Monday, May 19, 2014

Emotional Hypothermia


I found this quote on Pinterest tonight that so perfectly put into words something that has been rolling around in my head for months now, that I had to write it down. 

“Some days I ache for silence, others, 
 silence makes me ache.”

For me, it would be more appropriately worded:
          
 “During the first half of my day, I ache for silence, 
the second half, the silence makes me ache.”

I’m a teacher, which means that the first half of my day is spent with twenty-five  children who need my guidance, seek my attention, and want my love and affection.  Twenty-five students who come for my instruction and my help.  Twenty-five little people who want to share things with me, to tell me stories, and make me laugh.   There are times when I am simultaneously listening to one student’s story, while answering another’s question, getting a band-aid for a third, and watching the other 22 to make sure they’re on task. 

While all this is happening, its never quiet…and often, I ache for silence. 

Then I leave work and I come home.  I spend the rest of the day in an empty, silent house.  There is no one here who needs my guidance or my help.  No one seeking my attention or looking for love and affection.  There isn’t anyone here who wants to share their life with me, tell me stories, or make me laugh.  One would think that after a day of chaos and noise, this would be nice...and it is for the first hour or so.  Then, the silence makes me ache.

If a person could get emotional hypothermia caused by alternating extremes, I'd totally have it.  Needless to say, I'm working on contentment in all circumstances.  


1 comment:

  1. Laurazeelee said...
    I can solo relate! ...there must be countless people out there who experience this... I thought it was just an effect of being suddenly "single" before my time, and that people who've always been single, don't have such a hole in their life... The unexpected chapters certainly give new perspective to life...

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