Five (Slightly Facetious) Ways To Be Happy
Ever wanted to get out of a funk? Shake off the doldrums? Lose the blues? If so, then read on for ways to do that!
Who doesn’t get in a funk every now and then? Especially if you live in place that happens to pour buckets of rain for weeks on end. Or even if you don’t, sadness is a part of life sometimes. Everyday can’t be sunny. However, I am not qualified to remark upon sadness. I am not qualified to comment upon happiness either, but I’ll try anyway. Whenever I become unhappy, “about a problem like Maria”, or any other issue, I always try to do the following.
-
I sing as though my life was a musical.
It’s not that my voice would ever be considered for any production, never mind a Hammerstein, instead I sing because it’s so terrible, it makes me laugh. I make up lyrics about whatever is drawing me into a funk, or I just warble off a few bars of West Side Story: “I feel pretty, oh so pretty….” Astonishingly, five minutes into some form of musical rendition, I realize how goofy and silly my problem was. I mean really, who cares about the fact that I’d rather be a (starving) aspiring writer than put my law degree to good use to earn at least fifty grand a year??
-
I pray and I pray hard.
I once read, a while back, that God is there to listen no matter what. No complaint is too irrelevant or insignificant, the book assured me. Well, once the floodgates were opened, there was no turning back. Whether it’s a remark about a new sweater I’d been eyeing and wanting, or a grumble about the peanuts in my salad that I specifically requested not to appear, I talked to God about it. Not always out loud, but certainly always in my heart. And when I do get a chance to escape prying eyes and curious ears, there is no hesitation in the stream of emotions I pour out to him. He’s the best therapist I’ve ever come across. Best of all, not only is he available 24 – 7, he’s also 100% free.
-
I get active.
Reese Witherspoon in character as a pink-loving law student in the sleeper hit Legally Blonde remarked at some point in the movie that “exercise gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy, and happy people just don’t go around killing other people.” This is a true and poignant statement. Are you feeling sad? Are you feeling upset? Then get up off your butt and get outside. Even if you are only walking Fifi around the block or strolling to your nearest grocery store to grab some more Chunky Monkey, just GO. I promise if you exercise regularly in a fun manner (torture by treadmill is not really included in this category), you will have fun. You will also forget about whatever it was making you “not-fun”.
-
Go try something new.
The saying “variety is the spice of life” is not only trite, but also an altruism. Want to shake the blues? They run at the mere thought of your mind being occupied with something other than the doldrums! Go learn how to throw raku pottery, or how to shake up the dance floor with rumba moves, or even how to build the best spice rack. Go with whatever tickles your fancy.
-
Finally, learn to enjoy your own company.
No one knows you better than yourself. No one spends as much time with you as you. It’s best to become well acquainted with someone who is closer to you than even your own shadow. Who knows you might even learn to love yourself, and when that happens, doldrums, blues, funks, grumbles, and the mean reds will be less frequent.
If all else fails, revert back to number 1 and sing after me: “I feel so charming, oh so charming….”
Liked it
