It’s 8am, I’m alone in the office.  I’m frustrated by my inability to finish this homework.  I’m lonely, upset over the hole in my life.  My body feels strained by the lack of workouts last week.  All of this leads to anger, rage, sadness, frustration and a whole host of other negative emotions.  What do I do?  I put on the iPod and head outside.  Sunlight and music, my new found friends.

They’re there when I’m sad and they’re there when I’m tired.  They wake me from my stupor and cheer me up from my depression.  The warm sunlight feels so great on my face and the wonderful sounds of powerful music emanate from the headphones and keep me company as I walk.  It’s like an escape from all that is bothering me.  I take the first step down the path, listen to the first song and I’m lost in wonder.  My thoughts race every which way as I lose myself in dreams, hopes and aspirations.  The problems I face seem smaller somehow when I’m faced with the grandeur of the outdoors and my energy level perks up with the music.  The emptiness inside is filled with warmth and the solutions to my issues dance in front of me.

I arrive back feeling refreshed and renewed.  My problems are still there but I feel more ready to face them now.  The walk gave me a break which my body and mind sorely needed.  I don’t feel tired now.  I feel full of energy, ready to face anything which might come my way.  All the ideas I had during the walk flutter about me, waiting for me to write them down and start working.  Even better, my body feels good now that it’s had a chance to stretch out and get some sunlight.  I no longer feel cramped and alone.

And the cycle is broken.  The emotions get better as I work on my problems.  The urge to do something stupid fades away as I focus my new found energy on implementing my ideas.  The need to drown my sorrows in caffeine and sugar fades away.

Banishing Darkness From The Light

There’s an old Israeli song, typically sung on Hanukkah which was a favorite of mine when I was a small child.  The chorus involves all the singer stamping their feet to the repeated singing of “go away darkness, go away before the light”.  That always made me feel better as a small boy, especially since I was afraid of the dark.

There’s a part of me that remembers that song now and understands it as that little boy did not.  There’s something scary about that darkness, about not knowing what’s in front of you and we tend to want to fill that darkness with familiar and comfortable things.  And so we eat “comfort” foods.  Things like ice cream and chocolate and fried dishes.  Food that makes us feel loved and appreciated, perhaps because it reminds us of better days or perhaps because it stimulates our bodies in ways that mimic happiness.  Whatever the reason, there’s a better way.

Sunlight and music, combined with walking.  A magical combination that’s better than any amount of fried foods and ice cream.  This is just one way which I’ve found to cope with stress.  Just one way which doesn’t involve overeating or doing something destructive.  There are many others.  I’ve also found that conversation is a far better coping technique than binge eating.  Find a good friend and talk.  Trust me on that one.

There’s More

I look at this post and compare it to the one from last week and I can see how much I’ve changed over the past few years.  I’m encouraged.  The problems are still there, some old and some new.  Some issues have been resolved and some new ones have emerged.  Overall though, I cope with my issues in a healthier and less damaging way.

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For those who are curious, I highly recommend the music of Rob Dougan for times like these.  Great sounds perfect to sooth your mind and body.