Lockdown Blues/Brights, 4am Star-Gazing and Wow Cacao - Dealing with Mental Health

This photo of a young bird was taken by my son. I had it enlarged from a local photo shop in High Street. It's up on my lounge so it always reminds me of freedom, independence, nature and the freedom to dream about the future. Yeah, that's very deep indeed Ms Arlene, but lately it's quite difficult to dream about the future.

So I've made a list of how I've been dealing with lockdown blues and how I can turn the blues into 'brights'. I hope you find these useful and that it would make a big difference on you.

1. Dealing with the big bad wolf aka the pandemic virus isn't easy. My usual meditation didn't seem to work during lockdown 1. So I extended it to the big universe by doing some star-gazing sometime between 4am and 5am. And hey, added with strong green tea, homemade plant-based brownie with lots of cacao in it, my son's little story book about ' The Cheetah' and my book 'As a Man Thinketh' from the phenominal author, James Allen - I'm then set for the day to take significant action. The big universe seem to tell us to accept the things we can't change. So in the meantime, I had to focus on the things that I can do. I refer to the video of writer Elizabeth Gilbert linked here. She seems to say the same and this may be is the best way to minimise and manage stress.

2. The 'bright' part then came into play. Are we suppose to dig deeper rather than just blame the whole thing to China? I came across a podcast by Rich Roll with Zach Bush on 'Soil Health and Food Independence'. Towards the end of the podcast, Zach Bush's monologue, at about 1:49, he refers to a paper called 'The Universal Scaling Laws' by Astrophysicist Nassim Haramein, he explains that humans are on dead CENTRE of the universe, among other billion things in the universe. That the whole universe wants us here. More importantly, because we are right on the centre, that we are not of against nature but we are here to work with nature. Bright Light. That is my answer to organic vs cost. My answer to sustainable packaging vs cost, answer to total plan-based vs pescetarian. Bright Light. Are we to only manage the big recession only for us humans or is the universe asking us to wake up and see that we are supposed to be taking care too of the animal kingdom, the plant kingdom, our soil and Mother Nature as a whole? That's very deep indeed again Ms Arlene.

3. What about the brownie? It's the serotonin/happy hormone effect. And yeah, it still surprises me how well it works on me. The reason I have it so early in the morning is that because cacao contains theobromine, which has a similar effect as caffeine. If I have it pass 8am I will have trouble sleeping.

4. I do everything I can to get at least 7-9 hours of sleep each night. I eat and hydrate well.

5. We already know this, keep in touch with our loved ones and actually tell them how much we love them.

6. I have Audible app on my phone and I listen to books I've always wanted to read but never used to have time. Now that I'm working from home I have at least extra 3 hours each day that I used to waste on commuting to and from work. While I listen to Audible I also get to do house choirs and gardening. Maybe get books on how people during World War I and II survived through their time. They didn't have the technology to get in touch with family. Who knew when a bomb will drop on their roof? During lockdown we can stay home and protect ourselves from the virus.

7. I watch Youtube videos of Mr Bean and Billy T James.

8. I sing my heart out though I don't sound very good. Learn that sexy song you've always wanted to.

9. I walk or run with a bounce and go on the playground swing when no one else is around.

10. Bike like a child (with face mask on of course).

11. Create something new.

12. Eat spaghetti/mango/pomegranate like a child.

13. I only update myself with news 10 mins max each day just to get the headlines and update myself with new rules. Google notifications gives me the headlines and I only click on it if I need more details. I don't watch TV my screen is tucked away in the spare room closet. I used to pull it out during Rugby World Cup and around AFL Finals. I listen and learn from podcasts instead.

14. I write my thoughts like no one is going to read it.

15. Lastly, like Michelle Obama said I plan JOY for each day.