Time For A Warm-Up
Getting back at it when we've been sidelined.
I tried to find a good quote in the compilation of quotes I have to fit this particular post but I was unsuccessful.
- Me
It Makes Me Sick
Alright, time to get back in the saddle. Last week was extremely busy and had me off schedule. This is an explanation, not a complaint. I did complain before that week, during the week, and after the week, but I should be all out of whine by now. After all, I’m out of cheese.
Just kidding, I’ll never run out of cheese.
I had planned to hit the ground running at the start of this week. When Monday rolled around I woke up and got hit by a truck instead. Figuratively, of course. I can’t remember much about that morning but I felt awful. Later in the week it would come to light that my wife and I had strep and one of my kids (one of four, so we got lucky) caught strep off us.
I do not like strep. It makes me sick. See, plenty of cheese left for everyone. I love Dad jokes.
I have done some writing and worked on some correspondence, but there hasn’t been much productivity this week and it’s a bummer. Being sick threatens to continue laying me low well after I recover from the actual ailment.
Self-pity is the worst. I despise pity. I cannot stand being pitied and I cannot often bring myself to pity others. It appears to me to be a selfish or self-aggrandizing emotion, the “pitier” putting themselves on a level above the “pitee”. You know, the one being pitied.
Yet, somehow, self-pity comes naturally.
Oh, woe is me, I lost a week. I am so unlucky why does this always happen to me?
Shut up. Just shut up, me.
I had plans, yes. Time to buckle down and advance some timelines. It’s time to pack a higher volume of work into a smaller box of time. That’s fine, I’ve done it many times by choice, what makes this different? Why would the fact I didn’t choose to shorten the timeline, the sickness has instead, change whether or not I can still get done what needs to be done?
Well, the answer makes the question pointless. It doesn’t impact whether or not I can get it done, so “why” is a bit silly. I won’t go back and change the wording, though.
The question should be “Would the fact I didn’t choose to shorten the timeline change the probability I can get the work done?”.
Something along those lines.
Anywho, this short piece is an attempt to get back on track. Let’s take one task off the “to-do” list and place it into the “to-done” list instead. I wanted the next “stack” I published to be the sum-up of the podcast attempt.
That wasn’t in the cards, however. The schedule of the previous week, the illness in the household this week and the amount of work needed to make sure it isn’t a piecemeal post with shoddy wordplay is immense. The fact I haven’t published anything since the podcast has been working on my anxiety as well.
So this was necessary. It was necessary to write something unplanned and off the cuff, as they say, as a warm up and to get rid of the gnawing I often feel after not writing for a few hours. It has been over a week.
I wonder what all this is about? I wonder why it’s difficult to get started again after unplanned convalescence?
Perhaps when my thoughts are back and clear I will understand.
Until then allow me to thank you for sticking with me, dear readers.
Regards,
Dad
As a post-script of sorts, I have something that has been confusing me for a while. Not the situation or the subject but the potential presentation and delivery.
In the podcast I alluded to a “Ben Black” pseudonymous character that has been my wingman since I started all this and how he helped create many a thing for me. He has also written a book. Of which I have a “pre-released” PDF copy and a hard copy, both I have read (only difference is typo correction). He is a wonderful talent and I am trying to shame him over here to substack.
I mean I am trying to show him how it could be beneficial to what he’s attempting to accomplish.
Yeah that.
I am not asking for suggestions on this but I needed to get it out into the ether so I can clear the path ahead in my own thoughts.
If you have any feel free to share, of course.
Hi there,
I am truly grateful for your support and interest in my writing. It's been an amazing journey with my 'Dad Explains' Substack, and I hope you're finding value in the insights I share as I navigate this beautiful, often confusing, thing we call life.
I genuinely want my work to reach as many people as possible, and to make that happen, I've introduced a paid subscription option. Your subscription not only supports the work, but it also gives you access to exclusive content, discussions, and more - a closer look at the world through the lens of a dad trying to figure things out.
However, I understand that not everyone might be in a position to upgrade to a paid subscription at this moment. If you're facing financial constraints, or there's another reason why you can't subscribe just yet, please don't hesitate to reach out. Write to me at dad@dadexplains.life, and I'll add you on as a paid subscriber for a bit for free.
Remember, we're all in this together. Let's continue to learn, grow, and navigate this journey together.
Best,
Andrew Ussery
Dad