I am amazed at how much this seems to be popping up lately.
Um. At first I wrote “pooping up” up there. I wouldn’t tell you, but, it made me laugh really hard, so, I just thought I’d share.
Ok, anyway, I’m not moody or depressed right now…and I’m not even that lonely (a first). Maybe a little. But not much. But it seems like a lot of people have brought up things about depression, loneliness, all that good (not) stuff. So I feel like I should address it too.
It all started with Abe not having a great Monday. I felt for him, because sometimes we just all have those days. Then Rachel posted about not being sad in her blog. Then Nathan talked about needing a change of pace, and Jayne talked about…something…very vague. But it too had to do with loneliness. Thomas said something about stagnant air. But stagnant is a lot like being bored and then being depressed. Like I said, it’s all over. Not as in it’s the end of the world, but that loneliness/depression is running freely through the streets. And if it continues, then it could be all over. This time as in the end of the world. Not as in freely running through the streets.
But enough of my rambling. I want to share a few of my insights on these topics. First…I honestly think that just getting out of the routine can really brighten your day. Boredom can lead to depression, so if you eliminate your boredom, then you’re on your way. Just get out of your house for a while. Go take a walk, go shoot some baskets, go grocery shopping with your mom. Something. Doing the same thing day in and day out can get dreary, and that’s no fun.
Even better than just getting out of the house is getting some excercise. Doing something physical just…helps. I’m not really sure how. But it really does. Even if you absolutely don’t want to do anything physical, like you’re really exhausted and stuff. Force yourself to do something anyway, and you’ll feel better afterwards.
The other key type of depression/loneliness I’ve been noticing (with multiple people) concerns relationships with the opposite gender. It’s amazing how fast this can turn your day around. You’re off having fun somewhere, you get to see that person you’ve had your eye on for awhile, and then BAM! He/she doesn’t talk to you. And then you go home depressed just because of that.
I know this is going to sound really insensitive…but…life is more than high school relationships. It really is. I’m not saying I don’t have my own troubles. I’ve felt lonely and/or depressed a LOT over the years because of relationships (or lack thereof). But I’m really starting to realize that I’ve just got to let what happens happen, and then go where I need to from there. I don’t need to try to force something and then get let down when it doesn’t go my way. I’m not saying you’ll be able to keep a perfect attitude about this all the time. All the sudden tonight I’ve been caught up in thinking about relationships and stuff. But I’ll quote my good buddy Nathan: “You might just want to let this one go.”
And I think he’s right. Let things go where they may. Don’t get too keyed up. You’ve got a whole life ahead of you. You’re not even out of high school yet. (Most of you. If you’ve hit forty and are single then I hereby give you permission to get keyed up.)
Anyway, someone said something that made me very happy. I was talking to Abe, Andrew, and Molly, when Molly said, “Wow, you’re really happy.” And that’s good. I think I have too many sullen moments.
Instead of leaving you with a lucubration of the day, I’m going to give you the “Challenge for Tomorrow”. Tomorrow, try as hard as you can to make the people around you feel happy. Like Rachel was saying, it just might be contagious.