The funk!

I’m in a funk. Do you ever get in one of those?

I’m not depressed, I’m really not, and I’m not talking about the 70s rock band, Grand Funk Railroad, the 1969 song Do The Funky Chicken or even The Chicken Dance. I’m just in a downcast mood.

Here’s what I’m feeling: I’m scattered. I have a slew of “to do” items and things I want to write about floating around in my head and I haven’t had the time to sit down at my laptop. I get flustered easily. I’m missing my kids. Oh, I’m looking forward to seeing them over Christmas, but we still have several weeks to go.

Here today, gone tomorrow

We got to see great friends this weekend, a couple that we’ve known for thirty years, but now that I’m back in the real world, I’m not ready for “adult” responsibilities. It’s not just that. I’m working on a work project and it’s interesting, but I still have a number of challenges to overcome.

My state of being could be health related. My back as I mentioned yesterday is bothering me. I was stuck inside most of the day. When I was able to get out, it was a cloudy, rainy and drab day. Can you say Season Affective Disorder? I haven’t been able to get out and go for a walk the past three days.

Coke, Pepsi, or neither?

I’m also lacking caffeine. I’m trying to give up soda and limit myself to one coffee a day. The coffee surprisingly is the easy part, I’ve never been a huge coffee drinker — one-a-day and I’m fine. The drop in soda is much harder.

Can I introduce you to Grumpy Brian? Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street, Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh, and Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol have nothing on him.

To top it off, I just haven’t had a lot of focus. I feel like a lump of coal.

Tomorrow

Oh, I’m not really worried and I don’t mean to whine. I know that I’ll come out on the other side and the sun will shine again this week. I know too that I’m extremely fortunate. I’m lucky to have my family and friends. In addition, I have a good feeling that Santa Claus will take it easy on me and put me on the nice list. I’m just ready for the holidays and I need to first get through this funk!

Here’s to venting, getting it all out on the screen, and, most importantly, here’s to tomorrow.

“The sun’ll come out
Tomorrow
So ya gotta hang on
‘Til tomorrow come what may

Tomorrow, tomorrow
I love ya tomorrow
You’re always, a day away
Tomorrow, tomorrow
I love ya tomorrow
You’re always, a day away”

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77 thoughts on “The funk!”

    1. Oh, I’m good. Thank so much for your kind words. I’m doing good. I’m excited for the next couple of weeks. I was just being honest with how I was feeling. I’m fortunate, can’t wait to spend time with my family and to spend some time writing too!!!

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  3. Days spent feeling like you have described are rough. I’ve always scrambled to “find the positive” as quickly as possible. In fact, I’ve gotten really good at it and people come to me to benefit from what they call my “superpower” of finding silver linings. But I am working on sitting in the negative feelings when they come. I need to stay there to observe and study them, understand them, and really pay attention to how I’m affected in them. That is the only way I can have true compassion on others in their funk. And it really makes good times so much better by contrast. There are lessons in our grouchiness that we need to learn. I want to learn them so I can have fewer grouchy days. I don’t want God to have to put me back on the sidelines because I didn’t learn the play. Blessings to you, my friend- right there in the funk. This too shall pass… I can’t wait to hear what you walk away with when it does!

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    1. You bring up a great point that I can’t highlight enough!!!! I think I’m able to have empathy for others because I know what the down moments feel like. There’s a lot of wisdom to be found “sitting in the negative” and understanding them. (And there’s a difference between wallowing in the negative moments and instead learning from them.) And you mention God too. I know there’s lesson with my feelings too, I just need to see it and learn from it. I suspect in part it’s reminding myself that I have a lot to look forward to this Christmas and that others might not be so fortunate and how can be of service or a help to someone else. Anyway, thank you Mamalava. Very much appreciate your kind words.

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  5. OK, Mr. Lump of Coal (Charlie Brown would be so proud), and a hearty Bah-Humbug to you! 😝 Your message for today reminds me of the Brother’s Johnson song, “Get the Funk Out Ma Face.” Look honey, if you have been posting everyday, you have gone into writer burnout. This is not saying you don’t write everyday, but just chill out with posting everyday because that puts pressure on you like a journalist, and unless you are getting paid to do this gig, then you have the right to skip a few days or simply schedule your posts like I do. Don’t let your love for the craft turn you against it. 👍🏼 Been there, done that, so I know what I am talking about.

    Listen man, this time of the year is always an emotional one for many of us, but give yourself a “FREE Get Out Of Jail Card” and take a chill pill from your “Being a Responsible Adult” role. And should you decide to take a walk today, don’t make it a Forrest Gump coast to coast run!!! 🚶🏼‍♂️🏃🏼‍♂️🚶🏼‍♂️ Just step away, take a breather, and allow your spirit to get rejuvenated again. O-Tay? O-Tay! 🥰💖😜 https://youtu.be/Rl0rTywRVf0?si=zzhBje7LEpSd-oJ9

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    1. No, no, I haven’t lost the love for the craft. It’s still there. If anything it’s there more than anything. I have too many things I want to write. I write six days a week. I’m planning now to cut it down next year, but that’s just so I can work on a novel. I mentioned elsewhere that I wrote the piece and was thinking of not posting, but it felt honest to publish. Not everyday is going to be a five star day. I hope, however, that I haven’t brought anyone else down. I’m actually really excited for Christmas and now I have to listen to a new song – Get the Funk out of Ma Face! Sounds great. And funny story, I did something recently that deserved my wife’s ire. After a short while, I went up to her with the Monopoly get of jail card and asked if I could get out of jail. Okay, I didn’t really give her the card, but I asked. She laughed. That’s what I was looking for. Ha, ha.

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      1. LMBO! 😂😜🤣 Well, you are no longer incarcerated my friend. No, you didn’t get me down, I just didn’t want you to be down, nor be hard on yourself ok? Just make sure you get adequate rest. I know how it is to have a ton of things you want to write about swirling around in the orbit of your brain at the same time. 😝 That could be a blessing or a curse. I trust that someone is touched by your words today, and that will give them the FREE Get out of Jail card too! 😍 Hugs to ya my friend! 🤗

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      2. You’ve got me thinking. I think I need to steal the Get of out of Jail Free Card from our Monopoly set. You never know when I might need it. Think the police officer or state trooper who stops me for speeding would get a good laugh if I handed the card to him or her? Hmmm, now I have to try it to find out!!!!

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      3. LOL Brian, see why I told you that you should be doing stand up? 👮🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️👮🏼‍♀️ Now who would think of something like that? Brian would! 🤣😝😂

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      6. My luck . . . I would get the one person who has had one too many funny guys and would accuse me of trying to bribe a police officer and I would get charged with something a bit more serious than a speeding tix. Saying all that, I promise that if it ever happens, I’ll be sure to write about it. You kidding me. I would be writing blogs about that for months. I would get a book out of it too! Ha, ha.

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    2. lol, I like the different metaphors you used, Kym! Yes, everyone has funky days, sometimes … longer 🙃 A friend told me recently about how she’s starting to study stoicism to get herself out of her funk, and we’ve formed a study group, maybe that’ll help with what you aptly referred to as rejuvenation. Either way, I’ll be sharing some of the metaphors with her 😁

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  6. I’m in a similar bit of a funk, and sometimes the best path forward is just being honest with ourselves and accepting it. Here’s to tomorrow! May today be filled with inspiration, or maybe just a solid kick in the behind… 😂

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    1. Great advice Erin. It’s strange seeing all these comments. I’m fine. I just wrote what I was feeling. I wasn’t going to post it, but I kept thinking about the title/name of my blog. Writing from the heart means funk days too. You hang in there too. Tomorrow looks pretty good.

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    1. Which song, The Sun will come out tomorrow or Do the Funky Chicken? Ha, ha. No, it’s actually a happy song. Even it’s not your favorite, it’s hard not to feel happy after hearing it. Ha, ha. I survived college and the first years of parenting without coffee. I’m not sure how. I drink a cup a day but that’s it. Diet soda is my downfall. I’m getting there though. Thanks Melissa!

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  8. We all get those moments, even the most chipper of us. Nothing wrong with riding it out and knowing there will be brighter days on the other side of it. As to kicking the cola habit, I say congrats to you. That stuff is not good at all. You’d be better off with just two cups of coffee vs one coffee and more than two sodas… just sayin’ (So glad my mother never let us have cola – because of the caffeine – I never developed the taste for it 🙂

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  9. Brian what you’re experiencing is common at this time of year, or really any time of the year. We all go through days that are off somehow. Rising above those feelings isn’t easy, but necessary. I think you have a very positive outlook on life. Use that to get you to tomorrow. I directed the show, “Annie,” many years ago and am often reminded of the music from it. Great words.

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  10. The Monopoly get out of jail card sounds like something I should file away for a time when it would be most appropriate to offer. I think one of the things I am most happy about as I have gotten older is the ability to (mostly) live in the moment and not look very far down the road. If I do start to feel overwhelmed, I’ll just mentally (or physically!) list the items in question and determine which should be addressed first, what can wait, etc. Basically, just using a skill set from when I was working…reassess the priority list and move forward from there. Of course, there’s also the idea of making a list of all the things you are thankful for at that moment…it often dwarfs what you are stressing over. Brian, better days ahead!

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  11. Could you be being too hard on yourself … trying to force yourself down a path you’re not ready for? Be kind to yourself, I’m sure it’ll all sort itself out. If not, I can recommend going axe throwing … but on second thoughts, wait til your back is better.

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    1. Axe throwing! I’m in. I’m told that I’m very good at it. Who knew. Ha, ha. In a former job, we went axe throwing as an ice breaker/relationship builder. I guess my rural roots are still in there somewhere, because I ended up doing the best on the team. I was as shocked as anyone. Kind of funny. I may have to think about that. Ha, ha.

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  12. I think it stems from your back pain. I was especially cranky and snapped at my husband. He was shocked and asked what was up. I realized it was PAIN. Today I’m feeling better and my mood is better too.

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  14. I had a recent epiphany on the pity party. The pity part is about processing. The party part is about letting go. The sun’ll come out tomorrow. I always loved that song—filled with hope.

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    1. I felt bad whining on my blog, but then I get wisdom like this. If you keep this up Crystal, my blog is just going to become one big complaining whine. Ha, ha. I can really relate to that, “The pity part is about processing. The party part is about letting go.” There’s lots there for me to process, but some really wise words. Thank you so much for letting me vent!

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  15. Hi Brian, I was feeling much the same during Thanksgiving. Poor me. But looking back now I realize I needed some time to just rest, restore, sit in the sun when it broke through the clouds. I didn’t write a thing. But like you say, the sun will come out tomorrow. Do something really good for yourself and don’t let anyone make you feel bad for doing so. I like to pair chocolate with a good book, a warm cup of coffee by my side, and just lose myself in someone’s story. Hope you’re feeling yourself soon…hugs, C

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  16. Hang in there, Brian. Hope the funk goes away. This time of the year is often challenging with the weather and daylight change too. Christmas will be here soon!

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  17. I was right with you through this entire piece. Some days are just like that – can’t explain it – can’t understand it – it just is. The ideas are not as crisp and our spunk and drive is just blah. Oh I totally get it! Nice piece. I’m glad your got it down on “paper” and out into the world!

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    1. Thank you Patti. It’s just a slew of things. I have some writing time coming this weekend. I’m good. Some times it just helps to put your thoughts and feelings on paper. I try to be pretty positive in my posts, so I’m sure it’s a bit of a change. I hope it wasn’t too drastic. Thanks anyway for the kind words. Very much appreciated.

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      1. No, I totally get it. I don’t know you but your writing is solid and your reflections are well, consider them validated. Sometimes the struggle is real. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Exactly! I actually thought about bringing it down today because it didn’t feel authentic anymore. The act of writing and publishing the post and acknowledging my feelings, went a long way in getting past whatever was bothering me. Kind of crazy, but true.

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  21. Brian, it seems this is the week I feel the same way; it’s the combination of Christmas ahead, too much to do at school, a whole change of routine, and crappy weather. And missing my kids and grandkids. It’s normal, happens every year with me.

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