It’s around that time of the year that the responsibilities pile up and overflow, I can’t handle the stress any longer, I go on a two-day retreat and I catch the flu in the process.

It’s an indicator, a litmus test for my condition. No work for the next day or two means reflection, means being forced to stay at home instead of overexerting myself. Means more attempts to write a song or paint something. It’s a forced retreat.

All the afternoon I was so weak I couldn’t get out of my bed.