Third day into the new year and I started thinking that it’s our first year without our dogs, Wiki and Sprite. Feeling a little melancholy, I initiated my pick-me up routine. I played guitar, something I do that connects me with them. They used to hangout with me when I played. It didn’t matter to them whether I played a chord correctly. They just stayed by my side and fell asleep peacefully. I feel them when I play now.
I also have songs dedicated to them. And ever since they passed, learning to sing the songs while playing guitar, memorizing the chords and strumming patterns, and getting better at them has been a goal. It’s been therapeutic. I learned to play with the Yousician app and use it regularly to learn new songs.
My Pick-Me Up Routine
Today I am grateful that I have developed mechanisms to cope when I feel my mood shifting to a place I don’t want to be in. After playing guitar, I found the energy to workout. I did a dance with Apple Fitness+, yoga with the Commune Yoga app, and a bit of self-paced strength training.
After my guitar session and 90 minute workout, I felt energized, happy, and alive.
I recently saw the show Shrinking and I love the way they capture how not only professional help can get us out of our funk, but also our relationships with friends and family. Talking is good. Hanging out with good people works. But movement, achieving a state of focus, and not having to say a word can also make a world of difference, especially for me. I’m reminded of how when I was a teenager, feeling restless, down, and confused, I just literally started running. That’s when I felt the power of movement and mind-body connection. It’s my salvation.
I’m sure I could have done all that I did today without the apps and technology I used, but it made it easier, for sure.
I hope you find a healthy routine that picks you up when you need it. Call it a happiness toolkit or a routine, but have one. It has made a world of difference for me.
