You Are Allowed to Take a Day Off

Summary

The author reflects on the importance of taking time off, sharing their personal experience of a rejuvenating weekend break from writing amidst significant life changes, including their Medium writing journey and gender transition, all against the backdrop of the global pandemic.

Abstract

The author, who has been active on Medium for nearly half a year, describes their recent experience of taking a weekend off from writing. They note that the world continued without incident, and they still earned money from their stories, emphasizing the benefits of rest and rejuvenation. The author also touches on their personal journey of transitioning and adapting to the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. They express gratitude for the self-discovery and community support they've found during this period of social isolation. The author has also been productive, engaging in various projects and contributing to the growth of the ILLUMINATION publication. They encourage others to take time off to recharge their creative batteries and express appreciation for the Medium community's creativity and resilience.

Opinions

The author believes that taking time off is beneficial and can lead to increased productivity and creativity upon return.
They feel that the world's reaction to their break was inconsequential, reinforcing the idea that personal well-being should be a priority.
The author values the sense of community on Medium and the support they've received from fellow writers and readers.
They express a positive perspective on their gender transition process, viewing the pandemic's social isolation as a period for personal growth and self-acceptance.
The author is optimistic about the opportunities for writers on Medium, highlighting the success of ILLUMINATION and the diverse content being produced.
They encourage a balance between productivity and self-care, advocating for the importance of mental health, especially during challenging times.

I took a weekend off from writing and the world didn’t end

I have been on Medium for almost 1/2 of a year and I took my first weekend off last weekend.

The world didn’t end.

Medium continued on.

I still earned some money for my stories.

It was nice.

I’m refreshed and feeling like getting back to writing.

It is interesting how much the world has changed during that time.

I started my Medium career around the same time I started my transitioning using hormones 188 days ago. I use a time and date calculator — I remember the date as my “new birthday.”

We gone into a new world of C19. I’m not going to talk about it very much, but it marks another big change in the way we live. I think twice about going to pick up my mail from the common area to limit my exposure to a public place. Who would have thought we’d be in a world like that 6 months ago?

I am glad for the changes I’ve gone through. I don’t like that we are suffering through a global pandemic, but it has been nice because I’m spending my awkward initial transition stages on my own where I don’t have to worry about not looking perfect. But, I went out being all awkward before, so if we didn’t have a pandemic, I would be out and about. So, I guess I just make due with what life hands me and make the best of it.

It has been nice to find a community of great people. I’ve met a lot of awesome people during this time.

The other nice thing has been learning how to love myself. These days of social isolation have been good to me for that reason. Before, I would have needed to go out and to constantly be around people, or I would have felt lonely.

Now, I don’t feel lonely. I know there are great people out there.

I also have been feeling the need to become ultra productive during this time. I’ve been writing more than I have in a long time. I have also been creating projects on Unicorn Labs and Publisher’s Spotlight. Also, it has been great helping ILLUMINATION grow into a mini-powerhouse during the couple of months it has been around. Very exciting times. And, watching everyone write all sort of great stories and poems. I love it.

Just wanted to say hi to everyone. And, thank you for all of your great things you have been creating and to encourage you to continue with your excellent efforts.

And, don’t forget you can take a weekend off, if you want. Sometimes it is good to take some time to recharge your creative batteries.

🦄 Chris Hedges, BA, JD, is a photographer and writer.

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