. 