DMV Hyperfocus

 

I’m not sure why I did this,

But I volunteered to teach four different sessions at my county’s professional development this summer. 

 

I’ve taught a version of three of the four sessions before,

And I know that I am knowledgeable about the subject matter of the fourth session,

But I still feel a bit overwhelmed by and uncertain about how to prepare the presentations for July. 

 

Because of this reality,

I feel a looming sense of responsibility to work

Even though I have the motivation of a slug in the summertime.

 

As is my norm,

I feel anxious and restless and unsettled 

Because I have projects that I don’t know how to complete hanging over my head. 

The task oriented part of me is ready for the slideshows and handouts and session plans to be complete

But the process part of me is still processing information and feeling out my understanding of the crowd.

 

So when a friend asked me to help her family get appointments at the DMV office,

I jumped.

This was something I could do!

This was something that I could complete!

This was something that didn’t take emotional or mental energy!

This was something I could accomplish!

 

And I did.

 

I diligently and somewhat obsessively refreshed the DMV scheduling website for hours and pounced on opportunities when they arose. 

I was so proud of myself for the work that I did

That I literally cheered when I secured one of the appointments!

 

Will these appointments help me at all with my presentations this summer?

Absolutely not! :-)

But the thrill of the chase 

And the adrenaline of trying to get the appointments before someone else got them

Gave me a sense of motivation that temporarily made me feel better about my slug self.

 

We humans are weird creatures.

We do strange things in the face of stress

And in the name of feeling accomplished.

 

What is something weird you’ve done recently? 

 

What is something strange you’ve done when feeling overwhelmed? 

 

Please share.  I’d love to hear.