Mind Sprocket: The Back Page : How to Get Yourself Out of the Dumps

There are some days when I want to just disappear, or die, or drive as far away as I can. Unfortunately, these things tend to be a little inconvenient. Here are some things that I do instead:

1. I look inside of my joy box. This is a round box that I painted using sponges back in seventh grade. It sits on top of my bookcase where it’s within reach, but where it doesn’t get in the way. After all, I’m not sad every day. What’s inside of this box? Things that make me happy, of course. There are some photos of me and my cousins when we played dress-up as eight- and nine-year-olds; there is a pet rock named Elvis that I made when I was thirteen; there is a card my sister made me for my eighteenth birthday that always makes me laugh … you get the idea? Find some things that make you smile, and put them in a box.

2. I keep a list of happy days. This one may sound a little ridiculous. But you know how there was that “one perfect day”, where you don’t remember one single thing being wrong? Well, when I think of one of those I write it down. For example: “April in New York City with _____” I don’t worry with the details; it’s easy remember everything that happened because it was such an awesome day! My list is saved on my computer, but you could print or write it out, and maybe even put the paper in your joy box, or stick in in a drawer where you can “happen” upon it.

3. I do something childish. Not too long ago, someone bought me five jars of fingerpaint. I keep them in a basket on my bedroom floor. When the mood takes me, I grab some paper out of my printer, open the paint, and make terrible but very fun art. I keep the jars close by; otherwise, I will talk yourself out of playing with them because they’ll take too long to find and get out, or I’ll decide you don’t want to get messy after all, etc. Using finger paint guarantees that there won’t be an obligation to paint something great enough to hang on a wall. Plus, it’s washable, which means that I could make a mess if I so chose and everything would be okay.

There are other ways to be childish. Sit in your closet with a flashlight and read, or if it’s warm enough outside, take a walk barefoot. Go sit on a swing. Stay busy, stay happy!