As mentioned last week, I returned to my workplace last Tuesday. At what would normally be a really busy time of year in the college building, I had the place virtually to myself. There were other people about, but nowhere near the number I'd normally encounter... even in holidays. And this was enrolment week. But most enrolment is being done online this year, and most of the classes still will be. I'll have one "live, face to face" class on Tuesday and one on Wednesday, and I also have a good reason to be in the building on Monday... but I'll still teaching from home Thursday and Friday.
I can't begin to tell you how much better I felt working from work. Many of the serious anxiety symptoms I've faced at home were reduced, even at times forgotten. Except on Friday, when I felt them creeping back up again...
One day at a time. That's all I can do this job now. If I think about next week or the next few months, a black pall rises. As is often the case in this blog, I write this not for your sympathy (though it's always appreciated when offered) but as a record of how I'm feeling now... so that in the future when I read it back, I'll remember how I felt.
“Someday we'll look back on this and it will all seem funny.”
I dunno, Bruce. It's getting harder and harder to believe that line every day.
You know when you hear a new band and you think "wow, that's pretty strong for a debut record!" And then you read up on them and you discover they've been around for 14 years and you never heard them before. I like it that this can still happen at my age.*
American Aquarium are such a band. Americana is the genre. They've obviously listened to a fair bit of Bruce. Good on them.
*Wait a second. On the verge of posting this, I discovered that I have featured the band's lead singer, BJ Barnham, here before. At the time, I said I didn't know whether his former band were still on the go. Glad to see they are.
I know what you mean about anxiety and it's a bad side effect of this horrible situation we all find ourselves in.
ReplyDeleteBut it's good to know you're feeling better being back at work. Good luck and stay safe.
Thank you.
DeleteAs Lychie said
ReplyDeleteI came across American Aquarium when their song The World is on Fire appeared on New West Records 2018 New Releases Sampler and I featured it a few months ago
https://charitychicmusic.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-word.html#comment-form
So many bands so little time
So that's twice before I've heard of them!
DeleteSo glad to hear you're feeling better having gone into work - I know you still have your work at home days too but if you can shift the balance over a little at least and just take it a day at a time, as you say, then I'm sure it will continue to help.
ReplyDeleteHopefully. Thanks, C.
DeleteGlad you're getting the chance to return to the workplace, albeit for only part of the week. Some people seem to have embraced the whole working from home thing, but for many others it has been miserable. We're a long way from getting back to the old normal (and I don't think we ever will) but we're all starting to appreciate the things we can now do.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm going to go back to college this semester after my year as a suspended student. It was disappointing in my first year to find that most of the teaching was done online, but this year it's going to be that way for nearly all the courses. Student life as I remember it has gone and next week we are to have an online Freshers Week followed by an online Residential the following week. 'Twill be interesting.
I'm glad you're returning to your course, Alyson. I'll be interested to hear what you make of online learning. It's no substitute for the real thing in my eyes.
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