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Avidly Ravenous

February 3, 2021

Chasing Away the Winter Blues & Other Woefully Inadequate Euphemisms

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It has been a hard year in one way or another for everyone. Mental health has taken a dive and many of our usual coping activities have become less accessible. I am no exception. On the bright side (?), I now have a third flavor of depression to add to my menu.

Depression, now in three flavors.

In the summer, I was coping better. Outdoor activities were easier, gardening was a possibility, and the sun was dosing me with that sweet sweet vitamin D. Now, the short days of winter have my feet dragging and my mind foggy. When you're stuck in a sticky pit of despair, it can be hard to find a reason to reach for the hose...but perhaps a bit easier if the hose is labeled "despair demolisher" (follow me for more flawless metaphors).

I'm guessing many of you might feel similarly this time of year. So, today I am going to share with you some of the self-care activities I have used in the last year to combat the slowly crushing weight that is depression. I hope that seeing my activities helps even one person to brave their own struggles.

First on my list is the time I spent with these three heroes:

The goofball
The cuddler
The multi-purpose mood enhancer

Then, there's crafting. For me crafting is a productivity hack for my weary soul. See brain, I'm not doing anything important. Surprise! It was actually a scarf the whole time! I realize that the fruits of my labor aren't exactly gold star worthy. However, when vines of unworthiness creep through my mind, I channel my inner Mr. Rogers, who said, "I'm not very good at it. But it doesn't matter. It's the fun of doing it that's important". So, I choose to cut away the vines and venture through my mediocrity full of passion.

Cross stitch that says "I can't adult today"
A painted rock of a turkey
a painted rock with flowers and a snail
A cross stitch of a dancing bear
A knitted black and white cowl

Many walks were had

A husky staring at a crafted dog
A husky on a walk, from leash holder perspective
A husky sniffing the leaves on a walk

Fires and Family (following all pandemic rules)

And of course, I took time to indulge myself.

a charcuterie plate with raspberries, salami, crackers, cheese, mixed nuts, and jam
a tuxedo cat laying on an arm, over a partly done puzzle
A stack of homemade breads including sourdough, french bread, and white bread
My husband standing at the edge of a lake as the sun sets

Tell me about your self-care activities. I'd love to hear them.

Keep your belly full, your mind engaged, and your heart open.




Lillian

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  1. [email protected] says

    February 11, 2021 at 3:48 am

    If only everyone had a multi-purpose mood enhancer. What a useful addition.

    Reply

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