A Day That Knocked Me Sideways

Yesterday was one of those days that seemed determined to go wrong from the moment it began. I had an Access to Work meeting that didn’t go to plan at all, the sort of meeting where you go in hopeful and come out wondering what on earth just happened.

The children were full of energy and noise, and every attempt to restore a bit of calm vanished within seconds. On top of that, my parents-in-law needed taking back to the airport between client sessions, which is always a sad little moment for all of us. We genuinely love having them stay and the children get so excited when they’re here, so the journey back is never an easy one.

By the afternoon it felt as though everything had piled on at once. You know the sort of day where you’re spinning plates and someone keeps handing you more, and you start to feel the wobble building. A stressful moment here, a disappointment there, and before long the whole lot starts to feel too heavy.

By the time evening came I felt overwhelmed and a bit down. The workload didn’t magically disappear either, so the admin that usually gets done during the quieter pockets of the day was still staring at me, and I ended up going to bed at an hour I’d rather not admit. It was so late it was close to early.

Thankfully I am someone who can manage on very little sleep when I have to, and when I woke up this morning the first thing I did was open the curtains. What greeted me was a completely different picture from the day before. The sky was a beautiful clear blue and the sun was rising behind my new work cabin. It was such a simple moment but it created this gentle rush of joy that I felt instantly. It’s amazing how something as ordinary as the morning light can step in and steady you when your mind has been rattled about.

Standing there looking at my cabin and feeling the warmth of the sun on my face, I felt everything start to settle; I could think straight again and see things with a bit more clarity. Yesterday wasn’t some great failing or some sign that life is spiralling out of control; it was just a difficult day in a life that is busy and full and sometimes chaotic. Everyone has days that knock them sideways, especially when family, work, responsibilities and unexpected stresses all collide.

What matters is not pretending those days didn’t happen, but recognising that they pass. There is always something small waiting to shift your perspective, even if it’s only the sun deciding to show up at the right moment. Sitting in the “what ifs” of the day before only leaves you feeling worse, but trying to find the positives is always worth the effort.