sigelphoenix

So: in order to alleviate the whininess of my last entry, here's some things I did to boost my mood (besides time and sleep, which always help soothe the mind and the hormones).

I took a short walk this morning, before the day gets too hot. My neighborhood is a pretty good place to walk, because it has a lot of winding streets (so long as you know your way back). On the way, I decided to concentrate on small things, because these moods always intimidate me with how broad and permanent they feel - I'm not doing anything worthwhile this summer, I have no talent, I always get discouraged this easily, etc.

I looked for individual things. I watched a pale yellow butterfly on the bushes next to me. I watched a fat corgi wander around its yard (IT WAS SO FAT T_T). I watched a cat sleeping in the shade. I found a house with a wraparound front porch, just like the house where I grew up in Texas.

I'm also going to try more CG coloring again tonight (taking advantage of the campus computers with their big and pretty monitors). I'm reminding myself that the reason I was so excited to work on my first picture wasn't because I was particularly skilled, but because it's a new and fun technique, and there's so much I can try. The nasty little voices that say 'you can't do it' and 'you're not as good as _____' can shove it.


Also, since I requested that people share things with me, here are some of the things that helped lift my mood:

Great Big Sea - Let it Go
Let it go, let it go
This is smaller than you know
No bigger than a pebble lying on a gravel road

Great Big Sea - When I'm Up (I Can't Get Down)
You know the world could be our oyster,
You just put your trust in me,
Cause we'll keep the good times rolling
Wait and see, wait and see ... oh wait and see!

These are not so much cheerful as really energetic and addictive:

Garbage - "Cherry Lips
It seemed like rainbows would appear
Whenever you came near the clouds would disappear
Because you looked just like a girl
Your baby blues would flash
And suddenly a spell was cast

Poe - Not a Virgin
I just thought you should know, my darling
So if you wanna play dirty, darling, I'm gonna win
I'm not a virgin anymore

And here's one of the best cheer-up-emo-kid poems I know:

Guest House
Rumi

This being human is a guest house
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out for some new delight.
The dark thought, the sham, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.