How are you taking care of your mental health?

I’m staying away from political analysis and most political questions. I can’t spend another 4 years in a constant state of outrage. When I can help people I will. And when there’s a time for positive action I will take it. And I’ve upped my donations to organizations that directly help people like the ACLU and Doctors without Border.s

Less news
More movies.

VODKA!

Serenity Prayer. That’s a big one.

Mostly compartmentalization and denial, especially during this time before Trump takes office. I’m in a wait and see mode in my head.

I finally told my father 3 days ago (me eventually screaming) that he has to stop talking to me about his panic about the country re Trump (his primary fears: stock market crash, recession or depression, civil war, loss of freedom, very personally dangerous being Jewish and Mexican).

I told my dad I don’t want to die, and if I die he will never get over it. I was completely serious. My blood pressure has been running high, I have damage to my heart he is unaware of. I have terrible cardiac genes. I am old enough that a sudden, deadly, heart event could happen and it would not be shocking to me (well I’m dead) or my doctors. I could live another 30 years, but the risk for me is real not paranoia. I’ve tolerated listening to him for years and I finally threw a fit.

I’m not watching a lot of politics during the week. I did start watching Katie Couric on youtube where she talks about politics and I really like the calm interviews. She is very obviously to the left on most issues, she comes right out and says her POV, but she asks really good questions to people both left and right and the hour is a combination of interview and conversation.

Aside from politics, I’m trying to make some big decisions so I don’t have to keep thinking or fighting about the decisions anymore. It doesn’t really work well for me since I often feel regret after decisions, but for peace in my house with my husband I need to do it.

Also, friends, fun, zumba, and dancing.

As trite as it sounds (after seeing it all over the place for 50 years) I “think globally and act locally” by “throwing money at it”.

Most of my financial donations are going to help my community. With the exception of the ACLU and WCK, everything is going to local shelters, soup kitchens, outreach centers, food banks, etc etc. I was recently blessed with a windfall, my community is benefitting.

This is keeping me sane, at the moment.
I am grateful that I can help.

And I watch a lot of videos of huskies having loud tantrums.

I went to a senior’s art class yesterday and attempted to make something out of clay. It was good fun, very relaxing and the company was good. We even had soup and home made quiche before we went home.

Funny. In 45 minutes my friend will pick me up to go see an art exhibit. I always find looking at oil paintings therapeutic.

One of these days, before that dreadful moment when the clowns move in, I will go take a long look at the White House. I’m guessing with sadness but only in the first few minutes. I will leave it having hope, determination and even joy.

The work goes on. So be it. It’s un-American to give up.

Live in a conservative area.
Pray.
Stay on my page.

I go with the flow. I am busy because my daughter is a senior in high school, so we’re dealing with college applications and stuff like that. I do crafts for fun, I go to local meetings (senior groups, book groups, other things that the libraries have). I avoid politics on Facebook, because I don’t want the algorithm to fill up my feed with political stuff, so I try not to comment on it, for either party or candidates.

I’m not nervous about anything. I guess in my life, I’ve had rough things happen and I’ve had good things happen, so I try to roll with the punches.

Spending less time on Fluther. ;)

I mean that genuinely; less time online, more time with the boyfriend drastically improves my mental state.

I practice mindfulness.

Food. #Hellofresh.

My dauaghter was upset the other day because someone made a comment to her about Trump (and she is a Harris fan), and one of the things I told her is that I’ve been around through Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Trump, Obama, etc. and in the end, she’s still going to go to school every day, we’re all going to go on vacations, go shopping, go to the city, do all those things, and as far as our day to day lives go, nothing really changes.

I combined food, (groceries not take out), as my luxury and entertainment on my budget.

No. I waw borderline for a time…Them I crossed the border.

@JLeslie although I don’t have much use for MSNBC anymore, I do like to watch Rachel Maddow and Laurence O’Donnell.

For myself, I have a craft show in 2 weeks so I’m keeping pretty busy getting ready for that. I’m also reading a lot and watching some movies. And then there’s always my cats to keep me distracted.

Watch this. This young woman is my new hero.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RozUGiu4mO0&ab_channel=ElleCordova

@Caravanfan: OMG! I love Elle Cordova! She is brilliant and funny. You’ve got to follow her on TikTok. Thank you for sharing her thoughts here.

As for me, I’ve been trying to practice mindfulness since 2013–14. I learned about it in grad school. Since then, I lost about 60lbs., went back to acupuncture, and try to get weekly massage.

Since Trump’s first election, I’ve done away with all news except glancing at headlines and the Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me podcast.

I’ve been desperately trying to spend more time reading, going to museums, and seeing movies, but the business of life has made that difficult.

I was seeing a therapist, but COVID killed that and I really don’t like Tele-Health appointments. Despite that, I am giving it another shot in a couple weeks.

I’m taking my daughter to a museum today (we go at least once a month to various museums for free with my NARM membership) and then at some point I want to find a jerk chicken place and get some because she’s never had it. If you’ve never had jerk chicken and you like spicy food, you really should try it.

@cookieman I don’t do Tik Tak. I’m too old. But she mirrors her videos on youtube. In terms of mindfulness I recommend the app Waking Up. There are also free ones out there, but Waking Up is the one I use.

@jca2 Art then spicy jerk chicken. Never thought of that. I might try it.

@Caravanfan: Cool. I will check that out.

And…you are not too old for TikTok, just gotta follow stuff you like. (We might be similar in age). Plus, Elle has way more videos on TikTok. All sorts of geeky goodness.

@cookieman Problem with taktik is that if I could only follow the people I want to follow then it would be fine. But it puts all kind of random other videos that I don’t want to see. Maybe there is a setting there that I don’t know but I don’t really care to look. My daughter who toktaks is coming back for Thanksgiving next week and maybe she’ll teach me how to tik my tok.

And I’m 60,

I’m 77 and I lurve Takky Tok! ;-p

My grand niece sent me an invite to Snapchat, and for some reason my email put it in my Psychotic Idiocy folder! ;-0

@Caravanfan: I’m 53 — we ain’t that far off. Have the daughter show you how to follow people you like and then stay on the “Following” tab. Stay away from the “For You” tab.

I’ve been working holiday themed jigsaw puzzles and binge watching holiday cooking shows on FoodNetwork and watching Deadfiles on Max. I’ve limited my social media exposure and stopped watching the news.

I’m in the same boat as @Caravanfan concerning the ticketytok. I created an account but was inundated with videos I did not want to see. No one in my family uses it anyway, not even my children. (I’m almost 54.)

@jonsblond My daughter occasionally sends me tik tik videos. I keep my account so I can watch them. Usually they’re geek/science related.