A quote that stopped me in my tracks

I was reading some unknown publication on the tube the other day - its name escapes me - and came across a quote that stopped me in my tracks. In fact it rang so true that I stopped and gazed into the middle distance for a while. Well, as much as one can stare into the middle distance whilst tucked cosily under a stranger's armpit.

No input, no output.

A quick google later, I'd discovered that Joe Strummer of The Clash was responsible for these words of immense wisdom. And he’s spot on. All we do these days is expend energy. We work, we go out, we worry. We have to be the best at everything and we always have to be striving for 'the best versions of ourselves' or we’re not working hard enough. 

We feel bad moaning about a 2am finish at work last night because the person next to us had a 3am finish. We never like to be the first to leave the office. Keeping healthy seems to be a good solution but that in itself is a competition with greener juice, earlier mornings, jazzier leggings than thou. Even Netflix has become something of an exercise in keeping up. We binge on alcohol and Instagram and retinol we’ve heard will stop us ever looking old. Quite frankly, it’s exhausting. 

I can have a week of late nights (work or play) taking no care of myself, eating junk and not exercising and then because I have one lie in at the weekend I’m confused as to why I’m still tired and feeling rubbish. We’re all running on empty. We think one good night’s sleep will fix it all. It certainly helps, but we need more than that. It’s a bit like that 'band aid on a bullet wound’ saying that people like to whip out at apt moments. Well this is one such apt moment.

We never allow ourselves to mend. And it’s starting to show. How can we be constantly creative/productive/on it at work as well as the best version of ourselves for our partners, friends and family if we’re empty shells?

No input, no output.

To really refuel, we’ve got to do the things that make us feel like ourselves. That nourish our minds. And vitally, we have to keep doing them. Not just one Sunday afternoon twice a year. 

So I’m testing a few things out. Small, satisfying things. Calligraphy is a good one. Making things is great. I’m considering indoor rock climbing. I’ll report back…