Friday, February 21, 2020

Filling Up Your Well by Janice Lynn

In addition to my writing career, I work full time as a nurse practitioner. I'm fortunate in that I love both of my professions, but some days, well, some days are just killer. Mainly those days when you're the bearer of bad news that you know is going to forever change that person's life and their family's lives, and everyone who knows and loves them's lives. Although cancer is the most emotionally draining diagnosis to give, even things like diabetes make me empathetic to my patients because it also forever changes that person's life, and has that same trickle effect to those in their circle. Fortunately, that's not something I have to do every day, but occasionally, I'll have a day where I have more than one and by the end of the day I am so emotionally depleted that I have to fill up my well.

Filling up one's well is also something I discuss with patients from time to time because I believe taking care of our emotional and mental health is every bit as vital as taking care of our physical health and I often encourage them to fill up their well. Most of the time I don't say those exact words, but it's what I'm telling them to do, just phrasing things a little differently.


So, when I have those icky, draining days that leave my shoulders and neck muscles tight and achy, how do I fill up my well? 

OOOOOh, I'm so glad you asked. ;)  I imagine the obvious answer it that I lose myself in a good book, letting the story and the characters take me away from reality and restore me to a world where ultimately goodness and happiness reign supreme. It's one of the reasons I am very selective on what types of stories I choose to read. I don't want intense, dark, scary, suspenseful stories. I want happy feel good stories. I want the story to lift me up not take me down treacherous paths. That said, I've read some amazing suspenseful thrillers over the years and I don't mean to take anything away from those brilliant stories. They're just not what I reach for when I'm emotionally drained. I've had a few days over my career to where the only thing I feel can lift me up is reading my bible and so that's what I'll do. Or what I'll listen to, as is sometimes the case.
Which brings me to my next well filler upper as I listen to the bible almost always while I'm doing this one: Quilting. I love taking something, coming up with a design, whether that be one of my own or from a book or online site, and creating something beautiful and useful. For me, there's something much deeper with my quilting, though.


You see, I quilt, and then I give them away. I've only kept one quilt I've made. I've given some to my kids as I'm making each kiddo a quilt and that's seven, folks. I've also made and donated quilts for charity auctions to help raise funds for various individuals or foundations. I love doing that!
And, I'm a member of Quilts of Valor, and have made and awarded quilts for this amazing cause. On all of these, I believe that something deeper is right in line with Quilts of Valor Foundation as their mission is to wrap military members, past or present, in a quilt of healing. Sometimes when I say that, I see eyes glaze over, like yeah, right. But when you stop to think about the role quilts often play in our lives, it makes more sense. I mean, what do we often do to comfort a baby or small child? Wrap them in a blanket. What do we do when we don't feel well/are sick? Wrap up in a blanket. I think it's inherent to find comfort in being wrapped in a blanket/quilt. Definitely when I wrap up in one of the quilts my grandmother made, I feel comforted and close to her.
Do I write to fill up the well? The answer to this is yes, but not on those super drained days. Emotionally, I just don't have anything to give to my words. I rarely write on days I've worked at the medical office. But on my writing days, when I get that scene just the way I want it, have my characters say something so funny it makes me laugh out loud or do something so sad it makes tears run from my eyes, that does lift me up and fill that well. I write for Hallmark Publishing, so feel good stories are our specialty, right?

I love doing for others and am a strong believer that doing for others, lifting up others, is one of the most effective ways of feeling better about oneself and about life in general. 

There's other things such as spending time with hubby or my kids, going for a walk (especially walks with hubby to local waterfalls), taking a bubble bath (no picture here--be thankful! ;) ), etc. that fill the well, so to speak, for me. What are some of the things you do to fill your well back up after emotionally exhausting days? 

USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling author JANICE LYNN lives in Tennessee with her Prince Charming, their kids who think they're all royalty, her vivid imagination, an adorable Maltese named Halo who's the true princess of the house, and bunches of unnamed dust bunnies that moved in after Janice started her writing career. In addition to writing romance, Janice is a nurse practitioner, a quilter, an exercise queen, a military mama, and an avid supporter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Just kidding on the exercise queen. www.janicelynn.com   WRAPPED UP IN CHRISTMAS available at AMAZON Barnes & Noble WALMART




12 comments:

  1. Good post. I listen to music, watch a good show or movie or read a good book to fill my well.

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    1. Listening to music or a good show/movie is a great way to fill the well, in attention to reading. :)

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  2. Laura, I agree about a blanket being a source of comfort. Ironically, the MC in my next release has a quilt her mother gave her after a tragic event to help her sleep.

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    1. It makes sense her mother would give her a quilt. At least, to me it does. :)

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  3. Excellent suggestions Janice! I read and do yoga but would love to learn to quilt. Maybe someday...

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    1. It's an addictive hobby...says an addict. ;) I love fabric. :)

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  4. Janice, what a wonderful, intuitive post. I'm a musician, and love listening to music to fill up my well ... worship music, Broadway musicals--you name it.

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    1. I've always wished I had musical talent but am tone deaf. :( My daughter has that talent and can pick up an instrument quickly. I'm a bit jelly, to be honest.

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  5. Janice, this is a wonderful post. I like to watch a good movie or read a good book.

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    1. Thank you, Merrilee. A good movie can definitely fill holes dug by stressful days. And, a good book is even better!

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  6. Wonderful post Janice! As a home care RN I can relate to the emotionally drained feeling at the end of the day. I love hearing that your approach is similar to my own, in terms of escapism in feel-good stories. And I also rarely write on days I've worked as a nurse. Thank you for this insightful post!

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    1. Tracy, I imagine working as a home care RN brings an entirely new set of issues, too. Hugs and thanks for the great care you provide your patients.

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