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I woke feeling stressed yesterday. At 5 am, tendrils of anxiety were already wrapping about me. Tightening. I thought about it. What was wrong? Why was I feeling this way? I mean everyone is feeling a bit overwhelmed in general. My slice of that anxiety pie isn’t really greater than anyone else’s. So, what was up?
I had big plans for the day. Last weekend I’d discovered that the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland, Maine was open. Immediately, I’d decided to plan an excursion. A museum visit! Something to look forward to! We could combine it with a walk out on the Rockland Breakwater and maybe even pick up take out from a local restaurant. It would be an almost normal day. Brilliant, I’d thought! And all week long I’d looked forward to it.
Until yesterday. When I woke up feeling stressed, knowing that I would be gone for most of the day. Knowing that meant my “To Do” list would be mostly undone– at least until much later in the day. And knowing that list was already miles too long. How could I justify spending most of the day out and about? My brain was in such a tangle that the treat I’d planned and anticipated was now feeling like a burden.
I tried writing about it to clear my head. I practiced some positive self-talk. I considered prioritizing the things I needed to do and planning which one or two I could complete before departing. That would make me feel better, right?
Then, I caught a glimpse of a pink glowing sky out the front windows. I peeked out and sure enough, the sky was gently ablaze. So, I put aside my plans, lists and prioritizing and I drove down to the river. It wasn’t so much a conscious decision as an instinct. As soon as I turned the corner on Main Street and saw the silhouettes against the glowing sky, I felt my heart lift. Those tendrils loosened their grip.
Being outside at the start of the day, or anytime really, always puts things into perspective for me. How many times do I have to learn that?
I didn’t stay too long. Just long enough to watch a sherbet sky brighten over the bay. To watch mergansers fish for their breakfast. To watch the tree reflections ripple and whirl with the incoming tide. To let go.
By the time I got back home, I felt better. Less stressed. Relatively untangled. And definitely ready to enjoy the big plans of the day.
Nix the comfort zone 
Good for you for having the insight and skills to be able to stop and enjoy the present moment. Such a beautiful reward and photos to show for it!
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Getting out into nature never fails to fix what ails me. At least temporarily.
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An open museum? Yahoo! That’s something to celebrate!
Kevin
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I know, right!? I was so excited when a colleague mentioned it was open. What a treat!
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I love the energy of this, pulling me in to the morning alongside you. I also will consider the phrase “relatively untangled” for a long time!
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Thanks, Amy. I hate when I get all tangled up in my own squirmy thoughts.
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No wonder you felt better after viewing all of that, I love your description of the ‘sherbert’ sky! I hope you had a really wonderful excursion after being able to destress!
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We did have a really nice day, thanks!
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You always find such comfort in the early morning hours and the beauty of the sunrise! As I’ve been up much of the night and in these early hours with my newborn, I have to tell you I’ve been thinking of you a lot. Good luck this week, there is a lot to cause stress but glad you’re taking time to watch the slow things right in front of you! And here’s to another SOLC!
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Oh! Now I’ll think of you in the early hours, too! I hope you’re enjoying lots of slow moments. These days are so precious!
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Your pictures are full of awe. Thank you for sharing. I hope the excursion out was great too. Sometimes those lists do entangle us, instead of freeing us.
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In this case I think it was my own head and thoughts doing the tangling!
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Yes yes yes! I do this to myself all the time, get myself tangled up in what I want to do or think I want to do or have to do or need to do. I love that you went to the water. I love this line, “a sherbet sky brighten over the bay”. Nature grounds us, doesn’t she?
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Yes! It amazes me how I have to relearn this lesson again and again.
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The photos enhance your story, showing the beauty and balance that you found in nature. I too feel relieved and refreshed by being outdoors every day. It’s good to hear from a kindred spirit.
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Thanks! I love spending time in nature and taking photos.
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Thanks for sharing! I love hearing about the joys of ignoring the to-do list occasionally. I don’t think I’ve ever regretted abandoning my list, and rarely has anyone else even noticed.
I’m glad you were able to get away for a bit.
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You make a good point here. The stuff tends to get done eventually some way or other, so why stress it?
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Amazing how Mother Nature can reach out and hug us at just the right time. I know I am always amazed at how that happens for me.
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It’s wonderful, isn’t it!?
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I so understand that feeling. I had it, too, this weekend with 2 days of in person board meetings, outside at social distance, but still, it was going to take time. Time I didn’t feel I had enough of anyway. I hope you were able to relax and enjoy the excursion.
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March is always a super challenging month, time wise. I’m mostly trying to work on my positive lens 🙂
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I felt a great connection to this piece because I too have to get outside in nature to recalibrate myself when things get overwhelming. Thank you for making me feel normal. ‘The sherbet sky’ is my favorite phrase! It’s a perfect description I plan to use from now on when I call my husband to come look out the window at an amazing sunrises.
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Recalibrate is the perfect word! Thanks!
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Sherbet sky, indeed! Nature has this way of calming, doesn’t it? I’m glad it took away some of your tangles!
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Luckily there’s no limit to how many doses of Mother Nature I can take!
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Molly, what a wonderful post. I love how you outlined the steps you took to try to untangle your mind (it really is incredible how fun things can seem like a burden), and applaud your instincts at the final step: getting outside. I love the early morning and wish I had water over which I could watch the sun rise. That said, my back yard is good enough for me!
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Thanks so much, Tim. I get so frustrated with myself when I cast shadows on my fun. I’m lucky enough to have a river within a 2 minute drive and the bay within about 5 minutes. When time allows, I opt for the marsh or the ocean, but those are both about 45 minutes away. Early mornings outside are the best!
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Hi Molly. I always relate to your writing–that sense of anxiety, that sense of wonder in nature, and the healing power of the camera to calm and focus on the beauty around us. How was the museum?
Kim
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The museum was great, Kim! It was a real treat to do something that felt fairly “normal.”
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I love the “sherbet sky.” Glorious!
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Thanks!
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Loved your use of the word tendrils – makes me think of peas and morning glories. And your lesson is one we too offers forget. Thanks for the reminder!
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To me anxiety can feel like that–like its tendrilling up me and getting tighter and tighter. Not quite as pleasant as morning glories and peas 🙂
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Great post, Molly. It resonates with me-the anxiety, the tangle, the questions, the “To Do” list, the burden. Being outside in nature always works magic on me, too. Just watching the birds outside my window bring me joy. watch a sherbet sky brighten over the bay. To watch mergansers fish for their breakfast. To watch the tree reflections ripple and whirl with the incoming tide. To let go.. I love “watch a sherbet sky brighten over the bay. To watch mergansers fish for their breakfast. To watch the tree reflections ripple and whirl with the incoming tide. To let go.” Love those amazing photos, too! You even have ripples in your sunrise. So happy for you that you listened to your “instinct.” Hope you had a lovely museum visit, also. Thank you for reminding to to go outside to enjoy nature and thank you always for your inspiration.
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Thanks so much, Gail. I’m a huge fan of birdwatching, too. Being outside or looking outside at the birds gets me outside of my own head, which is pretty much always a good thing 🙂 I’m amazed how often I forget that getting outside works wonders for me.
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