TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2024 - BAD DAY

 TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2024 - EVERYBODY HAS A BAD DAY

Charles Darwin quote - “But I am very poorly today, and very stupid; and I hate everybody and everything.  One lives to only make blunders.” 1861

Yup - you are so right Mr. Darwin.  There are days when I am poorly and very stupid and I hate everybody and everything!!!!

I woke up on the wrong side of bed this morning.  (That isn’t true, because I only sleep on the left side of my bed because of how I’ve laid out my bedroom - good mornings or bad mornings I get up on the same side of the bed.)

So, how can we be positive on those bad days?

Everyone has bad days. They're a normal part of life.

However, while bad days are inevitable, you have a choice about how you react to negative events. You can dwell on the situation and feel bad. Or, you can do something that turns your day around.

To make a bad day better, go for a walk outside, or do some stretches in your office to get some exercise. Work on your most important goals, do something nice for a friend or colleague, or look back at what you've achieved in your career so far.

 

I generally like to walk outside - and you can do that in Texas more than in South Dakota.  (In the summer it might mean getting up and walking at 7:00 a.m.) I can generally walk outside on the 10th of January in Texas - but I might not have walked too far in Madison, South Dakota on the 10th of January.

 If you have a hectic day at the office, even a short burst of outside time will boost your mood. Yoo suggests taking a walk in an area where you can see the sky, smell foliage and feel the earth beneath your feet. Try taking a 10 minute walk around the block—it'll really help!

I also can go to the Georgetown Recreational Center - and walk.  Yes, it is indoors - but for those 100+ days, it works.

I also will play some music that I like to change my mood.  I can play the Finale to Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony and pretend to be the conductor - or to be the tympani player.  (And, since I don’t have a tympani - and really have never paid a tympani - I can hit the tympani head so hard - and the whole city doesn’t have to hear it!!!)

I can grab a jigsaw puzzle and lose myself in the puzzle.  (I also do online puzzles - using Jigzone - and try to beat the average time!!)

I also grab an adult coloring book - and my box of 100 colored pens.  

I can pick up some food (probably Chinese food from our favorite Asian Cuisine Restaurant) and go to Mary’s house and have dinner.  

I can look at favorite videos - I’ve mentioned how I’m enjoying The Parent Trap - even if I’ve seen the scenes over and over.  Or find a Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, or Popeyes video..  I know the good guys are going to win.  When I see Popeye open the can of spinach I know all will work out.  

I can take a nap.  (I normally take a 15 minute nap - with my “optimal time” of 12:34 (sequential number).  If things are still bad, I can take a second nap!!!

I can text (I’m not a big phone calling person) Kathleen, Beth, Mary, or others and put in a little positive video. 

I can go to Walmart or Aldis and shop.  (I actually have “friends” there that I smile at and say “hi” too)

*****

Or I can have a pity party with three guests - me, myself, and I.  My pity parties never last more than a day.

*****

And, I can realize that everybody (including Charles Darwin) has a bad day periodically - and I need to be nice (and loving) to all people.

YES - LOVE WINS

YES - LOVE TRANSFORMS

But, I have to adjust my attitude to be loving!!

Karen Anne White, July 30, 2024