So stanca tatanka pants
One of Steven’s magazines had this article highlighted on the cover:
“How true,” I thought when I saw that. When someone is complaining to you about how tired they are, are you: a. sympathetic and sorry for them, b. thinking, “Guess what jerk? I’m tired too.”, c. wondering why they don’t just go to bed early, or d. not listening, because it’s the same bs story, week after week.
I’m usually a mix of b-d. Unless they are going through hard times, or have insomnia, etc. etc.
Because guess what? We’re all a bit tired. We’re all trying to do too much in our already short lives. We’re all trying to meet our deadlines and still have fun.
I only got about 5 hours of sleep every work-night last week. I felt like total crap. But you know what I was spending my time doing each night? Reading blogs (and catching up with comments/emails), and bowling. I was doing things I like to do, so what’s the point in complaining?
What activities do you let cut into your sleep time?
(This post seems to have gotten a bit negative. It wasn’t aimed at anyone, or inspired by any real event… just reading that headline made me think about all this…)
(Oh yeah, “stanca tatanka pants” is what Steven and say to each other when we’re tired. As in ‘I’m a stanca tatanka pants’ today.” Stanca is italian for tired (female), tatanka is from that movie Dances with Wolves, and we add the word “pants” on to anything we call each other – “stink pants,” “smelly pants,” etc. We are brilliant, no?)
Themocracy
You forgot the translation of Tutonka, so your final phrase would be “smelly female buffalo pants.” Interesting term of endearment. 😉
You know though, part of being tired may just be automatically saying you are without thinking about it. That you don’t mean to complain, but like a yawn – it just happens? Sometimes I catch myself saying I am tired, and while yes I am – I have no idea why I have said it in the first place. Granted, I have some serious fatigue issues I’ve had to take up with the Dr’s, but still – why say it without even realizing you are doing so?
Maybe when we were nomadic, it was important to let the tribe know we were starting to lag or something… I’m sympathetic. I hate that everyone is so tired all of the time. I feel bad that people have to drag themselves through their day – it’s a hard way to live.
My biological clock is that of a nightowl, but my life is that of an early bird. So, even on almost zero sleep, come about 10pm and I am WIDE awake until about 1-2a.m.. But come 5 a.m. and I am expected to start my day. Hence a big part of the mess. I might stay up and read a book, or paint, or clean. Sometimes it’s tv, but not often. I just cannot sleep at that point. So yeah, a big part of it is my own fault. It’s just life, I guess. C’est la vie!
kapgar – Wait! Where did smelly come from? I like that “smelly female buffalo pants.” Let’s see how Steven takes it..
Kyra – I am more frustrated with the people who are using “being tired” as a crutch and excuse for not doing good work. I do feel bad for the people who are doing so much in their lives and getting no help from anyone else…. and just kept getting more and more tired and worn down. I think you have the biological clock of an artist! Yeah, except the whole getting up early thing 🙁
I just wish we lived in a way that we could get our work done AND have our personal time to relax and enjoy ourselves and not to have to sacrifice for it all. That eternally makes me sad–that we feel we have to choose.
diane – We should all work half-days! That is the only solution! Each company could just double their amount of employees… it would provide jobs to all the unemployed! Yeah… crazy thoughts.
Computer and internet usage. There are times when I get so involved with web stuff, that sleep takes second place.
Most of the time, though, it’s something weighing very heavy on my mind. My mind won’t shut off and it keeps me from going into a deep sleep. Morning afters are rough for those nights.
martymankins – Oh gosh. I hate those nights when I have something on my mind, and I am tossing and turning all night, having strange dreams… on those nights, it’s like you might as well not be in bed 🙁
okay, so I’m guilty of being a whiner and ya know what? instead of going to bed, or repotting my plant, I’m reading your blogs 🙂 go figure.
de – Hey! You could at least be working on YOUR new wordpress blog! Or the book! 🙂 Like it matters. I think work is going to make us tired no matter what!
I do the whole hanging with the dogs, hanging with friends, going to the gym, reading, ect thing. I think the work weeks are just a given that by Wednesday I am going to be tired. Funny thing is I think I get less sleep during the weekends but I am usually more relaxed so I feel better rested!