Tiredness

It never ceases to amaze me how consistently I underestimate the effect tiredness has on my demeanour and mindset.

When I’m running on low battery, everything tilts to the wrong end. The small annoyance becomes a grievance. The neutral comment sounds like a dig. The manageable problem feels immovable. And the whole time, I’m convinced I’m seeing the world as it is — not noticing the lens itself is messed up.

Tiredness is sneaky precisely because it hides its tracks. It doesn’t show up as tiredness; it disguises itself as a bad day, a difficult person, a real problem.

So when everything suddenly feels heavier, the first question isn’t what’s wrong. It’s whether I’m tired.