The Joy of Feeling Tired

Author Raja Krishnamoorthy / Kitty - Aug 21, 2024

The Joy of Feeling Tired

Here I am, the time is 9:15 p.m. I'm sitting in front of my laptop, mulling over the day.  There's a sense of tiredness, and on top of that ball of tiredness is a cherry of joyfulness.  

I'm smiling and reflecting on this interesting phenomenon: feeling tired yet feeling so  good. I'm wondering if I can call it the joy of meaningful tiredness. 

So when does this happen? Tiredness that is purposeful, joyous, and immensely  satisfying. I realize that I often feel this and can associate it very well with the kind of  workday it turns out to be, like today.  

I was up at 5 a.m., starting with my standard domestic chores—coming down to the  kitchen, setting it up, heating the milk, preparing coHee decoction, slightly cleaning the  kitchen, and opening the front door and gate for domestic help.  

Then I switched on the overhead water pump and opened the rear door windows from  the garden, where two kittens and their mother cat eagerly awaited me.  

The multicoloured kitten continued to be extra friendly, rubbing its face on my feet. I put  a little food for them, got into the kitchen to make coHee while doing my stretches and  exercises as the milk heated. 

By 5:35 a.m., stretching took place nicely. I enjoyed it. Then I made my coHee and had a  nice cup. By that time, my wife Meena came down. We had some easy chat as she got  ready for her walk while I prepared to leave for a client's place at 7:30 a.m. 

She went for her walk; I picked up my heavy dumbbells from the veranda and planned a  35-minute workout session. I happily engaged in reasonably heavy lifting work, I felt  pretty good by the end of it. 

Around 7 o'clock, I bathed and got ready. The cab driver Sudhakar arrived. Quickly had a  short breakfast, took my morning medication, and by 7:35 am we were oH to a factory  beyond Chengalpet—a two-hour journey.  

With a good cab and driver like Sudhakar, I enjoyed the ride. After about 10 minutes, I  opened my laptop to read some interesting articles and watch some videos. 

As we crossed Melmaruvathur, a small town, and with another 20 minutes to reach our  destination, I closed the laptop, I enjoyed the quiet ride before arriving at the client’s  place.  

The engagement was demanding with a series of coaching conversations focused on  goal-setting with the managing director participating with such deep conviction and  focus. 

We reviewed what happened the day before yesterday and shifted from our original plan  to address more vital issues emerging today. The MD acknowledged this shift joyously.  Our sessions began with course corrections as needed—interesting insights emerged  about what needed to be done collectively and individually. 

Besides the head of finance, I worked with a senior manager and three of his reportees  today—each conversation lasting about an hour plus—very meaningful conversations  interspersed with a lunch break.  

By the time we finished around 5:15 or 5:20 p.m., it had been a long day of intense  conversations and critical decision shifts but overall moving towards more meaningful  tracks. 

Feeling exhausted from sitting continuously for hours—I would have done short  exercises if I was working from home—I got back into the car where Sudhakar drove  beautifully again. felt like a baby in a cradle. 

Closed my eyes for some time , then chose listening to perspectives on mental clarity  and decision-making through headphones until we were about 30 minutes away from  home. I pulled oH the earphones and decided to quietly reflect about the unfolding of  the day. 

Home by 7:30 p.m., after a 12-hour day from 7:30 a.m.! I was quieter now as Meena  inquired about my day. A quick call to my daughter for a brief chat followed by a small  dinner with adequate salad.  

A sense of satisfaction floated like a cloud in my mind despite feeling tired.

Assured Meena that I'd take care of closing the kitchen; she went up while I washed  dishes, cleaned up the place, and slowly closed windows—it was almost 9 o'clock  now—debated a bit -whether to jog in the veranda for about 20 minutes but decided  against it since tomorrow I was free from client engagements and had more options. 

Instead of hitting the bed, being fond of my workspace, I went up to sit down there for  some time—lighting incense sticks in prayer for my parents and teachers as usual— switching on the AC—and sitting down with that nice feeling of joyous tiredness... 

There you go—Now hands supporting the back of my head—leaning back on my chair— feeling slightly tired yet joyous—just loving it—and happily sharing this with you all.  

Hey, baby life, you are so awesome! 

in Awareness & Love 

Raja Krishnamoorthy 

21-8-24; 9.45 pm -Chennai