Being Overwhelmed – A Review

Note: If this is the first of my blogs that you’re reading, good luck.

---

While my blogs are generally forums for me to vent my frustrations, explore ideas that I’ve been thinking about, or just a place to rant, sometimes I do try to use them to do social good.

While I don’t believe one person has the power to change society, I do think solving a problem has to start somewhere. So. What better place than a random blog run by someone who normally relies on a few hours of research, who is writing this at midnight because he realized he’s busy this Wednesday, to start solving the bulk of the world’s problems.

To begin this, I suggest we do away with the feeling of “being overwhelmed.” That’s right, I suggest we get rid of it. Just lop it off from the list of “states of being” and transcend the icy grasp it holds on humanity.

Let’s think about this critically. Being overwhelmed isn’t fun, it doesn’t usually help in the short term and it doesn’t really help in the long term either. All it does is make you stressed out because there’s so much going on, and at that point you’re now too stressed due to the sheer volume of stuff, that you can’t do anything to lessen the amount of stuff that’s stressing you.

If we, as a species, didn’t get overwhelmed, we could just handle things one at a time and move on with our lives.

It’d be so much simpler. So, mark your ballot, contact your corpus callosum, and inform your hormones. We’re voting no, on being overwhelmed.

So. Uh. Obviously. Lately, I’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed. I keep having more and more stuff thrown at me, and I just don’t know how to juggle it. Last month, my emotions were so twisted, I had to basically stop bottling anything up and just spew whatever words came to my head. This month? Rather than being emotionally overwhelmed I’m mentally overwhelmed.

And, fine, I’ll admit it. Most of this is because finding an apartment is seeming more and more impossible. I’m moving to New York in (probably) less than a month, and I can’t find a place to live. I’m not being picky on anything except price. Even when it comes to size, I’ve applied for what basically were closets for way too much money, and every time I’m hit with a “no,” or just no reply.

At first, when I was getting response, I asked why they were saying no. Almost all of them said it was because I was too young. 23 is the new 12 people. I can understand being apprehensive with a “young” roommate, but the people who were denying me were 26 or 27!? Where did they live at my age?

Lately, the real challenge has been “I’d like to meet you in person,” again, something I completely understand, but. I obviously am in California. I offer to video chat, to talk on the phone, to answer any questions they have, but I get nothing. No one has asked me a question except: Are you cool paying for all of September’s rent too?

Nah. I’m not cool with that.

Take it from Mr. Antisocial over here. I want to vet people before they live in my house. No questions about it. So, I don’t blame them in the slightest for being apprehensive when I say I’m moving across the country. I can understand that video chatting isn’t a perfect analog either.

I feel the need to drive this point home. They are 100% in their right to deny me because they haven’t met me. I have no ill will toward anyone for this.

But, I think I’m fine to have an issue with people who just stop replying. I had an appointment to skype with someone yesterday and they completely ghosted me. I sat around on my computer for an hour (let’s be honest, I would’ve done that anyway), just waiting. And I got nothing.

The house is still listed, she even was replying to people on the Facebook listing for that house in particular. This isn’t even a first-time issue. The same thing happened two weeks ago, and it’s still listed as available, but… no response. The latest person even told me that I “seemed like a perfect fit.” And that she was “so excited to show me around the place. “

And it’s just so frustrating! And like. I get that people are busy, and that’s fine. The problem is that my future feels like it hangs on this, and yet it’s completely out of my control. I’m not a control freak, by any means. But. One of the biggest decisions of my life is basically out of my hands right now.

Add that to the stress that comes with a new job in general, couple that with some last minute contract switching and having to work overtime on some personal writing for last Saturday and I’m just…. GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Alright. I feel better, thanks.

Point is. There’s a lot going on and I’m doing my best to stay afloat, but sometimes, I just need to remind myself (or have someone remind me) that this is like the smallest step in all the other big steps I’m taking. And tripping here? There are ways to recover without blowing the overall opportunity.

I can handle stress. I can think on my feet. And I have backup plans, and those backup plans have backup plans.

And hey! Things haven’t been all bad, not even in the slightest. One of my favorite games got an update! Which is a great way to unwind. I’m going to Disneyland today with some family friends. I had to work extra so I could miss a day, but. It’s worth it for the food and the fun. Socially, I’ve been having a good “last hurrah” month before I head out, and in two weeks I’ll get to have a mini-break from all the chaos and just have time to relax. Not to mention finally getting my head straight after a long-spell of depression and not sleeping (which made me feel crazy) in August that crept a bit into September.

So, here’s to surviving! My worries are small compared to those of you on the east coast. Please stay safe Newberry friends! While I drown metaphorically, please do not drown physically. I’ll get out of this, make sure you do too.

Thanks for reading, and excuse the frazzled style of this blog. I’m sure it’ll be even worse on Friday : )