Howdy party people. I’ll regret that if I ever re-read this, but I’m just going to plow ahead for now.
I turned 35 a week ago. The day didn’t feel all that different, but I think that was because I made the whole weekend special by forcing friends of mine to go away for the weekend to celebrate. It was an excellent good time. But when I returned to work on Tuesday, I felt really off. Like from the moment I opened my eyes. I felt sluggish all day and not myself. This continued for the rest of the week, until…. I got an ear piercing I’ve been wanting for ages.
New piercing, new me.
Context: I meant to get the piercing during my birthday weekend, but I was the only one driving that, and, quite frankly, I didn’t have it in me. So I let it go. Plus I knew another friend wanted to get a piercing as well.
I made concrete plans to go with her on Saturday morning - such a brunch thing to do - and we went. We had a quick chat to a lovely lady with some gorge facial piercings waiting for a tattoo appointment who said my friend’s wouldn’t be a big deal (helix) but mine would hurt a bit more (anti-tragus). I was trying to freak my friend out by talking about the poking of the needle, but that lady set me straight that I was in for the pain. That was a fun way of the universe keeping me grounded: Joke’s on you, you mean c-word!
Fun fact! Both of our piercings were done so quickly, it was fantastic. I couldn’t change my mind and I didn’t have to endure pain for more than like 5 seconds. Sure, it’s still a bit sore, but minorly so. I keep forgetting it’s there until I accidentally touch it (bad habits of a fidgeter) or look in the mirror.
Fun fact, part deux! I now feel like I’ve shed a skin after having done that. This is definitely an alternative to a dramatic haircut (another thing I was considering). Same effect, less obtrusive, I think. Unless you consider poking yourself with a sharp object more intrusive than a sharp object cutting of a foot of hair. #subjective
I then took that skin shedding more literally and went clothes shopping. It was like there was a tractor (sp?) beam eminating from H&M that pulled me in - I was powerless. Powerless, I tell you! I bought a few things, some in my comfort zone, some out. I definitely didn’t buy the thing I needed the most (black jeans/chinos), so that was cool.
Then I went full, on-the-nose with the skin shedding metaphor and bought sheet masks from TK Maxx.
I feel more energized today than I’ve felt in like a month or more. I’ve got a tight, lil #selfcareSunday planned with a run, tidying up, showering then eye masking while reading the mother of modern true crime books: The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule. I may even wind down the evening with some restorative yoga fueled by my aromatherapy diffuser, ambient piano background music and sheer smugness.
The eye mask beside me.
Get on my level.
#thisis35