I just read a one-sentence story about exhaustion by a writer who has suffered a fairly major illness. I realized that for all the times I talk about tiredness, I probably don’t know anything. I have been sleepy (I’m kind of always sleepy after the sun goes down – thank goodness I don’t live in Alaska, right?), and I have been wiped out (raising toddlers that was a near-constant), and I have been swaying on my feet (that one time it took me 24 hours to get from Indianapolis to Salt Lake City. on an airplane. with a small child.), but I wonder if I’ve ever been literally exhausted. I use the word to describe me, but is it fair?
If I were actually exhausted, wouldn’t I have exhausted all my options for moving forward? Have I ever felt that? Physically, I mean? (Considering that one of my options is always “Lie down and go to bed now,” I think I’ve not.)
Emotionally I have. Felt exhausted, I mean. That feeling of “There is not one more step I can take. I have tried everything I can to “move forward” and there is nothing left.” I do know that feeling, and strangely, I deal with it in the same way I deal with physical tiredness. I get in bed and close my eyes.
Why does that help, I wonder? Does sleep fix everything? I’m no doctor (surprise!) but I kind of think it does. I’m the sleep evangelist. Sleep it off. Sleep will make you less cranky. Sleep will fix all that ails you. I’m also the water evangelist. Have a headache? Drink a glass of water. Tummy hurt? Have a drink. Chapped lips? Itchy skin? Runny nose? Anger management issues? Count to ten and have a glass of water. Too hot? Here, drink this water. Hungry? Dinner will be ready soon. For now, fill up your belly with this water.
Point? What? I was supposed to have a point? Okay, well, then… I think that for all the physical and emotional ills, I have not exhausted my options as long as I have a bed and a source of clean water. For both those things, I am certainly very grateful.