Find the Light In All Things

I suffer from depression. Days like today which included tragic news from a family member, a phone call about a wildfire close to loved ones' houses, the death of a talented genius of an actor/comedian, plus  another friend losing her husband to cancer took a toll. After a day like today I often have wanted to go to bed, pull the covers over my head, and sleep.

Instead I decided to find the light in all things. I am fortunate. My depression has been diagnosed. I have a doctor that has found a good combination of drugs that work for me most of the time. I have a therapist that can help me find the light whenever I need to.

I work at surrounding myself with simple beauty, supportive family and friends, and furry friends that love me unconditionally. When a day like today comes along I count my blessings, take photos of the beauty around me, and find time to just be still.

This is what works for me. Each person that suffers from depression has a different way of coping. Each person is unique and what works for one person may not work for another.   I just pray these individuals can find a way to "live a life of love and find the light in all things. "

Daily Routine

Sometimes I find myself getting out of sorts. This week it happened because of a combination of dehydration causes by the high heat, fatigue, plus the thick smoke that enveloped our place set off my allergies. My energy waned when I returned  home from teaching each day. I also suffer from depression. It crept in this week also. Rolling all this together put me out of sorts.

I knew what I need to do to lift myself up out of the cloud of sadness when I returned from teaching each day. It is always so much easier to hide inside while trying to beat the heat and keep hydrated. Keeping a routine is what allowed me to keep moving ahead during a week like this. Folding laundry,taking naps, making a bed, photographing flowers, feeding the cats, sweeping spilled pills, making to-do lists, filling up water dishes for the dogs, praying,and reading uplifting words. The routine tasks help.

When I stumbled across this poem today by Naomi Shihab Nye it made sense to me. She poetically spoke what I was attempting to say. I love a daily routine.

Daily

-Naomi Shihab Nye

These shriveled seeds we plant,
corn kernel, dried bean,
poke into loosened soil,
cover over with measured fingertips
 
These T-shirts we fold into
perfect white squares
 
These tortillas we slice and fry to crisp strips
This rich egg scrambled in a gray clay bowl
 
This bed whose covers I straighten
smoothing edges till blue quilt fits brown blanket
and nothing hangs out
 
This envelope I address
so the name balances like a cloud
in the center of sky
 
This page I type and retype
This table I dust till the scarred wood shines
This bundle of clothes I wash and hang and wash again.