When life piles it on: Finding solace in small joys

It’s been one of those weeks. You know the type – where everything seems to pile up, and not in the good way. As I sit here reflecting on the last few days, I’m realising just how much has happened, and how important it is to find small moments of peace among the chaos.  

It all began on Wednesday when I managed to spill a flask of boiling water over my chest. The pain was immediate, sharp, and overwhelming. A trip to the minor injuries’ unit confirmed the worst – second-degree burns. If you’ve ever experienced burns, you know just how excruciating they can be, even beyond the initial moment.  

Since then, I’ve been making regular trips to the clinic to have the dressings changed, which has become a necessary but dreaded routine. This morning, I couldn’t wait until my scheduled visit – the pain was unbearable. A quick stop-in revealed that the burn had become infected. Now, I’m on antibiotics and have another appointment booked for Tuesday to ensure things don’t worsen.  

After such a rough week, I felt the need to escape for a while, to breathe, and to do something that would lift my spirits, even briefly. Saturday seemed like the perfect opportunity. I loaded the dogs into the car and headed to the local moors, just a short five-minute drive away.  

The air was crisp, the landscape vast and open. Watching the dogs run free, their tails wagging as they explored the moors, brought me a much-needed sense of calm. There’s something about the simplicity of nature and the unbridled joy of dogs that can ground you, no matter what’s happening in your life.  

While the physical pain and emotional toll of this week have been heavy, moments like Saturday remind me that not every moment is defined by difficulty. Whether it’s the healing power of a walk-in nature or the comfort of a wagging tail, it’s these small joys that help balance out the weight of life’s challenges.  

I don’t know what the next week will bring. Hopefully, the infection clears up, and I can start feeling more like myself again. But for now, I’m taking things one day at a time.