As July comes to an end, here are a few things that have helped me with my mental health this past month.
One of the easiest ways to boost one’s mood is laughter. I’ve been listening to a podcast called Threedom which features Lauren Lapkus, Scott Auckerman, and Paul F. Tompkins they’re three comedians that hang out, tell stories and play games. It’s the best comedy podcast I’ve ever listened to and I highly recommend it if podcasts are something you listen to. I has made me cry with laughter mid-shift at work.
I’ve been talking to a lot of friends on the phone. I think hanging out with people in person is good and if you prefer it, maybe do that instead, however I love a three hour phone call. The intimacy of hearing someone’s voice on the other line creates a focus to the conversation that being in person doesn’t. It also pretty much guarantees you won’t be on your phone whilst talking to your friend. I love to call someone up and then go on a two hour walk as I chat with them. It’s one of my greatest pleasures in life and I highly suggest you give it a go.
Stephen Colbert gives this great interview about gratitude and life, it’s been sticking with me.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the longevity of my life and how to insure that my life is good in my later years. Thinking about your future not only gives you some relief if you’re feeling blue in the moment, but also makes you fall in love with life again. As Adam Driver sang at the end of Marriage Story Being Alive, even when painful, is something I enjoy. I’d like to continue to do it.
I think it’s pretty easy these days to fall into a pit of despair what with the world being bad and all, but I reckon if you fall in love with life it’ll make you fight harder for it; both personally and socially.
So, if you can, fall in love with who you can become.
You must act as though you will live a long life, it will make you wiser, more hopeful, and, ideally, more thoughtful to others.
Think of yourself in the future
Really picture it
Not you as you are now
But you as you will be
What is you hair like?
Grey and long?
White and short?
New laugh lines from moments shared with friends
Think of those you love and be grateful that you get to know them as you get older
Think of the new loved ones in your life, too
Imagine what you can be
Every day you can be yourself more and more
Plunging the depths of you and being yourself on purpose
You are worth being you
Think of all the things you’ve done already
Congratulate yourself
Think of all the things you will do
Long for that
Long to be changed by the tides of time like cliffs on a shoreline