Many of us walk around (or sit in front of computers, counters, conveyor belts of one kind or another), trying to manage everything. It’s what we do: we take care of things, work, people we care about, committed to, ourselves and our homes. We do our best to stay on track with it all, but it can be hard, and when it’s hard, it takes a toll.
I’ve been thinking about those times when you feel off, whether it’s originating internally: you don’t feel strong or present or interested, or externally when a situation, and encounter, a relationship, a business meeting shows up like door smack-clicking shut just as you arrive.
I think it happens a lot.
(but wouldn’t it?)
I mean, if there is such a thing as on-track, you have to expect that you’ll find yourself off-track, unprepared, misunderstanding what’s needed, unsure or mistaken about how to proceed, bored, dissatisfied, feeling something, at some point, that doesn’t feel like an unequivocal yes!
Actually most feelings are a mix, I mean — people are complex, life, work, relationships, social life, family, healthcare are complicated; what are the odds that you’re in one of those pure joy moments? and is purity a goal?
So, most of the time, we’re modulating, moving among emotions, ideas and experiences, passing through and settling in our bodies, becoming the backdrop, the context, habits, beliefs, expectations and ultimately projections that appear as the world around us, and our places in it.
on-track — off-track
on-track — off-track — off-track
There being one of you and so many others of us (and them— if I’m honest about my feelings), it’s a naturally-occurring phenomenon that off-track moments are common. And maybe you learn to shrug it off, the slights, the snubs, the missteps, but what if we integrated them vs expelling them?
What do you do when you feel off, stuck, unable to decide, to start, to keep going, to remember what it was you were trying to do? When you feel insulted, othered, misunderstood, overshadowed, hindered, unseen, unheard***…what do you do?***
We all do something, whether it’s consciously chosen, in the moment or afterwards, or on an ongoing basis —to remedy the feeling of off-ness.
Can we talk about it?
Not from a perspective of fixing because you’re not broken, you’re being.
I believe in you and your path. No one knows what you know about you.
More from the perspective of cultivating resilience, fostering wellbeing (what do you need?) because I think we can work with these in-between spaces intentionally, creatively.
I’m inviting you to a living room picnic exploring the space between on-track and off. Where they become each other, and where we might make something new of them.
As always, there is nothing to prepare. I’ll share the discussion prompts over the weekend when you register (for those who just like to know what to expect).
What do you think? Is this sounding like your kind of conversation space?
Participating in a living room picnic is a way to join the UNDERMININGnormal community.
It costs $7.00 to attend, and comes with a month of membership.
Members can participate in all UNDERMININGnormal gatherings and programs.
To attend: Just sign up here .
If you’ve never attended a living room picnic and feel like more of an introduction to UNDERMININGnormal and what picnics are like, you can stop by the courtyard; I wrote this for you. To skip to what is a living room picnic…
Got questions? I’d love to hear them!
If this is your kind of thing, or you’d like it to be, sign up to receive invitations to UNDERMININGnormal living room picnics.
UNDERMININGnormal is where deep-thinking, change-seeking women can find community, care and unhurried space for conversations we don’t usually get to have.
