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Take it easy, it's okay not to be okay

We are constantly on the go. There is just not enough time to read a book, go to a spa, catch up on sleep, sit down and eat a proper meal with the family, return phone calls and so on. In addition to the pressure from work and society, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves. We want to do it all - earn the best employee award, throw the best birthday party for our child, show up at every special occasion, master a new language on the weekends.. Sounds familiar? And in the middle of this all, we fail to listen to our bodies and minds. We push ourselves. We suffer, knowingly and unknowingly. At such times we need to accept ourselves, just as we are. It's okay to put up our feet and say, 'I am taking off for a bit.' It's actually okay to say it's okay.
You know, it's okay to stay quiet. You're an introvert who is often dealing with the pressure to socialise. Your friends ask you to be more active during gatherings. So, you push yourself to make small conversation, with strangers and with friends. But, you don't enjoy it. You prefer to listen and observe. You like to sit in your corner. Or maybe you are an extrovert, but it's just not your day. You want a few minutes of calm. Well, remain quiet, because sometimes it's okay to stay quiet.
It's okay to forget, too. Do you blame yourself for not remembering to wish your friend on her birthday? Or for forgetting to pick up the laundry? You are multi-tasking, aren't you? Running errands, balancing work commitments and social obligations, chasing your dreams and earning your income? There are chances that you may forget a few things in between. So sometimes, it's okay to forget.
It's okay to say no. Two weeks ago, a friend mentioned that she'll be staying home on the weekends. 'I just don't feel up to it," she messaged. She's the life of any party - cracking jokes, dancing until the wee hours, and making sure everyone is well-fed. Of course, her absence wasn't welcomed and we flooded her with requests and she caved in. But remember, sometimes, it's okay to say (acknowledge) no.
Yes, it's okay to fail. We often tell our children that it's okay to fail. Learn from your mistakes, we tell them But, do we follow what we preach? No. But sometimes, it's okay to fail.
And, it's okay not to be okay. Well, it's not mandatory for you to feel fine 24/365. You can feel like not waking up at 5.30 in the morning one day. It's okay. It's also okay to take it easy some days, just to enjoy a hot shower, a comforting meal, and good music. It's okay if you are just not feeling up to it. Yes, it's okay not to be okay.
- purva@khaleejtimes.com