Chapter 203:
Pain and Progress
Jake’s POV
The studio was quieter than usual. The exhibition had wrung everyone out, but the aftermath was always the hard part. Walking across the room, I felt the pressure our recent successes put on us, as well as the strain.
Sarah was working on a new piece. She frowned as she gave all concentration to the canvas. I could see the tension in her shoulders as she painted-every stroke full of deliberation but heavy with emotion. I could feel her undergoing much pain, yet I did not know how to help.
“Hey, Sarah,” I said, trying to sound casual as I approached. “How’s it going?”
She looked up from her canvas, her eyes red and tired but dedicated. “It’s going. I’m just really trying to get this piece right, and it’s proving to be harder than I thought.”
I nodded and stepped closer to survey the work. “I can see that. It’s really coming together, though. What’s been the hardest part?”
Sarah sighed, setting her brush down. “Honestly? Just feeling like I’m making any real progress. Sometimes it feels like I’m spinning my wheels, especially after everything we’ve been through.”
I hadn’t even begun to formulate a response before Lila strode into the room, her face flushed from exertion. “Hey, everyone. I just finished setting up the new installations. It’s a bit of a mess, but it’s coming along.”
“You’re a troper, Lila,” I told her as I nodded in a far more supportive way. “We’ve not been holding back lately. How are you feeling?”
Lila let her bag fall onto a nearby table and did the same with her eyes, reaching up to massage them. “I’m tired, but that is part of the deal. We’ve done so much, yet sometimes it feels like we’ve only just scratched the surface.”
Sarah nodded in agreement. “Exactly. It’s like we’re progressing at a cost. The exhaustion, stress, it’s all beginning to get to us.”
Alex walked in, sensing the tension in the room. “Hey, team. What’s the mood today?”
Lila looked at him with a combination of fatigue and frustration in her eyes. “We’re all a little worn out. The recent projects have been great, but they have taken a lot out of us.
Alex came over to join us, appearing to be in deep thought. “I’ve been noticing the same thing. We have made some great accomplishments, but it is equally important that we acknowledge the strain it’s putting on us.”
Sarah took a deep breath. “I feel like we’re overworking ourselves. I feel we’re so focused on the next huge thing, and are not giving ourselves time to recover.”
“That’s a valid concern,” Alex said, his tone sympathetic. “We need to balance our drive with self-care. It’s not just about the art or the projects; it’s about how we’re handling the pressure.”
“How do we find that balance, though?” I asked, feeling a bit lost myself. “It’s easy to say we need to take care of ourselves, but implementing it is another story.”
Alex’s eyes roamed over all of us. “Maybe it’s about setting boundaries and acknowledging our limits. We can’t just push ourselves forever without expecting bodies to start dropping.
Lila nodded. “We could get better at looking out for each other, too. Check in regularly and make sure we’re not just working on the job at hand, but on how we’re doing.
Sarah wound her watch at her wrist and then sighed. “Guess it is time for another break. We’ve all been at it for hours. Let’s take a breather and regroup.”
The atmosphere lightened a bit as we moved into the small lounge area. We were all still tired, but there was something companionable in sharing our struggles around.
“I’ve been thinking,” Alex said as we relaxed, “about how we can use this downtime to reflect on what we’ve accomplished and how we can adjust our approach going forward.”
Lila sipped her coffee and looked thoughtful. “That sounds like a good idea. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and forget to appreciate what we’ve achieved.”
“Agreed,” she nodded. “Perhaps we should find ways to celebrate progress as well. The small victories. Maybe that will keep us going and remind us of why we’re doing this.”
Jake leaned backward in his chair, the tension easing a fraction. “I think that is a great idea. We have been so intent on moving forward that we’ve forgotten we’re having real success.”
As the conversation went on, we started to talk about how we could optimize our workflow, look after each other, and come out of this tunnel. The fact that we all needed to find a better way of balancing our work and wellbeing was clearly obvious.
Over the next few days, we decided it was time for a change. We scheduled regular breaks and team check-ins so that everyone was having a good day. We scheduled some tiny celebrations to mark our successes and, no matter how minor, to celebrate.
The next week, there seemed to be a shift in the studio. We were able to share our fears and celebrate our successes with each other through regular check-ins. Certainly, this did not provide a solution, but it at least brought us closer, made us feel for each other.
It was one afternoon when we had just finished a new project. With a smile, she turned to us and said, “You know, I’m feeling a lot better. The changes we made seem to be helping.”
Lila nodded in agreement. “Me too. It’s nice to have a bit more balance and celebrate along the way.”
Alex smiled. “Glad to hear that. The important thing is we’re still able to support each other and be grateful for our health.”
Jake felt his hope rekindle. The problems we wrestled with were still there, but the system we had in place kept us afloat and fighting through the current. It wasn’t just art or projects; it was how to survive as human beings.