Silk and Sandpaper

Several days ago, I had a day at work that wasn’t necessarily bad…but it wasn’t good either. Have you ever had one of those days?

On that particular day, things that would normally create a minor little pause in my day felt more…abrasive.

Later that day as I was attempting to share with my daughter how my day went, I could only best explain it by telling her that if good days felt like silk, that day felt more like sandpaper.

Silky days are those days when everything is smooth. I feel like I’m in my flow – whatever I’m doing is going well and I’m feeling really good about it.

Days that feel rough, just like sandpaper, can have varying degrees of abrasiveness. It may be that minor little things annoy me. However, on those tougher, more challenging days, it may feel like sandpaper that has a coarser grit. Those are the days that could potentially result in some deep scratches.

I then reminded myself sandpaper days may have some benefits. Perhaps I will respond by taking several deep breaths or do something good for myself, even if it’s just a five-minute walk break or a quick check in with a trusted friend. Sandpaper days certainly help me appreciate more the days that feel like silk. 

Since then, I’ve shared this with a few people and am not surprised they grasped my description quickly. I think we can all relate.

If you find yourself having a day that feels more like sandpaper, I hope this encourages you to find a way to respond that smoothens out the rough edges.