WQ#28: Relaxation is not my jam

Published on by Yinglan

Relaxation is not my jam. Never was, although the need to be constantly keeping myself occupied became exacerbated when I was unemployed for 4 months back in 2018. Just imagine having someone who comes home every night and the first thing they do is scream at you, lecture you, or threaten you, and it’s not just on weeknights but 24/7.

I was not only anxious but I was also depressed. The words she said made me feel like completely worthless.

I was not fired from my previous job, by the way. I told the CEO I quit and he said no. I quit anyway because I’ve encountered some of the most emotionally abusive people on that job. I’ve already have one emotional abuser, I don’t need three other. There are not many people in this world that can make my cry, I’ve developed an outer shell as tough as Kevlar in the recent year, but, man oh man, and it wasn’t because I made a mistake.

It took me a long time to recover between being unemployed and being constantly threatened and lectured by mom. Even after I got my current job, I was living life at top speed but I liked it. It kept me busy, consistently working overtime. In fact, this year is the year I finally stop having consistent overtime. After 5 years, can you believe it?

Still, I can’t relax. As much as I want to just sit back and do nothing for even 5 minutes, I can’t. I either get antsy and anxious and angry or mom will give me a task to do.

I don’t even think I’ve been able to sit and read a book for a few minutes without mom calling me. So it’s not just me who won’t let me relax, it’s other people as well.

Lately, I feel like I’m not spending time on nature, doing walks, and taking pictures. I remember how much doing those things made me feel good. It was one of the few things that made my racing mind slow down.

I want to do those things again so much. I have been begging mom to let me go to Cascade Springs this summer – a lovely spot I discovered last year. “But I don’t want to go.” She said.

“I don’t need you to go.” I responded. The whole point was for me to venture on my own. Cascade Springs is a safe spot. I mean, school kids go there for field trips, how bad can it be?

Of all the places I’ve been, Cascade Springs was one of the rare places that made me slow down and listen to the water from a rushing torrent to a trickling stream. I love the sound of trickling stream, by the way, so peaceful and relaxing. When I’m restless and can’t sleep, I’d play this sound on an app on my phone and set a timer for 2 hours.

Alas, I can’t go out these days without the need to tow mom along, which it’s something I may never understand.

Here are some photos I took when I went to Cascade Springs last August.

18 thoughts on “WQ#28: Relaxation is not my jam”

  1. I’m so sorry that you’re mom is making life so hard for you. I feel that she we has many psychological issues like insecurity and anxiety regarding what will happen to her without you. Do try to carve some time for yourself even a few days should be good. Love these pictures.

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  2. Cascade Springs is a beautiful spot, judging from your pictures. I’m sorry that you have to live with your mother, Yinglan. I hope that you are getting some help that will improve the situation for you.

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      1. We are planning a trip with our son and his wife next spring to Utah to see as many National Parks as we can there. Maybe we can squeeze in a visit there, too. Wow!

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      2. Yes, perhaps you can squeeze a day or two in northeastern Utah. That is a beautiful part of the state and very different from the red rocks of the national parks landscapes.

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      4. It sounds like a great plan. Look for the Uinta National Forest, it’s truly a spectacular place to visit. Uinta is the only mountain range that runs east and west in North America and there are quite a places within the forest that’s off the beaten path. So it’s a visit. Even living 100 miles away, I make sure I spend time in this forest each summer.

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  3. Cascade Springs looks beautiful! I hope you do get the opportunity to go on your own and to find some other times to enjoy some peace and refresh yourself a bit. I’m sorry your mom is making that so difficult for you these days.

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      1. And she’d probably find you fast. Ha Ha. I never gave running away a thought, but I think if I had any chutzpah I would have been able to pull it off. By I was the obedient daughter. Not that it made life easier.

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  5. I think relaxing for each of us looks different but we all need it, especially when we have stressful circumstances. I understand the need to feel busy and sometimes I feel guilty if I didn’t get anything “accomplished”.

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