A Day With My Emotions

I wake up, and there they are, sitting at the foot of my bed, waiting for me…..my emotions.

Anxiety is the first to greet me. She’s small but restless, always in motion, pacing back and forth. “Did you sleep enough? What if today’s a bad day?” Her questions fire like bullets, and I feel that familiar nervousness settling into my bones.

Joy floats near the window, glowing like the sunlight. She smiles, “Don’t mind her,” Joy says, waving at Anxiety. “It’s a new day. You’ve got this.” She eases the tension, even if only for a second.

By the time I’m downstairs, Frustration has joined us, slumped against the kitchen counter with arms crossed. “You forgot to get pancakes yesterday,” he mutters, pointing at the empty fridge. “Great job. How are you supposed to make breakfast for the kids now?” He sighs loudly, making a small inconvenience feel like the end of the world.

Anxiety jumps in. “Oh no! Now you’ll never get to the lab on time!” She buzzes with negative energy, circling me and making my heart race.

Joy stands tall, brushing Frustration aside. “It’s just pancakes. We can figure it out. Let’s make French toast instead.” She’s gentle but firm, reminding me that small problems aren’t the end of the world.

As the day goes on, they all follow me, each offering their two cents whether I ask for it or not. 

Fear will occasionslly come out of the shadows, gently tugging at my sleeve with a quiet “you shouldn’t do that.” As I muster the courage to leave the house, or do something I really don't want to do.

And then there’s Sadness, who has been quietly lingering in the corner all morning. Her presence is heavy, but she never demands attention. Finally, she approaches, resting her head on my shoulder. “It’s okay to feel overwhelmed,” she whispers, wiping a tear from her cheek, her voice weighing heavy on my heart. “You don’t have to be strong all the time.”

I nod, unsure how to respond, and let her sit with me for a while. Sometimes, there are no words. Sometimes you just have to sit with your emotions.

Then Confidence bursts through the door, a little late but full of energy. “Hey! Let’s do this! You’re amazing! You can do anything!” He slaps me on the back, trying to shake off the doubt that Anxiety and Fear have whispered in my ear all morning. His enthusiasm is contagious, though Anxiety rolls her eyes, still pacing, still reminding me of everything that could go wrong.

As the sun begins to set, Exhaustion finally shows up. He doesn’t say much; he quietly takes my hand and leads me back to bed, where Joy has already curled up by the window, still softly glowing. Anxiety is still fidgeting at the foot of the bed, but now she’s quieter, her voice fading as I drift to sleep. 

Tomorrow, I know they’ll all be back, each one taking their turn to speak, to push, to comfort, to worry. But for now, I will close my eyes and try to silence them all, grateful that, somehow, I’ve made it through another day with them by my side.