Wow. The response to Tuesday’s post on depression was overwhelming, which leads me to think that I’m not the only one who’s facing or has faced this. To say the least. As a result, I’ve been doing more thinking on what I do to live with depression and, ideally, make it through to the other side.
This week, I’ve been giving myself (imaginary) gold stars. I went to bed at 11 last night: gold star for me! I ate breakfast: gold star! I went to the gym: gold star! again! I did alll the dishes: double gold star!
The especially fun thing about this is that when I’m depressed, everything feels really difficult, so everything is worthy of a gold star. The next time you see me, I may be so covered in little gold stars that I’ll be unrecognizable.
Here are just a few of the things for which I dole out the (much-coveted) gold stars:
Gold star for getting out of bed this morning!
Gold star for remembering that I’m going to get hungry at lunchtime, and packing something to eat that includes protein!
Gold star for putting on the bracelet I like!
Gold star for leaving the house in a composed state instead of a flustered one!
Gold star for getting into Manhattan without having the urge to smack any of my fellow subway riders! (On second thought, this deserves a triple gold star.)
Gold star for making myself the tea I like, with cream!
Gold star for prepping for that one meeting!
Gold star for taking a break from work and going outside at least once during the day!
Gold star for responding to blog comments from the ridiculously wonderful people sharing themselves here!
Gold star for texting my friend to see how she’s doing!
Gold star for signing up for that yoga workshop!
Gold star for meditating for two minutes at my desk!
Gold star for taking a break from work to focus on eating lunch, and only eating lunch!
Gold star for responding to that email that I could have put off but didn’t!
Gold star for scheduling my next dentist visit!
Gold star for hand washing that shirt that can’t go in the wash, and laying it on the table to dry!
. . .
What would you like a gold star for? Share one or many accomplishments in the comments, and I’ll respond with gold star power galore (!!!).
8 Comments
Fistfuls of Gold Stars to you!!! You have an incredible heart (and I think you’re pretty ridiculously wonderful too).
I got a gold star for practicing anyway! For writing in my journal even though it has lines (I hate the lines)! For making sure I got enough sleep (but not too much!) For making some food *before* I went off the deep end!
I like this, very much. xo
Mel: Mwah mwah mwah from my heart to yours. Gold stars for you! For that and that and that and that, too! You’re a rockstar at life. Hooray!
Gold Star for laundry! Gold star for eating yogurt! Gold star for scheduling blog posts! Gold star for getting up before 10 am! Gold star for checking Paypal! Gold Star for showering before bed last night! Gold star for about-to-start meditating!
Katana: Gold stars for you! Pow pow pow! (That was the sound of gold stars flying at you.) Go you! Woo hoo!
A handful of gold stars for you, just because!
Gold star for cake for breakfast! (Even though it was made with white beans so is totally breakfast-worthy. A gold star for that too!) Gold star for taking a new morning walk direction! Gold star for sitting down to register my food processor! Gold star for making the bed!
Gold stars for everyone! I have some somewhere; I wonder where they are.
Gold star for doing laundry! Gold star for doing Linguistics homework! Gold star for letting my body have the rest it needed! Gold star for putting me and my health first for once!
Gold star for blog posts, four days in a row! I’m about to go earn me fist fulls of gold stars, too, while I clean the house! Thank you for your incredibly beautiful posts. More gold stars for you and all your awesomeness!!!
Elizabeth: Your gold stars might be hiding on the ceiling. Perhaps. Also, I would like the recipe for this mysterious cake. So many gold stars for your and all those things!
Ashley: Gold stars!!! LAUNDRY is totally worthy of at least three gold stars, probably more. I mean, it includes washing, and drying, and folding, too. Extra specially sweet gold stars for showing yourself care. That’s simply sublime.
Becca: Four! Days! Of gold! Stars! For you! Perhaps you can imagine, while cleaning, that all the little specks of dust are gold stars that you’re collecting for yourself.
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