Breaking down the Mental Illness stigma one post at a time
On a beautiful day – why not take yourself out to a park and picnic for lunch? Again, spending time in the fresh air and sunshine can do wonders for a gloomy mood. Add to that some good-for-you food and people watching, and you’ve got the makings of a great afternoon!
This past weekend I did something that I haven’t made time for in a while; I got crafty! About 2 weeks ago, I went to the podiatrist (follow me here…) and he put me in an orthotic boot for a month. He told me he did this to “slow (me) down” and help my foot heal. How frustrating to have my foot and leg – up to the knee – encased in this hot and sweaty boot. However, the bright side is that I had to be immobile this weekend and decided to craft.
I sat at my crafting table, surrounded by many tools, stamps, inks and pieces of paper and began to make some handmade cards. The art of taking time to craft and make something with my hands has always slowed me down and helped me focus on myself and the beauty of creating. It’s taking time for myself and something I enjoy doing. I can’t begin to tell you how I feel with a finished product in my hand.
Now, I’m not perfect. Sometimes the things I create go right into the trash, the colors not mixing correctly or the idea in my head not translating to paper the way I wanted it to. But more often than not, I create something that I am proud of and can’t wait to send to my friends or family.
Being able to create something in the span of ½ an hour helps me see the end results rather quickly (I’m not very patient), and reminds me that I do have something that I love to do, even when I’m told to be immobile.
So, my suggestion to you is find the one thing that you can do this weekend. Whether it be working with your hands, your voice or your entire body; get out and create!
A lot can be said for the power of fresh air and sunshine. To start, the fresh air can help clear your mind and if you breathe purposefully (in through your nose, out through your mouth) you may even expel some of the toxins in your lungs.
Also, even a few minutes of sunshine each day, can provide your body with Vitamin D. A Vitamin D deficiency can lead to fatigue, bone, back and muscle pain, hair loss, and even depression. Remember though, not to get too much sunshine – avoid burning!