What is it about a warm, plush blanket or a yummy brownie and a glass of milk that instantly makes one feel warm and fuzzy from the inside out? To each his own, I guess, but when I am feeling blue, a couple of hours in the warm sunshine with a fascinating read or an afternoon with a cup of hot chocolate and a fun romantic comedy on the movie channel lifts the clouds and puts a smile back on my face. Sometimes, of course, only a hearty cry and a chat with a close friend, brings me back to myself, but the power of chocolate, sunshine, and a good laugh is amazing.
Today, I am missing my children. I called to talk to them and hung up the phone to a pool of tears forming in my eyes. It hit me that fast and hard. My life would not be the same or as full without them. These are the times I look for my warm, plush blanket and maybe a sweet treat to put the spring back in my step, although it’s not always that simple, and I’d added many methods to my repertoire over the years for chasing the blues away.
When I first arrived on the atoll back in 1997, I used to spend my afternoons at the pool soaking up rays, reading books, writing poetry, swimming laps, and just relaxing. This was how I cleared my mind and kept myself from becoming too homesick. Over the years, I’ve learned that there’s more than one way to get my mind off life’s challenges, such as scrap booking, basket weaving, hula dancing, yoga, and scuba diving. These are all activities which require very focused attention and a one-track mind, so to speak, which means I put all my thoughts and energy into what I am doing at that very moment and am able to relax my mind from worries or other negative thoughts that disrupt peace in my heart and mind.
Lately, I have gone back to writing as my outlet of choice. I’ve discovered that when I write out my thoughts, my troubles, my worries, for some reason it’s like “setting the truth free,” and when it’s all out in the open, especially in the tangible, permanent way that blogging to the public about my life is, there’s no longer any worries to plague me. If I am not afraid to reveal my greatest fears and challenges in life to everyone, then they can’t keep me entrapped anymore.
I think that’s why women in particular feel the need to talk things out so much because when you tell someone else how you are feeling, you find out it’s normal to feel that way and even if it’s a legitimate worry, your friend puts it in perspective and lets you know that it’s something you can’t control anyway. Writing it out is truly a form of therapy for me like chocolate, sunshine, and laughter is a prescription from many doctors to help with sickness and disease. Writing keeps the grip of depression, fear, and worry from taking hold of me and making me physically and mentally sick. This also goes for yoga, swimming, and all those other wonderful activities the island life has provided me with over the years to keep me sane. What’s your favorite form of therapy? Keep it in mind the next time you need a mental or emotional lift. For me today, it’s absorbing the sunshine with a long morning walk and distracting my mind from the sorrow of missing my boys by allowing myself to become absorbed in a good movie. Break out the popcorn and the brownies! I’m ready for some comfort food and a good laugh.
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