1. Give someone a gift. You don't have to spend a lot of money. Make some cookies out of ingredients you already have in the house and give them to a friend. Buy a holiday decoration at The Dollar Store and put it on a coworkers desk. If you can't get out of the house, Amazon and eBay both have gifts under $10. You can't feel sad when you're making someone else feel good. Case in point. Today, I bought my son a pair of shoes he really wanted. For a few precious minutes, his smile made me forget about the pain I was feeling.
2. Snuggle your pet. Studies show that people who spend time with a pet are happier than those who do not. Pets give us the purest type of unconditional love. All they want is food in their bellies, play time, and attention. For these simple things, they will love us with all they have. In fact, my little princess, Lita, is stuck to me like glue right now. She senses when I don't feel good, and she wants to be with me. No better way to get your mind off your struggles than feeling unconditional love from a little fur ball.
3. Get outside. Take a walk. Smell the flowers. Go for a hike. If you're not physically able, take a chair outside and soak up some vitamin D. I walk every day that I'm not on bed rest. The endorphins and adrenaline always help me gain a new perspective on life. I never feel closer to my Maker than when I'm outside experiencing how beautiful our world is.
4. Call your parents. Better yet spend some time with them. They gave you life. They want nothing more than your happiness. Listen to their stories. Ask them for advice. Chances are whatever you're struggling with, they've experienced one way or another. I'm so lucky to be close to my parents. I just saw them today. They made a grocery store run for me since I'm not allowed to drive right now. If you don't have your parents around, reminisce about a funny family memory. Then share it with a sibling or a friend.
5. Spend time with young people. I have a chaotic, wonderful life with lots of kids around all the time. I'm blessed to have an adorable two year grandson and two kids that I'm incredibly close to. I have to say that after playing cars with a two year old, there isn't any energy left over to feel down. Kayden has got me through some hard days just by making me smile. If you don't have young people around, volunteer to babysit for a neighbor or to tutor in one of the many after school programs available in most communities.
6. Try something new. Be adventurous. Go skydiving. Take a scuba diving lesson. Buy that motorcycle you've always wanted. Flirt with the cute guy at the next table over at Starbucks. The adrenaline rush will chase away your fears and your blues.
7. Take a mini vacation. Drive to the beach, the river, the lake. Water gives us a sense of being refreshed. Or take a day trip to the mountains. Enjoy the trees and wildlife. Realize that we are all part of the same world. Can't afford an escape, make your own. Take a picnic to a local park. Have dinner by candle light in your back yard. When you get a change of scenery, you're forced to leave your troubles behind even if it's just for a few hours.
8. Listen to music. They say music soothes the savage soul. I prefer to listen to pounding metal riffs. It's cathartic for me, but you listen to what feels good. No sad stuff in these moments. Only music that makes you want to move or sing or both.
9. Take a nap. Sometimes, that feeling of being overwhelmed can wear us down. A simple 15 minute nap can be a real luxury. Grab a fluffy pillow and your favorite blanket. I even grab the teddy bear that my ex gave to me for Valentine's Day just because he's cute. The bear not the ex.
10. Call a friend. Even if you haven't talked for weeks, real friendships don't change. Just knowing that there's someone there to listen to your problems can make the problems seem insignificant. If you share your struggles, make sure that you are a solutionary and also throw out some ideas on how you plan to get through these rough spots. Your true friends will tell you if you're on the right path.
11. Have a glass of wine. Don't worry about what time it is. Stop saving "that special bottle". Today is special. Break the rules. Not a drinker? Fix yourself a mocktail and sit around looking sophisticated. Guaranteed to lighten the mood.
12. You know the old saying g-- Get up, dress up, and show up? There is wisdom in this. Some days I just want to lay around in my sweats with my hair in a pony tail. I'm not allowed to do anything anyway. However, if I get up, brush my hair (or have Janie do it), put on some makeup, and put on a cute outfit, my outlook changes. It's about looking pretty for me.
13. Go for a ride in the car. Roll the windows down, blast that stereo, and let all your worries float away behind you. I drive a Dodge Challenger RT. I love her! My troubles always seem less when I've been for a drive by myself singing along to Rob Zombie at the top of my lungs.
14. Fix a fancy meal. Try a new recipe. Invite family or friends over to taste test. I recommend Thug Kitchen's new cookbook, Eat Like You Give a Fuck. Fabulous, yummy, healthy stuff.
15. Take selfies. Silly ones. Sexy ones. (I said sexy, not dirty). Just your eyes. Just your shoes. Post them to Facebook or Instagram just because you are beautiful. Then like them yourself.
16. Watch your favorite sports team play. Even if they lose, you'll be having fun shouting and cheering. Make sure to wear your good luck jersey.
17. Have a girls day out. Go to lunch, go shopping, get pedicures. Talk, gossip, laugh.
18. Take yourself to lunch. You have to eat after all. Eat something fattening. Don't count the calories. Have the dessert.
19. Clean your house or wash your car. It's like wiping the slate clean. Whatever was bothering you, gets thrown out with the trash. Write it down. Crumple it up, and throw it way. The sparkling newness of the house or car will transfer to your attitude.
20. Accept help from others. Actually, ask for it. You know how good it feels when you help someone out? Just think how good it feels for those people to give back. Let others get filled up, and in return your spirit will be filled.
21. Work out. Adrenaline is a natural happiness drug. Do what you can do. You don't have to run a marathon. Walk, lift light weights, do some yoga moves, run if you want to, dance around the house. Anything. Just move.
22. Play. Be a kid. Dig a hole in the dirt. Play Pac Man. Have a tea party. Throw a football with someone. Play Frisbee with your dog. Go to the park and go down the slide. Roller skate in your driveway. Be silly. It's OK if the neighbors think you're weird. They probably already think that anyway.
23. Be creative. Draw, write, play an instrument, sing, paint, go on Pinterest and find a project. You'll be amazed how proud of yourself you'll be. You'll feel so accomplished and inspired.
24. Get your hair done. Get a manicure. Get a pedicure. Go to the makeup counter at Macy's and get a make over. Do an at home spa day. Whatever makes you feel pretty. Do it. You are beautiful. Let your beauty shine.
25. Do a fashion show for yourself. Put outfits from your own closet together. Snap photos of the ones you like best. Save these for putting together work outfits or date night outfits.
26. Buy yourself fresh flowers or plant some new greenery in your yard. Plants are a symbol of new life and growth. Plus, they look nice. You don't need to wait for someone to send you flowers. Create your own love life. Romance yourself.
Update time:
I saw my surgeon today. He taped the tear in my chest back together. He says it will close back up naturally and there is no infection. My low grade fever is most likely due to overdoing it, but since it's under 100 degress and intermittent, he feels that I'm healing very well. However, because of this set back, he did not give me a referral to the plastic surgeon for reconstruction. I will have to wait until March or April for that. So, it will be closer to a year before I can get reconstruction completed. That's OK. I want to be healthy. I have my whole life left to get new boobs. Really. Who needs boobs anyway? I'm not feeding any body with these things. They're just for decoration at this point.
On Monday, I'll find out about chemo. Fingers crossed everything comes back clear.