Mindy’s Monday Motivation – Blog Post #34 – you are not alone

The latest news about Miss USA and her jump from the 60-floor apartment building brought depression and suicide into the limelight this past week. Many of us have known someone who have felt hopeless to the point of no return. For those who are suffering, please know that you are not alone.

Hear me out. First, there are billions of microbes attached to you, living in symbiosis, so you literally are not alone. Okay, sorry, the scientist in me can’t help but point that out. Truly, you are not alone because there is someone who love you more than you know, who will miss you so much when you are gone. There is someone who relies on those simple interaction that you had with them that you don’t even realize. The newspaper man at the corner store. The barista at the coffee shop down the street. Your colleague who you talk to every week about work and sometimes other things. Your friends who you hang out with once in a while or sometimes every day for a whole month. Your cousin who was hoping to crash on your couch. Your kid who will miss their father or mother’s embrace. Your significant other who has gotten used to sleeping next to you. Your neighbor who enjoys that wave every morning as you grab the newspaper from the lawn or walk pass to the mailbox. People who look up to you and consider you their mentors but might not have the opportunity to say thank you out loud. People for whom your simple presence make a difference in their lives. It’s like the butterfly effect or It’s a wonderful life type of effect. However, you want to think about it, you are not alone in feeling that you are alone. There are many who feel the same. If you reach out, you will find a tribe of others who can relate to how you feel. Above all, there is always hope. Don’t lose hope as time is the greatest resolver. Sometimes, I feel like we are all bipolar as we go from moments of happiness to sadness. Nothing lasts forever. You won’t feel happy all the time, but then again, you won’t feel sad all the time either. So, don’t lose hope. Things will get change. Things will get better. And, if you can’t take the pressure of it all, please do talk to someone. ?

Social media of recent years have allowed us to connect with friends, family and even make new friends and connections. However, it also led us to see only the positive highlights in other people’s lives and sometimes make us feel less secure and inadequate in our own life. We see other smiling faces and sometimes feel like we are not doing enough in our own lives. Just know that it’s not a competition. They are not flaunting their wealth or their happiness. They just want to share with you a little happiness in their world in hope that it shreds a bit of happiness in yours. The key is to take a positive spin on things and not let negativity drags you down. There are many different ways to view things in this world, but positive outlook will always bring you to something good. If you view Facebook as a way to connect with friends and family or make new connections, then it can enrich your life. I have to admit that I took time off Facebook for a while during the last couple of years. Too much political debates and different COVID perspectives made it a bit hard for me to open Facebook. I actually deleted it. A few months ago, my husband suggested that I’d find some hiking groups to join so I wouldn’t be hiking alone. He was concerned about my safety. I found a few groups on Facebook. Now, I am enjoying seeing photos of nature all over my feed. It lifts my spirit and inspires me to get outdoor more often. I also made new hiking friends and enjoy meeting new people who share my interest. Everyone has a story to tell, and I get to hear them while we hike. These are all positive benefits from my point of view.

There are folks who posted about their personal issues, like the death of a love one or going through a divorce; few individuals would read fully. Most would skip the negative rants. Some might post a supporting note, but that’s as far as it would go. I am just as guilty as the next person for doing so. However, there are things that we can do to show that we care even from far away from each other, in spirit or in geography. I try to comment or private message those I know who are experience a heartache. A little note goes a long way to comforting the heart. So, even if you don’t know someone well, consider taking the time to send a message. Sometimes, folks just want someone to talk to and listen to them. Of course, please don’t jeopardize your own mental health for the benefits of others. The key to being able to support others is to be able to care for yourself first. If something happens to you, who can support them? The first rule of a caregiver is to make sure that you do self-care. Take care of yourself first mentally.

There are many sites that discuss ways to strengthen yourself mentally and emotionally. There is even a wikihow page that list pretty detailed guidance on this. They gave pretty sound advice from my point of view, so check it out if you have a bit of time. Almost every company also have support for you should you need a bit more professional help. So, don’t hesitate to take advantage of these benefits. And, if all else fails, go for a hike. Ha ha.. Okay, that’s a shameless plug by me because I love hiking. Perhaps one of these days I will tell you my story on what got me hiking and even got me to Everest Base Camp.

Until next week, stay strong everyone and reach out to others, whether you need someone to talk to or someone needs you. You are always welcome to reach out to me as well.

Happy Monday,

Mindy