Monday, February 7, 2011

How To Survive The Worst Day Of Your Life: Part 2

Here we commence part 2 of my "get over your bad day" suggestions...

ICE CREAM

It is a clinically proven fact that ice cream fixes everything. For real. If you don't like ice cream, just stop reading. Now.

Ok- I'm kidding. I'm sure that if you're a hater, this topic will still apply to you. It's not about ice cream as much as it is comfort food. I don't know what it is about food that is so comforting... but I do know that it works!

I can't share one specific story of how ice cream has helped me because I use this tactic on a weekly basis. However, I can offer quite the testimonial that both mint chocolate chip and chocolate ice cream is pure, undiluted medicine right to the very soul.

TALK TO/BE WITH SOMEONE

"The friend who can be silent with us is a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief or bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing... not healing, not curing... that is a friend who cares."
-Henri Nouwen

Oftentimes, we are lonely. We don't think that there is anyone who knows how we feel; no one to talk to. It is amazing to me how many people are in the world, yet there are only a handful of those people who can make you feel like you are the world. If you don't have at least one person like that, maybe it's time to find one.

On a bad day, there are only a few people I like to talk to. Usually, the first call is to my mom. She is the one person who may not understand everything I say or do, but she is the one who I know will still love me when all of it is over. I know that a lot of people aren't close enough to their parents (or kids) to bring up such subjects, but I am grateful for the blessing my mom has been in my life. She is more than just a mother; she is my best friend.

My good friends are those who are there for me, who listen to me, and who want to be around me even when I'm my worst self. For those of you who are married or dating, I hope that your "significant other" is someone who you feel comfortable enough with that you can be around them no matter what. That's one of the most important things I look for in the girls I date. Even when you don't discuss every little problem, at least there is someone that makes you feel like there is nothing more important.

"One measure of friendship consists not in the number of things friends can discuss, but in the number of things they need no longer mention."
-Clifton Fadiman

LAUGH

E.E. Cummings once said, "The most wasted of all days is one without laughter."

A couple of weeks ago, I had a terrible day! Really, it was bad. As I was talking to one of my close friends, I realized that she had had quite the awful day as well. So we got together just to cheer each other up. Although we started talking about how terrible our day had been, we ended up laughing so hard I almost tossed my cookies. I can't remember the last time I had laughed so hard! Right now, I can't even remember what about my day had been so devastating, but I do remember the ridiculous things that caused me to lose the obscurities I had been feeling.

Out of all things, I love it when someone can just let loose and laugh with me. If I could choose one thing to be remembered for- it would probably be my ridiculously embarrassing laugh.

May I offer a suggestion? (Oh sure Spencer, as if you haven't given enough already...) The best thing about the 3 ideas this week is that you can do them all together! Find someone you love who will take you out for ice cream, be with you, and make you laugh! This is the person that matters; the person who will be your buoy in a storm, and your anchor in the wind. And on your very worst day, they will see the best in you and help you remember why you're important. That's all we ever need.

1 comment: