February may be the shortest month of the year, but sometimes it can be the dreariest. It doesn’t have to be, though! This month, we’ve filled the magazine with all sorts of uplifting content, including Pantone’s Color of the Year — Very Peri! (page 8), ocean plastic turned into vibrant art (page 44), and a gorgeous photo spread of five Brazos Valley couples whose wedding memories might just melt your heart (page 19). We’ve also got violin and harp music (page 14) and lots of flowers — c’mon, how can flowers not make you smile? (page 40). If you’re still in the doldrums and need cheering up, then feel free to try these suggestions that have worked well for me.
Start with a gratitude list. As corny as it sounds, it works. I start by coming up with a daily list of 10 things to feel grateful for, like, “I finally found my wallet!” “Wow! I can zip up my jeans!” and “Thank goodness for Advil!” Always remember, negative thoughts perpetuate themselves, so counteract them by focusing on the positive. And when that doesn’t work, do as I do: Grab a spoon and dig into a pint of Blue Bell.
Are you on HALT? H-A-L-T is an acronym for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired — or as my mom would say, “Too pooped to pip.” Unfortunately, it’s hard for me to get past H most of the time. Usually, I skip A and L and go straight to T. If I’m on A or L, I call a friend, and we go out to eat. That takes care of H, A, and L. If I’m on T, I either pour a pot of coffee (yes, you read that right), or head straight for bed.
Get going! When I’m really down in the dumps, I have to force myself up and out of said bed —unless I’m on T (see above). The old saying, “if you snooze, you lose” applies here. This is one time it helps to be on A, because I get my best house cleaning done when I’m mad. Grout is no match for me when I’m armed with Soft Scrub and a stiff bristle brush. Gotta battle with resistance and fight inertia to win! If motivation isn’t enough to coax me out from under the covers, H (or Mother Nature) invariably gets me up — especially if Blue Bell is calling my name.
What Would Mom Do? Mom would probably ask if you had been eating right and if you’ve been getting enough sleep. She might give you a hug and tell you that this too shall pass. Even if your mom isn’t the nurturing type, I’ve found it’s important to learn to mother oneself. My mom always knew how to turn my frown upside down by baking me cookies. So what do you think? Which goes better with Blue Bell? Snickerdoodles or chocolate chip?
Get grooving! Let go and let loose! There’s no dress code, and only one rule: No sad music allowed. I tell Alexa to blast “Brave,” grab a hairbrush for a microphone, and get wild on the dance floor (a.k.a. the living room, clearing out shoes and sleeping dogs first). Sometimes I line up all the framed family photos and stuffed animals and call it a dance party! Keep an eye out, however, for suspicious neighbors or the Amazon delivery driver knocking at your door — just sayin’. Heck, invite ‘em to join you!
Throw a pity party. If all else fails, indulge yourself. Whine. Cry. Pout. Vent. Stomp around. Go ahead and feel however you feel. You can throw a pity party all day if you want to — and the next, and the next, and the next. Your pity party can go on and on, or until you get tired of it. Just be sure to add me to your guest list. I’ll bring the Blue Bell.
Ed. note — This month’s letter is intended to be lighthearted; however, we don’t take mental health issues lightly. If you find that your emotions are consuming you, then please, reach out for help. Doing so may seem counterintuitive, but no matter how you feel, know you are not alone. We’ve put together a list of resources for you that may help:
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Brazos Valley 1-800-273-8255
TAMU HelpLine available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 24 hours weekends while Texas A&M University classes are in session.
Call 979-845-2700 to talk about anything from anywhere.
Texas Health and Human Services COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line - 24/7, toll-free at 833-986-1919
SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline - 24/7, 1-800-846-8517, Text TalkWithUs to 66746
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline800-273-8255800-784-2433
Text CONNECT to 741.741
For additional resources, visit:
namibv.org/crisis-info
caps.tamu.edu/emergency-resources
211texas.org
