Finding Happiness in a Dark Time
Today is Happiness Day. It’s a bit of a strange topic when we have a pandemic going on and death tolls rising. Still, we can all use a little happiness with all this craziness bombarding us.
Where can we find happiness?
First, and foremost, turn off the news. Quit watching every single newscast all day long. Stay informed but take a break.
I think we’ve all gotten the message. This is not getting better. If you listen to the experts, it’s going to be worse.
Truth is we do not know. So why, listen to all the speculation that only fuels a pervasive dread of what’s coming next.
And, because you’re stuck inside try some of these ideas to find a little happy…
- Now that you’re living twenty-four/seven with all your stuff, bet you’re finding there’s hardly room for you. Clean out that sock drawer. Get rid of what you don’t need, haven’t used. You’ll feel lighter for it. Happier.
- Escape to another world via reading. Try a new genre or a new author. Do a search for your favorite author.
- Our local library offers free downloads of eBooks, magazines and newspapers. Check your library to see if they offer the same service.
- Call people you haven’t talked to in years, just to say, “Hey. You okay? I want you to be okay.” It’s a good thing to do. Something we should be doing even if there wasn’t a pandemic lurking outside.
Find happy in diversions…
- Go online, not to check the latest news, but to learn things we’ve always meant to learn, like Spanish or Gaelic, yoga or basket weaving, and how to play the ukulele.
- Walk through prestigious cultural institutions, like The Met and The American Museum of Natural History or visit any one of the zoos offering tours. Need a list of virtual tours? Check here.
- Work a jigsaw puzzle
- Do a free crossword puzzle
Consider the good that’s happening.
- Neighbors are stepping up to help one another. Desperate times are bringing out the good in people and renewing the belief we once held that good people help each other.
- Our hopelessly divided government is worked out bipartisan legislation to help.
- Pollution is easing with less cars on the road.
Yes, people are dying, but people are also recovering from COVID-19. Civilization is not going to end. Life will change as the emergency eases, normal will be different, and likely better.
Focus on the good stuff, and do something frivolous or fun.
Like a virtual ride on Disney’s new Frozen II roller coaster.
Be safe. Stay healthy. Find something that makes you happy.