Let’s admit it–some days, spirits seem to sag in the middle. Everything under the sun that is sad or unfair or uncertain comes and sits right there on my shoulders, just daring me to get out of bed and put one foot in front of the other and face the day. As the songs goes, They’re writing songs of love, but not for me; a lucky star’s above, but not for me (written by George and Ira Gershwin.) So, what do I do?
Down in the dumps is not a nice place to be. And, since it isn’t a great way to spend the day, I try not to stay there long. Sometimes low spirits have a definite reason; sometimes, there’s more than one reason, and sometimes there doesn’t seem to be any reason at all. Like a dentist probing for a sore tooth, I sit down and ask myself why I’m feeling this way. I write down the reasons and tear up the list. I hunt for positive, uplifting Scripture, I get out of the house. If a friend or two or three are not busy, I suggest we go out for coffee. Everybody has problems. Listening to someone else’s worries or heartaches helps put mine into perspective and causes me to know I’m not alone.
Books have helped me over many a rough place. So, I pick up a book by a favorite author, or sit down at the computer and visit with Darcy, Flora, or Ned. And, the piano…that dear old instrument has seen me through some miserable, low spirits.
black-eyed Susans
Flowers are natural picker-uppers, and the fresh scent of herbs are mood lifters. Mint, basil, sage–they all smell so great.
eggplant
And then, there’s the simple little pen and pencil. If starting a full-fledged painting seems far too much for such a saggy-spirited day, I just doodle. Funny, how that is relaxing.
It’s easy to tell someone to cheer up, get your chin up off the floor, have high hopes, but the thing is, this usually doesn’t help at all. The blues are all too real and I think a bit of commiseration is a lot better than ignoring them. But, the truth is, when I’m down in the dumps, I am the only one who can do anything about it. When the blues come knocking, it’s a good idea not to invite them in.
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