Un-slump Yourself

I have this vintage Mother Goose Book from 1942. A library was having a book sale a few years ago and I managed to snatch it up before it was donated to some second-hand store. And it was here in this treasured book that I found out the rest of the story of Jack and Jill. Now, I know that all of you are probably sitting on the edge of your seat wondering…what? There’s more? YES! Apparently it doesn’t end with “And Jill came tumbling after.” And so I will enlighten your eager minds.

The entire poem goes like this:

Jack and Jill went up the hill

To fetch a pail of water.

Jack fell down and broke his crown,

And Jill came tumbling after.

Then up Jack got and home did trot,

As fast as he could caper.

He went to bed and plastered his head

With vinegar and brown paper.

I can’t say I have ever heard caper used as a verb in my generation. BUT I do believe the important thing about this poem is that after Jack fell, HE GOT UP. He fixed his head. He didn’t wallow in his pain but did what he had to do to fix himself…with vinegar and brown paper…probably would not have been my choice of treatment, but it worked for him. The point? When you’re down, get up anyway. Sometimes, I honestly don’t feel like doing anything. I get tired and worn out and sometimes I just want to crawl up in the fetal position and tune everything out. But it is in these moments where I push myself to create, push myself to do SOMETHING…anything…even if it’s small. Because self pity doesn’t take me anywhere worth going. So thank you, Jack, for the reminder to get up, even when you’re broken, and fix yourself.

I’m thinking of Dr. Suess’ book Oh The Places You’ll Go where he states:

“And when you’re in a slump,

You’re not in for much fun.

Un-slumping yourself

Is not easily done.”

Un-slumping yourself definitely takes effort. So in my slumpiness this week, I managed to get 2 journal pages done. I’m pleased with what I was able to accomplish despite the way I was feeling. Another reminder to keep at it, even when I don’t feel like it. 🙂

Thanks to those of you who have posted encouraging words in previous posts!