Carried-Away Rice

Never cook caraway seeds with your rice as an experiment on Valentine's Eve. It tastes alright, but stinks badly, and if you were already depressed, it will make you even more depressed.

WATER!

DRINK TONS OF WATER! Good water, that is. Drinking enough water absolutely has a tangible, positive effect on your energy level, optimism and well-being. Bottoms up!

Two emergency measures . . .

1. Lie Down in a Hot Bath!

Once recently I felt about as low as I've ever felt, both physically and emotionally. It was Christmas morning (!), and I was sick as a dog (are they really that sick??), body and heart. Even napping didn't help. Needing relief pretty badly and not knowing what else to do, I ran a bath, lay down in it (on my back :) and snoozed. It wasn't a complete cure, but I felt SO SO much better.

2. Purge Your Environment!

Jumbled messy environments lead to jumbled messy minds. People do handle environments differently, but if you're at your wit's end, emotionally, try purging your space of messes, piles, even objects. We are physical beings, after all, and whether we realize it or not, are greatly affected by our physical surroundings. Create big, sunny, open spaces in your home--you might discover big, sunny open spaces in your mind.

Give, give, give!

Give generously, generously, generously, especially when life is hard. It will seem impossible at times, but the more you give of your love, your time, your understanding, your talents and your possessions, the less impoverished you will feel--and the less impoverished you'll be.

Instead of measuring out your love, let it pour from you like sunshine from the sun. The more you give, the more will flow through you, healing you and those around you.

Pay it forward!

Dear friend, have you discovered something that helped you in your battle with the demons of sadness and despair? Even just a fleeting thought that gave you a moment of relief? Consider writing it down, or tell the story! Anything at all, however small, that brings comfort to you can bring comfort to some other poor soul--your discovery is no less significant than an herbalist or scientist discovering a new medicine. Different people require different remedies for the same ailment; your personal strategy might be the ONLY one that helps another in pain. Passing the knowledge on helps you yourself remember it more readily, and creates the real possibility that something good and important can come out of your suffering.

Simple Steps

When demons strike, either make or put on some music IMMEDIATELY; then go find someone more morose than yourself and cheer them up. This also works in reverse order.

Call to the Dance

Of love, music, pain and joy.

I hope what is entered here will help someone someday.
I'm writing in the the belief that
when battling demons
there is not just
"I will lose," or "I will win," but
"I will dance."