One Day at a Time

Take a page from the AA Big Book and focus on what you can do today.

It's so easy to fall short on long term goals, and probably fine to do so, as our needs and desires change.

Don't set yourself up for failure – set yourself up for success! What will you do today? Be realistic.

“Today I will get out of bed and have one healthy meal” may be what you know you can do. That's fine. Focus on short-term goals.

Just for today.

One element of coping with depression is getting the proper nutrition, and one way to eat well is to cut out the crap you know is not good for you.

Potato chips are a common culprit. You can eat a snack-size bag (or two) every day, telling yourself that if they're "sun chips" or baked or low-salt, they're okay.

Fine, anything is okay once in a while.

If you are what you eat, don't be junk. Don't be fried. Don't have unpronounceable ingredients.

Depression Lies

THIS is one of the best articles you'll read on depression.

7 Big, Stupid, Destructive Lies Depression Tells You. It begins with “Depression is a beast. It's an illness so insidious that sometimes you don't realize the scope of its life-threatening power until you're drowning under its waves.”

You will recognize some of these lies. Such as “You're not trying hard enough.” You may tell yourself these lies all the time, and not even realize it's the depression talking!

What others think about you does not have to be your reality.

Try to remember that the faith or lack thereof that people place in you is a reflection of their experience, beliefs and thoughts, not a reflection of reality.

Take a break...

Nature calms anxiety.

HERE is a live webcam of a nesting hummingbird. Take a break and watch for a while!

Scroll down the webcam page for links to other webcams – Hawaii, Alaska and more.

Even in the depths of depression, sometimes you have a great day. A content few hours. A joyful moment.

Sieze them! Clap along.

FlyLady

If just the words “de-clutter and get organized” fill you with anxiety, relax! There is help you can take in baby steps.

Flylady has a simple, step-by-step, little-by-little system to get you organized! No, really. It works. And it's free!

Give it a try. Take your first baby steps by checking out flylady.

And, if it just stresses you out more, then don't do it! See how this works?

Gurdeep Pandher Wins the Internet with Kindness

I recently discovered Gurdeep Pandher, who became an Internet sensation by dancing. Just gleeful jumping and free flow dancing in a traditional costume in the snow of the Canadian North. Offbeat is the way to get views!

His joy and his philosophy are inspiring. Below is a recent post from his Substack, with this title:

"When the Weather is Cold, Kindness Becomes Even More Crucial: Kindness does not just bring warmth and light into the lives of others, but it also heals many hearts, mending wounds and fostering a sense of peace, unity and care."

Kindness and dancing with abandon sound like a great prescription for battling depression.

Read his post HERE. 

Get Help!

If you are depressed, have been chronically depressed, or are in a crisis of depression and suicidal thoughts – please, get help.

You deserve to feel better. You deserve to get your life back on track. And you can and you will. You may just need some help from someone experienced in helping.

So, talk to your doctor or your spiritual advisor, minister or rabbi. Talk to a guidance counselor or teacher or trusted friend. Talk to someone and ask how to get the help you need. And then get it.

You deserve it.