"A light heart lives long." - Shakespeare


Dear Niece,


I bet you didn't know that I was such an expert at chasing away the blues!  Yes, I admit, this has become a hobby due to personal needs. In fact, I declare myself able to offer advice to those who are suffering from the blues simply because "I've been there, done that!" 


First, you have to distinguish the blues from depression. The blues are a cloudy, shallow sense of dread that doesn't last, where as depression feels like a deep, insurmountable dread that sticks around.  If you have the deep kind, call someone who is a professional, then call me, I'll be right over.  If kept in check the blues will likely never amount to depression, but you have to know what starves the blues, know what they don't like and create some kind of balance.


After you have figured out that you have the blues and not depression, thank God because it will be much easier to fight the blues than to fight depression.  And while we are on the subject, God really can chase away the blues better than any other 'formula' I am about to convey to you. God is Love and if Love can't fight the blues then I don't know what can!  Never under estimate the power of prayer, the power of Oneness and sweet surrender. You are never alone.


Okay. So, now that you know that God loves you, lives within you and offers 'Himself' to you no matter what, you can have fun with it!  "Huh? Fun with the blues?!", but YES, have fun with the blues, shake them up, rattle their cage.  I'm thinking chocolate (just a little bit), a funny movie (something really silly), some stand-up comedy (Comedy Central) and a dog (yes, my favorite way to chase the blues). The point is to lighten up!  Accept that you have the blues, and ease through it by introducing things that are their complete opposite.


* The biggest blues buster is to do something nice for someone else and watch them smile!
* Another good idea is to make something or do something creative. (for me it's cooking!)
* Grab your hat and take a walk in the early morning sun.  
* Check your vitamin D3 levels, and take more in the winter vs the summer (did you know that people in Seattle are known to suffer from the blues more than in other areas where there is more sunshine?) 
* Eat bitter greens; I'm talking salads, steamed chard or broccoli. There's something about these greens that really helps.
* Enjoy lots of fresh fruit, especially the sweet and juicy kind, it helps tremendously. 
* Back off of sugar (except for a little bit of chocolate), and eat some salmon or other protein. 
* If you feel sluggish have a cup of coffee or better yet, green tea.


Exercise is going to be important, and so is blissful sleep. Getting just the right amount of both for your body type will work wonders. Don't over do the exercise, just a brisk 30 minute walk in nature will do you a lot of good, more than that just might make you edgy. At bedtime put the light out early so that your body has a chance to benefit from the melatonin being made while you snooze. Wake up with the sun (oh, didn't you know? unless you are a bear, Mother Nature never intended for you to sleep past sunrise!). And if you wake with dread try to say (or write it down) "Hello New Day! I am going to fill you with all things beautiful!" 


Spend time with friends and people who love you, especially seek out the ones who make you laugh or who can put a smile on your face. Read something uplifting, but avoid the news and newspaper because the blues will feed off of that and make your task to feel better that much harder. Save the news for better days and remember that if something happens that you need to know about there will be plenty of people around to tell you about it!


Another favorite way to bust the blues is to quiet the mind. Find something, whether it is yoga, tai chi, prayer, or meditation, that can still the mind from all the incessant chatter. It's the chatter that is creating the blues, you are overwhelmed, and your mind wants to relax. Practice present minded awareness. Be aware of the now, the moment you are in. This will free you to enjoy what you are doing and that will stop the blues right in its track.


I leave you with this wonderful quote for beating the blues:  


"Learn to thrill yourself. Make everything bright and beautiful about you. Cultivate a sense of humor. Enjoy the sunshine." - Baird T. Spalding


With Love, 
Auntie Thea