By: Jeri Burtchell
Let’s face it, even days that start out all “sunshine and lollipops” sometimes wind up with you getting sunburned and the lollipop stuck in your hair. You can’t prepare for the negative things that happen in life and those with MS know what I mean when I say we have our fair share of them.
Whether it’s awakening to an unruly new symptom, or spilling all your medicine on the floor when the top finally gives, you know what I’m talking about. Some days it seems like Murphy’s is the law of the kingdom.
But what can you do? Well if you sense an impending bad mood brought on by circumstances beyond your control, I say put yourself in time out…on the beach…in a hammock. And don’t come back until your attitude is better. If that were possible we’d all be heading for the white sands and drinks with umbrellas.
Okay so that advice was just wishful thinking and not exactly helpful, so I’ll make it up to you before I ruin your day and risk your wrath. Here are five sure-fire ways to happy-up your day.*
- Laugh at it. When circumstances threaten to punch a hole in your life raft, hang on. Take a step back (provided it was a symbolic life raft we’re talking about) and look at the big picture. Surely there has to be something funny about this that you’re really going to laugh at later. Granted sometimes it’s years later, but you’ll laugh. Try to recognize it now.
- Take a nap. Seriously. Sometimes it seems like everything is going wrong, and maybe it is. But it could just be that fatigue has made life temporarily insurmountable. Just rest a while and sleep on it. Most of the time, for me anyhow, I will awaken feeling like I’ve got a fresh start (and even thinking it’s morning again when it’s actually 3 in the afternoon).
- Hug a pet. Unless it was your awkward doberman who knocked the pill bottle out of your hands to begin with, our pets have a way of making it all better. A furry snuggle can drain the negativity and stress from your body and has even been proven to lower blood pressure.
- Get back to nature. No pets to hug? Next time you trip over a laundry pile or discover the leftovers were out all night, try finding a quiet spot outside to commune with nature and reflect on something that redirects your mind and brings you happiness. A little sunshine (with proper sunscreen) does wonders for elevating your mood. And bird songs don’t hurt either.
- Phone a friend. Make sure you have that one go-to friend on speed dial. Someone whose voice brings you joy even if they’re reciting the alphabet. You know the person. But DON’T talk about your problems–that’s not the point! Distract yourself by asking them how things are going. Then really listen. By focusing outward you stop dwelling on your own negatives and before long you will be happy again.
You probably think much of this is silly nonsense, but just trust me. Give it a try. Life’s too short to stay down in the dumps and you really do have the power to create your own positivity. We might not be able to choose what life throws at us, but we don’t have to keep going around with lollipops stuck in our hair either.
*Your mileage may vary. Batteries not included. Some assembly required. 🙂
*Jeri Burtchell was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999. She has spoken from a patient perspective at conferences around the country, addressing social media and the role it plays in designing clinical trials. Jeri is a MS blogger, patient activist, and freelance writer for the MS News Beat of Healthline.com. She lives in northeast Florida with her youngest son and elderly mother. When not writing or speaking, she enjoys crafting and photography.
