“Snap out of it!”
Everyone has a “bad day” now and then. If you are lucky, the “blues” might get you down for just a few moments. Hopefully, you have never experienced or will never experience being “down in the dumps” for too long. However long these moments last, it is important to know what helps to pick you back up. What cures your blues? What has the ability to snap you out of it?
When I am having a bad moment, I know that all will be better with a simple thing called CHOCOLATE! Many of you have seen the jar of M & M’s, “teacher pills” as some of us affectionately call them, on my desk. A little bit of chocolate can go a long way. This sweet delight might come in the form of candy, cake, or hot cocoa for the wintertime blues. I don’t question why or how this delicious stuff gives me a “pick up” from these moments–I am just happy it is so successful.
At the end of a not-so-great-day, when I need more than chocolate to cheer me up, I turn to music. Listening to the words and sounds of U2, Matchbox Twenty, Bon Jovi, and even Frank Sinatra miraculously lifts me up and carries me into a better place. Music is like medicine for my unfortunate mood.
For me, there is one place that has the ability to erase anything bad. There is no such thing as a bad moment, a bad day, or a bad anything when I am at the beach. I don’t know what it is, but when I am at the beach the “bad stuff’” is at bay. It could be as simple as the fact that I am a Pisces. You know this means, if you believe in that Zodiac-stuff, that I am a fish. So, perhaps I am meant to be frolicking surf-side twenty-four-seven. With the sand between my toes, the relentless rhythm of the waves hitting the shore, and the soft, salty air, I have no cares while I am in the protective custody of the beach. It doesn’t even need it to be sunny when I am at the beach. Rain or shine–the beach is my happy place.
In the span of a lifetime, we will all experience many not-so-pleasant things. I think it’s important for us to know how to pick ourselves up from these bad moments. If we don’t turn to these things, or to these people, or to these places, the moments may easily turn into days, or weeks, or years. What is it or who is it that cheers you up, gets you out of the dumps, helps to cure your blues, snaps you out of it?
“What’s important is finding out what works for you.” –Henry Moore
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When I’m having a bad day, I know some exercise, usually Jazzercise, will put me in a better frame of mind. I also know that I can usually deal with problems better in the early morning than at any other time of the day. So often I just “sleep on it” and then tackle the problem first thing in the morning with that first cup of coffee in hand. Other antidotes to too much stress are zoning out with several games of Scrabulous or taking my dog, Lucy, for a walk.
When i am in the dumps, i like to watch tv. TV calms me and entertains me. I normally eat a snack like cheese and crackers or pretzels when i watch tv. I like to watch tv up in my room, in private so i can reflect on why i am mad. My favorite show to watch is SportCenter because it is funny, and i NEED to know all of the final scores from the Braves, the Thrashers, the Jayhawks, th Bulldogs, the Hawks, and, most importantly, the BUCKEYES!!!.
When I am down in the dumps and need to get out, I definitely listen to U2 – any song will do! However, the song “Where the Streets Have No Name” especially takes me to a happy place. It is, after all, written about the destination that Bono and many believe is the happiest place we can hope to someday arrive. I also think about all the things that I am so very thankful for and sometimes take for granted including a wonderful family and friends, great education, good career that affords me more than adequate food, shelter, clothing, transportation, healthcare and life in a country where I have freedom of speech and religion. Millions of people in the world have never and may never experience any of these things that I am so grateful for. When these thoughts swirl in my head, my time “in the dumps” doesn’t last very long.
If I’m feeling down, the first thing I usually do is find a friend who is willing to listen to me analyze the issue that’s bothering me until I’m done with it. This usually doesn’t take too long. Sometimes this is my husband, a good friend at work, or a girlfriend over the phone. Other sure-fire ways to make myself feel better follow: a snuggle with my daughters or cats, watching TV alone in bed (reality series on Bravo, Law and Order, Oprah, NFL games), red hots and junior mints, being alone, music, reading good books and magazines, listening to NPR podcasts, dancing, shopping. Oh, did I mention being alone???
And I couldn’t agree more with Leslie. The beach is THE place to be. All is well whenever I’m by the ocean…any ocean will do.
Ms. Williams
Yes, I know that we’re focusing on the students but your blog just took me to a good place.
I especially loved the response that you have received (students?).
Though I’m here to encourage those in your classes to continue writing I think it appropriate that you go to WordPress and open an account. Time to share with the outside world!
Cheers!
Jim (The Evil Q)