October: Infusing Treats into EveryDay Life, Or Self care for mind, body and spirit
October: Self care for mind, body and spiritOctober can be a feast for your five senses. You are in charge of your self-care so make it FUN! You can choose a micro-goal for all 31 days. You can: buy (or make) treats; have parties for people of all ages; plan fun practical jokes; plan (or buy) your costume; your child(ren)’s costume; binge watch scary movies or tv shows; put on your dancing shoes and DO the Monster Mash!
October can also be the time to renew our spiritual connections and remember the spirits.
Some Black cultures believe 3:00 am is the time our ancestors can visit us and dispel wisdom. Being deliberately mindful of those who have passed can feel fortifying. Deliberately set aside 30 minutes and list all the qualities (and memories) of those who have passed away, whether people or pets. Invite others who knew the person or pet.
Can it be okay to celebrate a thing all month long? ABSOLUTELY! On October 1 sit down and plan one activity for each of the 31 days. Here is a seven day example
Day 1: 30 minutes brainstorming costumes
Day 2: make a Halloween recipe and bring to a homeless shelter
Day 3: binge watch horror movies on Netflix (or Amazon Prime or Optimum)
Day 4: plan all the aspects of a Halloween party (from streamers to making all the aspects of a human - spaghetti for hair, boiled peeled eggs for eyes, etc)
Day 5: sit quietly for 20 minutes and look at photos and relive happy memories of your first pet (maybe even do so while volunteering at the local animal shelter)
Day 6: attend a religious service
Day 7: buy a huge whole lot of Halloween candy
The possibilities are endless. You are in charge. Even the act of making the list will stimulate your brain to release the “happiness chemicals”. Those chemicals are: dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphin. You don’t have to wait to feel excited, to feel happy anticipation.
You don’t have to do it alone. I am a licensed clinician. Contact me for a free 30 minute consultation. It does not have to stay this way. You deserve to feel heard. You deserve to feel happy. You deserve to feel safe. www.therapyfellows.com choose Individual and Family Therapy and use password Picture1925
