This has been a week of meeting upon meeting, with things shifting under me like quicksand and throwing my schedule into constant, exhausting disarray. Early in the week I was still keeping to-do lists, wanting to get the everyday things done despite the energy demands of putting an introvert out into the world every day this week, but those fell by the wayside around Wednesday and I haven’t picked them back up — yet.

I finally realized that when I consider a meeting to be one item on a to-do list, I’m asking too much of myself. “Go out” is one thing, while “meet with another person or people” is a whole different expenditure of energy and willpower.

So, halfway through the week, I met myself halfway — I only did the necessary chores (mostly cat-related), I let things go that could be let go, and I concentrated on keeping my footing. I got through cancellations, reschedules, demanding social contact, and a cat who climbed on me every time I came home with the intention of never letting me leave the house again.

Coming to the end of the week with more meetings waiting, I rather want to let him have his way. But instead I’ll muster up my last dregs of energy and get myself ready for another day of maddening meetings, social demands, and not expecting the dishes to get done on top of it.

Having given myself that slack, I’m coming up on the weekend tired but happy, instead of frustrated and overwhelmed, and that’s worth a few dirty dishes or undone to-do items.