April 21, 2021

Monday afternoon while browsing Facebook, I read a New York Times article a friend posted “There’s a Name for the Blah your feeling: It’s Called Languishing”” by Adam Grant . I listened to Adam’s reading of his article this morning. He describes how I’ve been feeling lately perfectly. He says languishing is that “void between depression and flourish.” Yes, yes, yes! I haven’t written here in this blog for a couple weeks, I have two drawings, #49 and #54, on my drawing table that are not even half done. I finished a book but could not decide on what to read next. I live with my little Yorkie/Havanese, Annie Bananie, and we have our routine, but we’ve been stuck in this routine for a one year and thirty-nine days!

To top it off, It’s April in Michigan so anything can happen! And this morning we woke up to a Winter White weighing down every bush and tree. Yes, it is beautiful, but I worry about my lilac bush, will it survive? I did bring in all my plants I had in pots, so they will be fine. It is not supposed to warm up until tomorrow. This weather does not help my languishing!

Languishing, Adam says is a long-haul pandemic condition that has been brought on by COVID-19 restrictions. These “stay home, stay safe” restrictions have kept us all from visiting, traveling, shopping, going anywhere or having anyone over to visit. Yes, I have gone shopping wearing my mask. Yes, I have had my bubble of friends and family over a few times. However, I have not been on Eastern’s campus since March 11th 2020. I have survived to this point because I am a positive, creative person and I have lived alone for the last twenty-six years, since my youngest moved to California.

I learned long ago to do the things experts suggest. I make myself sit at the table to eat dinner, sometimes I even lite candles. I have a routine and a couple of mantras I recite before drinking my coffee, while washing my face, while taking a shower or soaking in the tub. I carry a talisman in my pocket. I have breathing exercises, I walk regularly in a park. I write every morning in one of my journals. And of course, I write here in this blog when the spirit moves me. Writing has been a form of therapy for me for a long time. I have a whole shelf of journals I’ve filled over the years.

So, I was moved this morning to write about this condition of “Languishing,” even the sound it makes when you say it out loud just feels like I feel. LanguishingI I’m sure there are others out there who are feeling the same. I thank Adam Grant for writing the article. Maybe sending these feelings out into the universe, the ether will help bring me out of this funk.

Maybe.