It begins innocently. We take on more and more with each passing day and begin burning that candle at both ends, always with the thought in mind that never the twain shall meet. But they do meet, and someone always gets burned.
In today’s economy and struggling markets people take on more burdens to cement themselves to their jobs. Fiscal responsibility tends to equate to physical and emotional exhaustion but we do what we have to do to secure our stability. It has become a dog-eat-dog existence.
Although we may see that candle as everlasting and continuous, we lose a little piece of our sanity with each drip of wax that is dispelled. A layer of our resolve, like the dripping wax, is melted away from us and collectively pooled into a well of fatigue. The moments of freedom we so carelessly took for granted are a thing of the past and the work day increases in its longevity. As the winds of our reality fan the flames, the candle burns faster at both ends leaving us with more of a sense of panic and less candle to burn. The days seem longer, the nights seem shorter and we strive to hold fastidiously to our workaday reality.
It is our individual responsibility to snuff that secondary flame – to only allow ourselves one wick with which to burn our energy. If we allow others to dictate how much of the candle we burn at one time we may as well cast ourselves into the inferno and spontaneously combust.
The purpose of a candle is to burn for long periods of time, from one end only, and cast a glow of light that is warm and comforting. Burning that candle from both ends decreases the amount of enjoyment that candle is meant to purvey and exponentially diminishes the enjoyment that is elicited from that one single flame.
Strike your match carefully. Predestine how much of that candle you are willing to ignite and at which pace you choose it to soften and dissipate. If you light it sparingly, it will last much longer and the enjoyment of that flame will last that much longer.
polysyllabic profundities 
Only once in my life has burning the candle at both ends gotten me in trouble.
The rest of the times, I just did what I needed to until I didn’t have to anymore.
That’s what I’m doing. I actually was able to have an afternoon nap today – it lasted three hours!!
Fantastic! Hope you get more of them!
(And a lessening of responsibilities.)
Thanks!! Me too! How are things with you these days?
The same, but I care a little less about the work related stuff.
I’ll keep showing up, they’ll keep firing me or not.
Eh.
I need to learn to stop caring as much – it’s a job, it’s not my life.
It’s a hard lesson. And I learned it the hard way too.
A long time ago, I was working so hard, I ended up hospitalized for not taking care of my diabetes.
3 days late, I was working again. From the hospital.
When I finally got out (week or two), I took a day off, drove up to the Shawangunks and climbed all day.
That might have been the last time I took a job that seriously (12 – 15 years ago).
I hope I get to that point. If you read my post on Black Box Warnings tomorrow, you’ll understand why I have trouble saying no. 😦
I’ll keep an eye out for it.
But once you do find the strength to not say yes to everything, it opens up a whole new world for you.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with not helping everyone all the time.
Hope you figure out how! (It can be a hard trick to learn.)
(Says the bitter voice of experience.)
I like your voice of experience! It is wise – and very helpful!! 🙂
Rock on, Susan. Don’t let anyone hold you down!
Thanks!! I’ll do my best. Thanks for the encouragement. 🙂