A Day of Rest is Not so bad

If you truly love yourself, do not repress yourself. If you arrest your own heart’s beating with chains and locks, ropes and straightjackets, how will you know its intents? On a somber day in January, when gray sleet cascades on your windows, when a sadness settles over you, do not try to fight it. Do not feel an ounce of shame, or a splinter of doubt for your emotions. On that solemn day, you want to lay in bed, cold and unmotivated, fatigued but restless. You feel a pang of guilt for what you deem as laziness, for wanting to stay bundled in the sheets of your bed. Do not. Do not feel guilty. Do not be upset with yourself. Do not ignore your soul wailing in your chest, to please, let it rest. You beat yourself with weeks upon weeks of strain, and punish and ridicule yourself for a day of emotional slumber. But why would you ever treat yourself with such negligence? Had your dear friend rapped at your door and implored that you speak with them, would you turn them away? When they admit to their melancholy or rage, do you tell them that their emotions are uncalled for, or perhaps trivial? Absolutely not, so why must you shun the person who knows every inch of your body and every secret you stash, every one of your mistakes, and all of your aspirations? You are only a sapling now, a tree waiting to grow in any direction you choose, and you will not grow without nourishment.

Author's Note

Ignore the title, I couldn't think of what to call it. I would love feedback on anything at all

Reviews

[Aphy!]

Perfection! This is a beautiful piece! If the format/structure was "dramatic looking" then I'd be excited to read it (But that's my opinion) But overall this is very nice and truly touching. It spoke volumes to me about MY OWN problems and that's a skill you should truly be proud of because it gets your audience more engaged and interested in your work (Not that I'm not interested) I'd really like to see some more of your talent! Nice start though!

[Sarah Wolfe]

Thank you very much, especially for the great advice! Formatting it in a more dramatic style never crossed my mind, but now that you've mentioned it, it seems obvious. I can get rather long-winded, so I think that would make it a little more cohesive. I think I may draft it again with line breaks and a more poetic structure.

[dan]

Sarah, This piece was brought to my attention by Aphy Bhengu, and I'm glad that he did. It sounds to me like what you are describing is the omnipresence of SAD, seasonal affective disorder occurring mostly in the winder, cabin fever months. Driving to work each day in the cold, grey slush is mind-numbing, seeing grey skies each day becomes oppressive very quickly (end of grey so far away) and heating bills that make you gasp noisily upon opening. A great topic about which to write...I hate the heat of summer, and I'd sooner live in Alaska than South Florida, but the joy-deadening forces of cabin fever? Maybe Florida in the winter, Pennsylvania in the summer? Oh wait, we don't have to money to do that. Oh well...nicely done write, Sarah. take care...dan