Living Through A Slump

Lately, life has been silent, lonely, and a bit absent. Finding comfort in the things I love has not been easy. I reach out and touch everything around me, yet I can’t get through anything. Reading slump, writer's block, burnout—these terms share a similar weight. The lack of activity or, more accurately, the lack of sentiment for any activity, at least that's what it feels like to me: quietness.

In these moments, it feels like no book will ever be enough; it makes you question what is the whole point of all this. Reading the words that someone dedicated their life to creating stories and worlds for the enjoyment of everyone, yet those words don't connect, it stops being magic to you. You change activity, you watch videos, and make lists of things to do to get out of it, but there is no hack out of this; you just have to ride the wave, let yourself heal, accept this time in your life, and hope it will pass. Don't push, just take what you can get.

I haven't left this slump, but some things have made it tolerable. Romance novels have been both a comfort and a distraction, re-watching my comfort shows and films, listening to music on repeat, and even scrolling endlessly through social media. Emptying my emotions and thoughts, tiring myself into enjoying life again.

I am riding this wave and giving myself grace, there is so much a person can handle in a year, that this is just part of the process.

I'm not looking to get over it, I'm looking for a way through it, and when it ends, I’ll be ready to fall back in love with it all.

-MF