Brooding + Transparency + Support Peacocks

MENTAL HEALTH MONDAY

Sitting around brooding about one's mental, physical and/or spiritual life is NOT a recipe for positive mental health. This is especially challenging if (1) you are sick, which is pretty common this time of year; & (2) wintry weather is NOT conducive to spending time outside, soaking up even trace amounts of Vitamin D.

So, how to combat these challenges? Here are my suggestions.

1. Exercise, if possible. For example, if you have a treadmill, use it even for a minimal amount of exercise each day, which we know promotes better mental health. Walking outside can be a challenge in arctic weather, but you may be blessed to live in a relatively balmy climate. CAVEAT:  It's hard to do ANY remotely physical exercise when you are coughing, wheezing, feeling fatigued, etc. [All are part of my ongoing recovering from Influenza A & pneumonia.]
2. Even if you can't exercise much or at all, you can pay attention to what you're eating. A high fat, high carb diet will NOT contribute to mental health. Chicken noodle soup has been proven to help recovery from cold symptoms. Staying hydrated is important, too. CAVEAT:  I've been trying to cut down on caffeine, partly by drinking a lot of decaf green tea & sipping water throughout the day. The downside is getting up during the night multiple times to "use the facilities." Once again, we know that poor sleep contributes to depression & anxiety. Last night I stopped drinking anything beyond a few sips of water after 6:00p, & I only had to get up once during the night.
3. Mental exercise. Physical exercise is easy to define. Mental exercise? Not so much, but here goes. Reading for fun can be therapeutic, depending on your choice of reading matter. I wouldn't tackle anything too "deep." Writing, whether in the form of journaling or blogging, is also therapeutic, as long as it doesn't become obsessive.

From Omaha World Herald (12/17/17):  ""Trying to right wrong caused by stigma surrounding mental illness . . . The public still has a way to go to openly discussing mental illness, said Sheri Dawson, who directs the behavioral health division of the Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services. 'It affects one in four of us,' Dawson said. 'We need to raise the conversation' Today's medications & treatments can be effective, she said. 'Mental illness should not be considered a secret, but a treatable, chronic illness,' Dawson said." COMMENTS:  I've tried to be as transparent as possible about my chronic depression & anxiety disorder. What I've found is that those of the current generation are probably a little more comfortable with this discussion. However, it's still risky to be transparent, because--& I'm not trying to be facetious--there are still many who think mental illness is "all in the head." They find it hard to understand why we just can't get over it or talk ourselves out of it.

OWH (2/1):  "Airline bars emotional support peacock. United Airlines turned away a passenger who tried to take her emotional support peacock with her on a cross-country flight because of health & safety concerns. Photographer & performance artist Ventiko said she bought a ticket for her peacock, Dexter, so he would have his own seat on SUN's flight from NJ to Los Angeles. A spokeswoman for Chicago-based United said the peacock didn't meet guidelines for several reasons, including its size & weight. Spokeswoman Andrea Hiller said the problems had been explained to the passenger 3 times before they arrived at the airport.'"  COMMENTS:  Emotional support for all the other passengers & flight crew should trump the emotional support of an individual passenger. I must admit, however, that it would be intriguing to see how passengers would react when someone entered the cabin w/his or her emotional support peacock.

Quiet Time Reflection

My daily quiet time has become a time of refuge for me . . . a time of spiritual healing & growth. Part of this time is spent "praying" a hymn or spiritual song. There are days when the hymn absolutely nails what's on my mind. Yesterday (SUN 2/4) a hymn I prayed was "I Walk in Danger All the Way," Lutheran Service Book, #716, stanzas 5 & 6. It meets that criteria.

"I walk with Jesus all the way, His guidance never fails me; within His wounds I find a stay when Satan's power assails me; & by His footsteps led, my path I safely tread. No evil leads my soul astray; I walk with Jesus all the way.

"My walk is heavenward all the way; await, my soul, the morrow, when God's good healing shall allay all suffering, sin, & sorrow. Then, world pomp, begone! To heaven I now press on. For all the world I would not stay; my walk is heavenward all the way."

Food for Thought

From Norfolk Daily News (1/12):  "OK to eat a little bit of snow. Who among us hasn't stuck their tongue out on a wintry day to catch a few falling snowflakes? The thirst for snow seems to be at an all-time high lately, w/pictures & recipes of snow cream & slushy drinks popping up. But is it safe to eat snow? That depends, scientists. Here's the cold, hard truth about it . . . Scientists say the trace amounts of chemicals found in snow do not reach harmful levels. Especially considering that most people's snow consumption falls into the tasting, not gorging, category. Here's a recipe for snow cream:  Stir together 8 cups of snow, 1 cup milk, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract & top w/sprinkles (for taste & for better Instagram pictures."  COMMENTS:  Whew! One less thing to be anxious about.