What do you do?
I had a conversation with a good friend today. Well, really it was a texversation (text conversation) but that's just how I am most days.
Anyways.
We were talking about feeling stuck, lost, drowning. We've all felt it. When the walls start to close in. When the world seems to be bringing you down. When all the marshmallows are gone from the Lucky Charms and all you have are those heinous cereal bites that taste like cardboard.
Now more than ever it seems more and more people are feeling this way. Times are tough right now for almost everyone. The TV says the economy is getting better but from what I can tell no "real" person is actually feeling that. It's all just political mumbo jumbo to help us pretend it's ok.
Reality is, money is hard to come by and jobs are hard to find.
Yet, with all of that, we continue to try to keep up with the Jones'. We are constantly hearing "do this" "feed you kid that" "more classes" "better things" "more stuff".
It seems to me that I'm seeing a lot of pretending. Random people at Target with the vacant look in their eyes with the perma smile plastered on their face. Friends that say everything is "ok". When you know they aren't.
Heaven knows I've done my fair share. I am queen of the "fake it until you make it" phrase. I believe in the philosophy actually. It won't solve all your problems but some days, it's the only way to get by.
So I started thinking after my textverstion. Thinking of ideas to help my friend. What do I do when I get stuck? How do I cope when I feel like I've been swallowed whole by the blood sucking monster that is life?
I've actually shared about some of the ways I cope on here. I run to my happy place. I take photos. I spend some time alone or with people that feed my soul.
I've talked about how music can affect my mood. How drugs (when properly regulated by a doctor) are sometimes an important part of the solution.
A very dear friend has a phrase "the dogs problems to him are the same as yours are to you." Meaning, we all have issues. The worst day in a dogs life, is just that, his worst day. It's pushing the dog to his limits, to the brink, further and harder than the poor puppy has ever had to go before.
We've all been there, haven't we? Pushed to our personal brink. Unsure of how to navigate. How to calm down. How to find balance again.
Which brings me to my idea. I would love for every person that reads this to leave at least one tip on how they cope when they've been pushed too far.
Talking with a friend, listening to music, video games, duck hunting... What do you do when the world has been too harsh? How do you find your inner voice, that voice that tells you where to go next?
You're not just sharing with me, you're sharing with everyone. My comments section allows anonymous posts if you don't feel like being recognized. But please, share something. Maybe your idea will give someone else hope on an otherwise dark day.
A fun photo post planned for tomorrow. It's all about balance people.
xoxox,
Brandi
