Sometimes you just have one of those weeks. Those weeks when you feel you’re tired and unmotivated, nothing goes right, you hate all your clothes and you just want to crawl back into bed and sleep your weird mind-funk off for a couple of days. Maybe only to be woken by someone bringing you sausage rolls or cheese toasties. And as we’re in fantasy land I’d like to specify Jamie Dornan to be the one bringing me baked goods, if you please.
I realised I was having one of those weeks by Wednesday this week: I’d ugly-cried at Call The Midwife (seriously took me hours to get over that episode), the jacket of Rachael’s new book, a random advert I don’t remember and the finale of The Office (ALL THE EMOTIONS). I’d diagnosed myself with manflu on Monday having been flat-out knackered with a sniffle all weekend and dosed myself up on chamomile tea and sympathy. My productivity was low which is always the worst feeling for me and I felt like I couldn’t even put an outfit together (the horror…).
Jamie Dornan never appeared, FYI.
I generally felt out of sorts and not myself – blaming January with its freezing skies and miserable commuters – until Mother Nature reminded me that HEY, I can eff up your week just cos you’re a WOMAN. And so I switched my blame from January to my bloody bloody hormones.
I’m fairly lucky with my womanly ways, as it goes. I remember being a teenager, listening to songs about love and passion and the cruel cruel world and just having all these FEELINGS. These teenage feelings that nobody really knew what to do with, least of all me. Back then it was all so new – the hormones, the boyfriends, the dealing with life – there was soooo much dramatic teenage turmoil that usually ended in screeching at my mum and wailing on my bathroom floor about how life wasn’t fair (sorry mum).
Now when I feel a bit hormonal there’s more grown-up situation of tucking yourself into bed nice and early to watch an uplifting film (my go-to is 500 Days of Summer for happy or sad situations), treating yourself to a glass of wine at the weekend or browsing TED Talks to re-ignite your inspiration. There’s more geeing yourself up by listening to Bruno Mars, cooking a lovely dinner and browsing ASOS.
The grown-up version of hormonal turmoil is much more pleasant, it has to be said.
But it’s times like this that really re-affirms my faith in the universe. I know I’ve mentioned this before and I still feel a bit ridiculous writing this down – 19 year old me thought ‘Karma’ was nothing but the title of a Culture Club song – but since I started my singleton journey 2 years ago I have really felt the universe looking after me when I’m feeling a little bit rubbish.
It’s the little things. Sian, my lovely manicurist, giving me 3 extra stamps on my loyalty card because she knew I was having a hard day. An odd man at Costa telling me my cold-ravaged hands were beautiful (all down to you, Sian). The man at the tapas place around the corner from work giving me 10% off and sneaking me a free glass of wine. Winning a £50 voucher for Boden, one of my favourite shops. Sam at Ena Salon inviting me in for a haircut and making me feel (and look!) so good that I left walking on air.
Seriously, if you need a re-style please go and see him. Sam is hands down the best stylist I’ve ever been to and the blow-dry he gave me this time around was nothing short of magical. It made me feel like a million dollars. Look at all these smug selfies I took after visiting him!
It’s more than that though – karma is how other people react to you when you’re having a slightly rough time. It’s how you react to other people when they’re experiencing the same. It’s when you know you haven’t been the best person you can be and something external to you recognising that – a broken egg shell at the supermarket or a rude shop assistant.
Bear with me on this, I think ‘Karma’ may be the only religion I’ve ever believed in.
Today is Friday so I have declared that The Week of Funk will be officially over. Bring back my productivity, my excitement, my ability to get dressed. Hormones are SO 2014…
I am having such a similar week! Zero motivation, no productivity and despair and glumness are my go to moods! This is despite having exciting plans for 2015, an incredible core of friends and no real problems. Certainly trying to look at things in the right perspective and karma definitely has a role to play. It’s nice to be nice, after all.
Love your blog, and great post.
Thank you so much Claudia. What is it about this week? Let’s blame the January blues, hey? Here’s to a wonderful February xx
Those chats we had sitting on your bathroom floor, although hell at the time, taught us both that its good to talk about things with friends and those who love you….. and may-be prepared us a little for other bumps along the way. Now, who you are and how you have handled the last few years has shown me what an amazing girl you are and has taught me a thing or two on how to handle the ups and downs of life. Thank-you Alice Kathryn xxxx
Love you, mum xx
I hope you have a better one next week. I like your analogy of karma, never thought of it life that. I also didn’t realise call the midwife had started already, bum to that news, I’ve missed at least one :(
It’s on iPlayer!! Was absolutely brilliant. Don’t forget the tissues xx
Uh. Had one of those weeks too. But the universe has come to my rescue in unexpected ways.
SSG xxx
Gotta love that Universe x
I too have had one of these weeks! Blue Monday + Hormones = Loads of fun.
Hope you have a cheery weekend and your hair looks fabulous xx
It seems like so many of us had not just a Blue Monday but a Blue Week! Hope you had a fab weekend too x
I’ve felt pretty rubbish this week after making a really difficult decision… Hopefully some of that good karma coming my way.
Amazing hair!
It really must have been the week for it. Mine too was rubbish, although it started beautifully as I was on a long weekend in Valencia with my boyfriend. Wednesday onwards was awful and I’m putting it down to post-holiday, pre – menstrual, end of January blues. All I wanted to do was crawl into bed and stuff my face with chocolate. Zero – productivity, stressful work days and a falling out with my daughter’s dad.
Hopefully next week will be better for us all.
Love your hair – I wish I could pay a visit to your stylist! x
So happy to hear that karma came to your rescue last week – you really needed it! Onwards and upwards hun – it’s the only way to go.
It’s weird how many people seem to have had a shite week last week- myself included! I can’t decide if I’m really hormonal or just going through a bad January…. have been doubting life choices, working choices, even doubting everything about why I blog and all ready to throw it away (things are really bad if that happens!). I agree with karma though- I suspect I haven’t been getting much out of the ‘universe’ right now, as I haven’t been ‘putting in’ as much as I would usually do. Need to up my game in this respect, show more love and appreciation to friends and family, do more for others, spend more ‘quality time’ with the children. Great post, Alice- here’s hoping we all have a better week this week! x
good karma call – hate it when hormones feel like they are ruling but nice things like nails and good people always help
So true – I am a different person with nice nails :) x
Swit swoo! I think I need an introduction to that hairdresser of yours – in need to de-frumping
More than happy to intro you – he’s a dream maker!
http://www.enasalon.com/the-salon/our-team/
Yes! Karma IS the law some days isn’t it? And you do look mighty fine with your swish new ‘do’ I must say… (p.s. would love you to link up over at my #sharethejoy linky if the mood takes you :) )
Thank you very much Michelle ;) xx