Stick a fork in me from Nilofer Merchant

Stick a fork in me, I’m done!

By Nilofer Merchant on Dec 21, 2012 10:43 am

Friday December 21, 2012 is a long-anticipated day. We’ve long ago known it was the “end of the world” as we know it. It also marks the Winter Solstice, the darkest and longest night of the year – which marks the return longer days and light. It is of course the season of Advent in the Christian faith, which is about preparing one’s for the universal light. On the work calendar, it is also the day before many people can take some time off to rest and rejuvenate. (I know so many people can’t take a break because they serve our hospitals, emergency services, and grocery stores but for those of us who can, we are watching the clock for 5:00 pm to roll around so we can officially stop.)

These past months for me have been a series of trips, talks, thinking about big questions, and juggling to keep up with existing commitments. I am still fretting over those things I said I would do but never got to. I stayed up the other night until nearly midnight creating the family Christmas cards, and stressing how I would get everything done. I’ve had a terrible case of bronchitis left over from the travels. And, even though I’ve said I would create one last thing for my team at Harvard Biz Review, I’ve noticed things that normally take a few hours or days seem to be taking forever. I ran around the house the other day trying to find my keys, only to discover them … in my hands. I’m spent up. And the thing I keep noticing is that so is everyone else. Whether it was Sandy, or Sandy Hook, or the interminable and divisive election year, it seems like we’re all done. As in “stick a fork in me, I’m done!”.  Everyone I talk with can barely wait for one thing: vacation.

So before you start yours, (and I hope you have a good one planned), I want to just say this. Thank you for all your support, creativity, ideas, connection making, and kickass selves. Community makes all the difference, and you have filled my heart with more purpose than you know. With that in my heart, I wish you all the best for a restful winter holiday and joy as you face the New Year.

P.S. I had planned a series of Give columns for ideas for what to give a writer, board member, speaker, or hiker, but maybe I’ll turn those into a “tools” column in the New Year. Or save them for next year.

P.P.S. It’s ironic that Good Housekeeping featured an interview I did with Gretchen Rubin (of the Happiness Project)  in their January issue where I talk about what keeps me from happiness (answer: over commitment). As I re-read my own words (written years ago), I heard some cosmic chuckling.