THERE will be times when you unexpectedly bite on a granule of black pepper. There will be times when you lose a taste for life.
A day becomes just another number crossed out on the calendar. Your hours are spent doing some chores but you work on autopilot, so much so that birthdays and holidays are forgotten. There will be times when you even forget to take care of yourself because you can’t bring yourself to care. This happens when difficult problems get the best of you. When it does, your sanity depends on whether you solve it or not. In some cases, you don’t.
To some, the problem could be a failing grade, a broken promise, a broken dream, a breakup, a fallout with a friend, or death of a loved one. It could be the simplest problem for others but, for you, it could mean the end of the world.
When the problem passes, you see the damage left in its wake. You know you have to start rebuilding but, instead of addressing the situation, you get overwhelmed by everything. The question is, how do you start over?
The first thing you might want to do is reestablish your connections with friends and family. Let them know you’re not okay. Let your friends in; it’s okay to have them drag you out of bed to go and have fun. If your friends want to help you, let them. Listen to them and don’t be afraid to ask for advice.
Next, try to go out a little. You can take a friend or go alone. It doesn’t have to be a long road trip to a province. In fact, it could just be a 30-minute walk to the park or a trip to the mall. There are a lot of new things out there that might catch your attention to distract you from the limbo you’re in.
Then, you could try expanding your hobbies. Find something new to do that will challenge you. You could go to the gym to get the abs you’ve been dreaming of having. You could hone your skills and talents, like singing, dancing, drawing or writing. You can even indulge yourself in bingeing on playing video games or watching in marathon a TV series or a movie or two with a bunch of friends.
Another would be setting goals and reaping achievements. Find contests to join or projects to do that will make you feel satisfied afterward, regardless of winning or losing, or whatever project it is that you’re making.
Last, invest in yourself. Make sure you spoil yourself a little every now and then. You deserve a little something for yourself. It could be a new set of clothes, chocolates, books, eating out, or an adventure outside the city.
Yes, you can wallow in self-pity, sadness and anger for a while. But remember, these can’t last forever. You will still have to come up to the surface. You must pick up the pieces, however difficult that may seem.
Just know that no matter how bad a problem may be, there are still a lot of things worth getting up in the morning for.
Sabrina Kathryn Anonas
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Editor’s Note: Millennials have kicked out baby boomers out of the room but we haven’t heard from them. Hence, every week, this space would devote a textual gramophone for the 15- to 29-year-olds. If you belong to this generation, send an 800-worded essay to opinion@businessmirror.com.ph. Editorial rules apply.