Month: November 2021

Hello, my fellow friends of the mind!

I trust and hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

And this is, actually, what this post is about. No, not Thanksgiving, per se. But about giving thanks daily for what you have. Very simply, this is about gratitude. And I promise to keep it brief. 🙂

Are you grateful for what you already have? Or do you feel that something is missing or lacking?

One of the things I have learned over the years is to be and to remain grateful every day for what I already have. Every day is not only a gift, but also a gamble. Yes, you heard me. One never knows how a day is going to unfold, and we certainly hope it doesn’t unfold in a horrible, bad or even tragic way. And for reaching the end of a day relatively unscathed, I am always thankful.

Expressing gratitude is a terrific mood booster, too. It increases and improves your mind and makes you happier. You place yourself in a mindset of joy when you think about those things that make you happy and that you already possess. Think about it: Keeping your mind on things that make you feel good and happy HAS to improve your mood, put a smile on your face, and make you feel wonderful. That happy feeling most certainly gets your mind off the dark and/or intrusive and horrible thoughts that may pass through your mind. And that is definitely a good thing!

Staying in gratitude and thankfulness does not have to be about possessions or money either. It could be something as simple as good health. Or delicious food. Or your family and friends. Flowers. Nature. Earth. Your favorite TV show, movie or song. A kind word or a simple hello from a stranger at the grocery store. It’s all good!

I learned from watching Oprah Winfrey that when you focus on what you already have, you will have more. It magnifies. But when you focus on what you lack, that is what you will experience, the lack. So, yes, I am going to focus on and be thankful for what I already have. Whenever I simply thank my Higher Power, God, angels, spirit guide, the Universe, The Powers That Be – whatever your terminology is – I receive more.

By the way, you do not need a particular religion to express gratitude. Gratitude is universal, and it transcends any particular belief system. Nope, you don’t have to be Christian, Jewish, Catholic, Muslim, etc. to express your thankfulness. Heck, you can most certainly be agnostic or atheist, too!

I even keep a gratitude journal, where I Iist at least five things EVERY DAY that I am grateful for. And yes, I got the idea from Oprah Winfrey DECADES ago. It has certainly magnified my life experience in such a positive way. It keeps me from focusing on the negative all the time. I started doing a little bit of it back in 1999 and off and on in 2000. But it was late 2001 when I started doing it every single day, and I have kept up with it ever since!! That’s right – 20 years!! And I have even kept up with it during the pandemic!!! And I still have all of my gratitude journals. The funny thing is, I also write what has happened to me during the course of that time, too! LOL

I ratchet up my gratitude even when I am disappointed. If something that I expect to happen doesn’t happen or I don’t get what I want, I refuse to let it bother me. At least I don’t let it bother me for long. I shake it off and tell myself thank you anyway, for what I already have.

How you can remain grateful:

1. Count your blessings.
2. Just say thank you out loud or to yourself.
3. Keep a gratitude journal as the one I outlined above.
4. When you feel bad or down, think of at least one thing you are grateful for.
5. Then go for two, then three, all the way up to 5 or even 10 things that you are grateful for.
6. Do affirmations that circle around what makes you happy.
7. Pray and/or meditate.
8. Enjoy and appreciate nature!
9. This may sound awful or even cliche, but always remember that no matter how bad you think you have it, someone else has it a whole lot worse. And therefore, by the Grace of God …
10. Just simply close your eyes and focus on your breathing.

So, what are you thankful for? Tell me in the comment section below. And remember to always remain grateful. There is always something to be thankful for, believe me. And what better way than to keep a gratitude journal by expressing your Best Self!

Until the next time, and as always, be mentally well!!

DEREK’S DISCLAIMER:  I am not a medical professional, neither am I giving any medical or legal advice. If you are seeking help from a doctor or an attorney, please consult said professionals.  These are my personal thoughts and feelings on the subjects discussed, and my blog is my own personal experiences and journey with mental imbalance.  Thanking you in advance!

AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER:  There are products on this page.  By clicking on the links, you will be redirected to that page at no cost to you.  However, I will receive compensation if you purchase something (which I hope you do 😊).

Greetings, my friends! Welcome back to another post about mental wellness! Yours and mine 🙂

So, from last week’s post, music is not the only form of entertainment that can have a positive effect on your mind, body, and overall health. It turns out television, film, and theatre can also have positive effects on our psyches. See last week’s post below:

MUSIC IS NOT JUST FOR LISTENING, BUT EXCELLENT FOR OUR MOODS AND MINDS

I cannot think of anyone who doesn’t have a TV set in their house. And technology has gotten us to a point that we can view just about anything at anytime now, even on our computers and phones. With the advent of YouTube, streaming services, and yes, still cable, we have the visuals at our fingertips, so to speak.

And because I have a theatrical background, I most certainly cannot discount the positive benefits of live theatre.

One could argue that too much TV watching can be detrimental to you in some way. But I shall only discuss how it can keep you and help you to remain calm, stay sane, get your mind off things, and literally take you to another world. (Speaking of, anybody remember the old soap opera of the same name???) Ha!

Anything involving the arts SHOULD transport you to another world. Whenever I watch something, whether it is live theatre or a movie or TV show, I expect to be transported to another time and place. I expect to be told a story, to be lost in the moment. I desire to forget all about MY life, my struggles and troubles. I want to see their struggles and troubles. I don’t need to be reminded of mine. LOL But TV and film can do much more for us than that.

Educational

Yes, television and the movies can be quite educational. And anything that educates us, definitely improves our minds. TV and film can take us into worlds that we didn’t know existed, can show us different cultures and countries, languages, and how other people live. TV and film can also give us insights into our own bodies and how they work and about diseases and disease prevention. Television can even simply show us how to do mundane tasks and chores effectively.

Shocker of shockers, but you can even learn from watching soap operas. Back during the Golden Age of Soaps – the 60’s, 70s, 80s and 90s – viewers learned about diseases such as breast cancer, diabetes, HIV and AIDS, and even mental disorders, including depression, suicidal ideation, bipolar disorder, and even DID (dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder). Viewers also gained insight into socially relevant issues pertaining to drug and alcohol abuse, spousal abuse, prostitution, and even the negative effects of smoking.

Of course, other daytime television programs such as talk shows, gave us an even deeper dive into the above subjects with real people. So, here’s to Phil Donahue, Oprah Winfrey, Geraldo, and Sally Jessy Raphael (loved her glasses!!!) and Montel Williams, to name a few. And yes, I went old school LOL

Honorable mention to educational channels, such as The Discovery Channel, Planet Earth, and The History Channel. And shoot, I love a good documentary about famous and well, infamous people, too.

But let’s not ever forget the fabulous PBS channel, and old school shows such as Sesame Street, The Electric Company, and Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, to name a few. These shows taught you your ABCs, your numbers, and different languages such as Spanish. They taught us grammar skills and even taught us how to get along better with our neighbors and how to appreciate their differences. Hey, I grew up on those shows and learned quite a lot!

Total escapism

Naturally, most of us watch television and movies for simple pure escapism. But that’s okay, because that is great for our minds, too. As I stated above, this pure escapism can relax our bodies and minds, getting our minds off our own problems and bringing us into a total state of a healthier being. And what great way to do that than to laugh. That’s right. Your fave comedies can promote happiness and good health, because as they say laughter is the best medicine. And laughing releases natural endorphins or your feel-good chemicals, which can promote not only a healthier brain, but a healthier heart, too. So, tune into your favorite comedies and laugh it up! If this clip from I Love Lucy doesn’t make you laugh, then there is something wrong with you!!!

Become an actor in YOUR favorite show!

One thing I have done my ENTIRE life is pretend I am certain characters on TV or in the movies. I have acted out many scenarios, especially my soaps, to see if I can do it and be just as convincing as what I see on TV. Or to see what acting choices I would make in the same situations. Sometimes I turn it into a masterclass of emotions, i.e. will I cry in the moment, get angry, etc.

And playing or pretend is great for the mind since it enables you to use your imagination and creativity. And it is loads of fun! I started way back with The Bionic Woman, Charlie’s Angels, and Wonder Woman! Yep, I was Jaime Sommers, Kelly Garrett, and Diana Prince twirling, et al! LOL And I even made the neighborhood kids act out the episodes right after they aired. Oh tremendous, TREMENDOUS fun! I should have known I would later turn to acting and directing 🙂

Ain’t Nothing Like Live Theatre

I got my acting start doing theatre, and it was the best training ground EVER! I mean, other than acting along with the TV! Delving into different characters, the audience response, and the flying by the seat of my pants was actually excellent for my mind and brain. I developed skills which kept my mind sharp and active. After all, you are having to learn lines and deliver them on the spot from memory. And if you go up on a line, you have to figure a way out of that jam!

But from the audience’s perspective, visual arts and aesthetics is a great moodlifter, too. Not to mention you are immersing yourself in culture, while at the same time still learning something perhaps you had no prior knowledge of, the same way television can work towards educating you.

You gain a greater appreciation for the arts, I think, through attending theatre and other visual arts shows. And anything that promotes a greater understanding, is great for your brain, too.

And then there is the laughter! There is nothing like live laughter from the audience. And it’s real, not canned laughter like you get from some TV shows! And overall, of course, laughter is great for your health.

One of the Family

When I think back on the shows that have changed my life or that I have really gotten into, I think of the ones where I feel like I am a part of that TV family. Soaps are the perfect example of this. Watching my “stories” gave me insight into someone else’s melodramatic life LOL And I literally grew up with so many soap characters, I mean we are talking DECADES of time watching children who were born on the show, watching them grow into children, teens, and even adults! That is mindblowing to me!

And all of my primetime shows I grew up watching – The Brady Bunch, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, et al – just watching the characters and their antics was highly entertaining and very funny. And speaking of The Brady Bunch. It was like I was a member of the family, going through all of their shenanigans, troubles, heartaches, joy and fun. When they were lost in the Grand Canyon, I was lost in the Grand Canyon, too!!

So, I am also saying you feel a sense of belonging with your TV family. And anytime you feel like you are a part of something, that you belong, definitely promotes good mental health and wellbeing.

Stress Relief

Film. Television. Visual arts. Theatre. All of those are wonderful stress relievers. Whether you are the actor or the audience, you are allowing whatever stresses you out, whatever horrors are on your mind, it gives you a moment and space to let it go. You are suspended in time for 30 minutes to an hour or two hours or more. You are not thinking about your problems, your job, your finances, your relationships. You are entering someone’s world.

Inspiration

I think anything that inspires you in a moving and positive, enthused way is amazing for your mental health. And watching television as a child definitely inspired me to become an actor later in life. I wanted to do the things I saw Jaime Sommers do in The Bionic Woman. Later, it was all about Erika Slezak’s Viki Buchanan on One Life to Live that cemented the deal. I do not regret my decision to become an actor. It has been one of the most thrilling and rewarding things I have ever done, besides my interest in music.

Well, my friends, that is it for now. I hope you enjoyed this post. And as always please be safe and mentally well! Until next time – ta!!

AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER:  There are products on this page.  By clicking on the links, you will be redirected to that page at no cost to you.  However, I will receive compensation if you purchase something (which I hope you do 😊).

Oh and don’t forget to check out my underpriced products below LOL Some great Black Friday sales! 🙂

Sources:

DEREK’S DISCLAIMER:  I am not a medical professional, neither am I giving any medical or legal advice. If you are seeking help from a doctor or an attorney, please consult said professionals.  These are my personal thoughts and feelings on the subjects discussed, and my blog is my own personal experiences and journey with mental imbalance.  Thanking you in advance!

Hello, my fellow ment binders – er bent minders! 🙂

Welcome back to another round of “I’ve got this in the fight for my mind!”

I have decided to keep it light and airy today, as a dear old friend used to say. And I promise to keep it short. Today I wish to discuss music and its positive effects on our hearts, souls, and yes, our minds. Madonna also said that “music makes the people come together.” 🙂

I start my day with music (and affirmations), and I do the affirmations to the music, which is a great boost for me energetically. And I also listen to music while I work, if I am working from home. Actually, I am listening to music right now as I write this post, of course. LOLOLOL This is what I am listening to at this moment, Hall & Oates’s I Don’t Wanna Lose You:

This is how important music is to my existence: I exercise to music. I clean to music. I write to music. I hate exercising and cleaning anyway. So, the music keeps me in a good mood and enables me to complete those chores I detest. Writing to music is not only helpful in setting the mood for whatever I am writing, but it also helps the words just flow onto the page! When I am working on my web series, which is set in the 1970s, I typically will play 70s music to set the scene and get the feeling, emotion and tone of that era. It is really helpful.

Good music makes you feel wonderful. In my opinion, music is SUPPOSED to make you feel. Period. And think. Music can recharge you. And of course make you want to DANCE! (Nothing beats terrific dance music, ESPECIALLY DISCO and 80s music!!!) Great music should take you on a rollercoaster of emotions – happiness, sadness, anger, etc. Great music should tell a story. But again, truly great music makes you feel something, especially if it makes you feel tremendous joy, happiness, and love.

Remember the old saying: “If music be the food of love, play on.” This is actually taken from Shakespeare’s play Twelfth Night. And I could not agree more with the sentiment. When I think of my favorite songs, this certainly applies. I become so enraptured in my music that it is not only like food or love, it is actually like breathing. Not only do I listen to it, I play it on a musical instrument. (My trumpet currently, as my poor clarinet and flute need to go to the shop). 🙁

Music has most definitely gotten me through the darkest moments of my life. I truly believe that I would not have survived those dark times without music to uplift my mood or console me or just simply to soothe me. And Daryl Hall & John Oates are artists I can always turn to to cheer me up! By the way, studies have shown that listening to music can actually aid in keeping depressive states away and bring you to a more positive state of mind. So, thanks Daryl and John, et al!!!

Quite often my needle gets stuck, so to speak, on certain songs for months! One such example is Culture Club’s The War Song, as if some of you couldn’t guess.

Another of my very favorite artists is Annie Lennox of Eurythmics. From day one back in 1983 with the release of Sweet Dreams, I was mesmerized by the then orange-headed, androgynous Annie. I am still a super, huge fan to this day. I feel like she is singing her songs about me. It’s as if she is my spirit animal, and we share the same feelings and emotions, especially over heartache and loneliness and, yes, bitterness. Check out one such very bitter song, one of my favorites by her without Dave Stewart, Bitter Pill.

On to other songs that match my exact feelings and emotions at that moment. Check out Janet Jackson’s Lonely, because I have felt that way too often in my life.

Or feelings of definite rage, pain and anger, such as displayed in Tears for Fears Shout.

But it’s not all a Debbie Downer, as there are songs that are electric and bring me joy, such as Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want to Have Fun!!

Music also has healing properties, too. More and more studies are showing that music therapy is quite helpful in the healing process, everything from depression to lowering blood pressure to pain management to even cancer!! I know for a fact that listening to music has helped in lowering my blood pressure. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure back in 2004. And from that moment on for a very long time, I was always afraid of the doctors and nurses checking my blood pressure at the doctor’s office. It was always slightly elevated, sometimes even on medication. So, I decided to start singing before going to the doctor, and miraculously it helped!!!

And of course, music is definitely good for the mind and the brain. Studies show that music is excellent for placing your brain in a positive state of mind. It can also stimulate brainwaves and promote alertness and better concentration. Classical music, believe it or not, is great for reducing stress, boosting your memory, fighting depression, improving sleep, sparking creativity, and even reducing pain!!! Bring on Beethoven and Mozart!!

Well, my friends, that is it for now. Do me a favor and leave me a comment below with some of your favorite songs. Which songs lift you up? Which songs make you sad? Which songs do you just love to dance to??? Let me know. And until the next time, be mentally well, always. And let the music play!!

P.S. 70s/80s/90s music still remain the best, especially the 80s!!! 🙂

Sources: Please check out these articles on the healing properties of music.

https://www.lifehack.org/289981/8-reasons-you-should-listen-more-classical-music

DEREK’S DISCLAIMER:  I am not a medical professional, neither am I giving any medical or legal advice. If you are seeking help from a doctor or an attorney, please consult said professionals.  These are my personal thoughts and feelings on the subjects discussed, and my blog is my own personal experiences and journey with mental imbalance.  Thanking you in advance!

DEREK’S DISCLAIMER 2: I do not own the copyrights to any of the above-mentioned songs. They are just for your listening pleasure. And mine. 🙂

AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER:  There are products on this page.  By clicking on the links, you will be redirected to that page at no cost to you.  However, I will receive compensation if you purchase something (which I hope you do 😊).