These are a few of my favorite things that I do when I'm feeling sad. No, it doesn't involve the rain or the roses. Why? Because those kind of happy endings happen only in movies. In real life, if you decide to mess with Mother Nature, what are the odds of singing while getting drenched in a downpour - without sneezing even once or smelling the roses - without getting stung on the nose by an angry bee who was just minding his own pollinating business? Trust me, pretty high. So, without much further ado, here are ten tips that could help spruce up your dull days.
- Sorting through old photographs and trying to remember the events that took place at that moment and place, recalling the tender moments or hilarious ones. I love to dig out treasures from my mothers' pile of photos, every time I visit my home.
- Walking down the "nostalgic" lane, if you're lucky enough that your neighborhood stays the same and not been knocked down by newer construction. It's nice to trace your favorite haunts, where you and your friends used to hang out together, played or travelled along.
- Catching up with old friends in school or college and talk about the goofy, awkward things which can sound so absurd right now, but seemed like crucial matters of life and death at that time. Teen acne, nerdy glasses, not-so-fashionable clothes, boy/girl crushes - you get the idea.
- How about visiting an aged relative, recollect about the older, when you were younger times? Of course, chances are that the most embarassing moments of your child hood, like tripping and falling during a play in front of the entire school audience or how your dress got ripped in the middle of a wedding party etc could be rehashed all over again. Which could come as a shocking surprise, because all along, you were thinking and living in "La-la Land" that no one would remember such small trivia, wherein the stark reality is that the whole incident has been laughed, mocked and has been part of the family entertainment all these years - behind your back. Well, how do you handle this situation? Think of it as inexpensive therapy. It helps a lot.
- Talking to your own parents about grown-up issues, is a very soothing experience too. After all, you can discuss matters of the heart on a equal footing now, because you have accumulated enough life experiences to finally tell them, "Yes, i have done it and no, what you said didn't actually work for me". Or, whatever you want to get out of your system. Again, think therapy.
- Now, my favorite one. Duck the diet, turn blind to the nutritonal facts and caloric values (staring at them all along hasn't helped anyway, right?) and bring on the chocolates, sweets and the pastries. Just pig out for a day, see how the world looks brighter and you become cheerful once the sugar starts sinking into your system. SideNote: Don't try this every day, else you could have scientists swoop down to your house to try to tap your hyperactivity and convert it into the next renewable energy source. Hmm, which is actually not a bad idea, can someone take note and do something....puhleeze.
- Spending quality time with the family, listening to your kids talk about the latest "cool" craze with their friends can give you a good break from the drone.
- Getting out of the house. Taking a long walk, maybe go window-shopping at the nearby mall or shop.
- Reading a book, listening to music, watching a movie in the theatre or channel-flipping on the TV- there's a reason these are good, time-tested boredom busters.
- Finally, do nothing. Zilch. Nada. Just taking a power nap, a doze and you can be back to original self in no time. Not a great tip, but I had to come up with something to reach up to ten. Whew, made it.