The half-life of happiness

[stephanielay]

I'm having an odd little weekend. Yesterday was spent turning the house upside-down looking for something I've lost and I'm cross about losing - today has been spent writing replies to a journalist who contacted me because she's writing a piece for Newsweek (!) about the uncanny valley and horror films. Or 'flicks' as she calls them and I don't. I

Comments

[sparklielizard]

I know exactly what you mean about needing something to look forward to. I definitely do. My entire life consists of anticipating the next thing. Take that away and I end up quite depressed! One of the reasons I put myself in for the London Marathon was because I'd just had a baby (which had been all about the counting down.. every week she was inside improved her chances) and I'd just quit work for good. We had no holidays planned, so my entire life just stretched ahead of me looking empty until I decided to do that. It was a target on the horizon, something I knew I was going to enjoy

[stephanielay]

I'm very glad you understood what I was talking about! It's hard to plan things to look forward to at the moment as most of my dates are necessarily thesis-related. Finishing the bloody thing is going to be a massive high point, whenever I eventually get to do that! (Dates are up in the air at the moment as Jef's mum's due a big heart operation in December and we don't know how much looking after she's likely to need.)

You've hit the nail on the head, it was that willingness to engage which made it a really special experience. I know life can't all be special as it wouldn't feel special any more but I do wish it didn't wear off so fast.

Anyway, thank you for commenting. It was your post the other day that poked me into writing on here rather than in my paper journal and I'm glad I did now!

[sparklielizard]

Wow yes - I can imagine the relief when you're finally finished! Do you have any plans for what you want to do afterwards? I am sorry to hear about Jef's mum, how scary. My dad refused to have a heart operation and he's no longer with us as a result, so I'm totally in favour of these things even though it is a horrible choice to have to make

[rosamicula]

I absolutely need things to look forward to, too, or I really sink into gloom. I think that's one of the things that I liked about teaching actually; always knowing when your next holiday was, so there was always light at the end of the tunnel.

[stephanielay]

That's a thought. I'll probably feel a bit better when I can arrange to take some time off work, even though it will be to do thesis-work. (I'm covering for a sick colleague at the moment on top my my normal workload which has been horrible. If I ever questioned whether I wanted to go back into management, I have my answer. No.)

Good luck for your whatever-comes-next. I read your post the other day, reminded me of everything my sister said when she stopped working as a primary school teacher.