Juggling and spiraling
How I manage the doldrums to regain my rhythm.
Fun fact: I never learned to juggle. But if I had, I’d probably want to do it like Groot over here.
This way, I could eat all the macarons when I’m done.
I’ve been on the Stack pretty consistently since October 2025, and some of you know I have several interests. Coding, blogging, pianing (ok, that’s not a word), haikuing (neither is that), music videoing, sometimes mathing, singing (don’t ask), reading, or rambling (my favorite). I love learning new things, and it often invigorates me.
That is, when it doesn’t overwhelm me.
Sometimes it feels like enormous pressure to deliver quickly on all of these interests. Realizing that I am generating this pressure does not make things any easier.
But it’s more than that. Things are tough these days. There seems to be an epidemic of detachment: mindless scrolling, burnout, pockets of despair. Financial concerns seem to be the tip of the iceberg.
The result is a downward spiral. Now I’m losing my rhythm and dropping macarons on the floor.
If this has happened to you, here’s how I get out of that situation:
Find a way to be grateful and smile.
Wait a minute. That’s it?
Yes.
It doesn’t have to be a big reason. Maybe the sun is out, you’re having a good cup of coffee, or something happened that wasn’t as bad as you expected.
What gratitude does is interrupt that spiral for a second.
Here’s why that second is important:
The downward spiral needs to be sustained.
By interrupting it, you lessen its hold, and you take some of your power back.
Interrupt it enough times, and the spiral loses all momentum.
It’s surprisingly effective when you start to lose your rhythm.
Before long, you’re juggling again.