It’s been a heck of a week. I have been utterly drained. Weirdly, as I write this, I feel more energized to make and to write than I have in over a month. I had taken Tuesday off work to give myself a much-needed four-day weekend, and that day I went with Aiden to Diana’s Baths here in New Hampshire. It’s a lovely series of pools and waterfalls that cascade over giant boulders that have been eroded over the centuries.
I had been so burnt out over the past weeks, and I was constantly yo-yo-ing between “fine” and “deeply depressed”. We spent three hours at the Baths, and I can’t express how incredibly I felt afterwards. I really discovered just how much I need to get out into nature when I’m feeling drained. And I was so, so very drained at that point. I splashed about in the pools, I sat looking up through the trees, I watched folks’ dogs goof off, and I made some art.
I know this energy I have won’t last forever, and I shouldn’t expect it to. I’m going to try to take better care of myself and to take breaks in nature when I need them. I want to put my energy to good use instead of sitting in anger and restlessness at the state of current events, so I’ll be brainstorming what I can do to lend my hand. In order to do that though, I need to make sure my well of energy doesn’t run dry.
Katie McMahon Art 