“A Happiness key: Maintain something to be enthusiastic about. Small/frequent goals = Dopamine hits that propel success.” -- Steve Maraboli I challenged myself today to pick up markers and draw something. After seeing Julie Fei-Fan Balzer working her 100 Day Face Challenge, I figured I might try drawing a face. Here it is. Face #1. Not … Continue reading So this is what it feels like. (Also known as a boost of dopamine).
"Bleeding hearts look like little lanterns of love." The bleeding hearts are open and glowing like friendly pink beacons in the garden shade. They welcome you with their two little pink arms, either held out to the sides saying "Hey there!" or out in front of them, whispering, "Come in. Come in." I see from … Continue reading Say “Hello” to this Beautiful Journey
"Oh Mister Sun, Sun, Mister Golden Sun, please shine down on me!" I have no idea who wrote that song, but I do know Raffi sings it because we listen to it with regularity here in our home. In the past I couldn't deal most days with Raffi. (My mother was a preschool teacher and sang … Continue reading Finally. Sun!
"Others imply that they know what it is like to be depressed because they have gone through a divorce, lost a job, or broken up with someone. But these experiences carry with them feelings. Depression, instead, is flat, hollow, and unendurable...you are irritable and paranoid and humorless and lifeless and critical and demanding and no … Continue reading Blindsided
The anxiety. The anxiety. The anxiety. The anxiety. I'm not going to lie. It's hard. It gets to me almost like clockwork anymore. I chart my moods and it's almost the same days on a cycle. At least I can anticipate when it's coming. I wish I had some uplifting news for today. I wish … Continue reading Making It
"Take a shower, wash off the day. Drink a glass of water. Make the room dark. Lie down and close your eyes. Notice the silence. Notice your heart. Still beating. Still fighting. You made it, after all. You made it, another day. And you can make it one more. You’re doing just fine.” -- Charlotte … Continue reading Fighter Friday
"Keep your face to the sun and you will never see the shadows." -- Helen Keller Sun Lover. Heliophile. Sun Bum. I want to be one most days of the week. I don't know if it's the Bipolar, but I crave sun. And most other people I talk to with Bipolar are the same. Like a … Continue reading Sun Love
"Try something NEW." If ever there was a day to try something different, why not today? Why wait? We may have Bipolar disorder, but that doesn't limit us in trying something new. Here are ten simple things to try that can make a difference in your day. If you like them, try them again, and … Continue reading Ten Things
"That's the funny thing about trying to escape. You never really can. Maybe temporarily, but not completely." -- Jennifer L. Armentrout The warm weather has provided a mental escape from stuff that "nags" at me. And I'm forever grateful. Some of my things that "nag" are: Laundry Paperwork Organization Meal planning Continuation of downsizing Aspirational projects Housekeeping More … Continue reading Escape
"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." -- Margaret Atwood Technically, shouldn’t we smell like dirt as many days out of the year as we can? Putting our hands in the dirt, working the soil, toiling in the garden- whether flower or vegetable- is incredibly therapeutic. It’s proven … Continue reading Dirt
The Bipolar Spirit 