This IS therapy, dammit!

By notapoet - About Me - E-mail this page - Add to My Favorites - Add to Blog List - See other blogs in Nonfiction

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Curing the blues…

does not involve sitting around feeling sorry for yourself. Nor does it involve curling up in the fetal position wishing the world would go away and leave you alone. I’ve been there and done both when it seemed the only solution to all my problems was to avoid life altogether. This is a dangerous... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Writing is great therapy for depression…

and whatever else may be ailing you. So, is a good old horselaugh. It’s hard to stay down in the dumps if you exercise your funny bone. Laughter and the blues usually don’t mix. A dose of giggles really can chase your troubles away. One of the reasons I enjoy April Fool’s day is that the jokes... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Ten down, and two to go.

Periodically I experience bouts of compulsive behavior. That is how I ended up with twelve blogs in the first place. I even had more once upon a time. I’ve learned that twelve blogs is more than I can keep up with on a regular basis. I’m just not prolific enough to earn a living and spend that much... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, February 15, 2008

The worst Valentine’s Day of my life

…was the one after the ex had left me. She walked out on January 1st. I’d thought we might be making progress toward staying together through the Christmas holidays and New Year’s Eve. We both had to return to work on the morning of the first. I came home and she didn’t. It got worse. By the end of... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, February 11, 2008

No blood for sale here.

It was extremely tight financially when an old friend suggested I follow his example and sell blood. It was a temptation I resisted. When I give blood I would prefer it to be exactly that – a gift. I’ve been registered as an organ donor for many years now. I encourage others to do so. I have no... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, July 5, 2007

My friend Dan wants me to sell my blood.

He goes to Fayetteville, about an hour’s drive one way, twice a week to sell his. He says they pay him $70 every week that he donates twice. I’m tempted. I could use the extra money during the summer months when newspaper freelancing is pretty slow. The last time I gave blood I had to fill out an... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

No more sleep.

At least not to the exclusion of everything else. These days I sleep about seven or eight hours a day, usually in two segments. I normally sleep only four to six hours at night unless I’m exceptionally fatigued. Most days I also nap a couple of hours. When I find myself sleeping significantly more... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, December 25, 2006

My Christmas wish is health and happiness for all of you.

My Christmas wish is health and happiness for all of you. I would like to be able to give all of you something more tangible for Christmas. Since I can afford little these days, all I can offer is something that is free for everyone that I set up in my last “WRITERS WRITE” post. For your little... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, December 22, 2006

Sleeping my life away.

At least it has seemed like I've been doing that way for the last few days. Effort that normally would be moderately tiring has knocked me for a loop. I’ve slept nearly as many hours as I’ve been awake. Periods of excessive sleep and fatigue are a red flag for me. They frequently signal the onset of... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

I'm not a vindictive person.

At least I try not to be. Experience has taught me that there is no real joy in revenge, although I sometimes feel encouraged when poetic justice occurs. There is a significant difference between the two. The desire for revenge gets you all jumbled up inside. If acted upon, it can jumble you up even... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, December 9, 2006

Rec Ball -- From Six to Sixty

The County Recreation Department where I live in central North Carolina actually provides activities for age groups ranging from five-and-six-year-olds to the over 50 crowd. My grandson belongs to the former group. I’m in the latter. The name of the game we’re involved with is basketball. My... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

No sympathy for the skinny guy.

You would think all of the people out there trying to lose weight would take pity on poor old notapoet and give him at least a tip or two on how to pack on some weight. It only makes sense that secrets beyond sheer overeating exist out there. But no, no one wants to share at least a few of the ways... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, November 10, 2006

I've got a weight problem.

Unfortunately for me, it’s the reverse of the one almost everyone else seems to be moaning about. I’ve been skinny as a rail ever since the growth spurt that started when I was about twelve. I kept growing taller through my teen years, but gained very little weight to go along with all that new... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, November 7, 2006

Welcome to the latest therapy session.

Once again I’ve discovered that I am indeed a writer when I simply overcome the urge to do nothing. All I had to do was remember it. Writing is the best therapy I’ve ever encountered for depression. It’s even better than physical exercise, though that has almost as important a role. The enemy is the... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, October 5, 2006

"Just Walking In The Rain"

…was a 1956 hit by Johnny Ray, also known as “Crying Johnny Ray,” because of his unique delivery. He seemed to be generating enough tears in his renditions to rival a pretty good rain shower. None of this has much to do with health or fitness, except for the “Walking” reference. As a kid, I used to... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, October 2, 2006

"These Boots Are Made For Walking"

…conjures up lots of memories -- and none of them involved Jessica Simpson. It was Nancy Sinatra’s song, Frank’s little girl, ‘cause she did it first and did it better. “Boots” knocked me out the first time I heard it in early 1966. I don’t think it had even charted yet, but I was fortunate that a... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, September 25, 2006

"Walk A Mile In My Shoes"

…or two or three or more. That’s what I did yesterday. I walked to Vass, where I used to live, and back to my rundown little trailer. Total elapsed time, including the brief stop at my destination, was about 140 minutes. It was almost eight miles, round trip, up and down the sandy hills where I live... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, September 18, 2006

Old Sam Clemens had it about right:

“The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not.” -- Samuel Langhorn Clemens, AKA Mark Twain It sure seems that way most of the time. Sometimes it makes you appreciate growing old. You start thinking "Hell, I don't have that... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, September 15, 2006

"Last Dance"

Maybe so. Maybe not. I’ve written a little about my struggles with depression over the last three years. And I’ll continue to do so in the future, although not necessarily at this address. Huh? Oh, I’m not going anywhere this soon after my return to Blogit. But this particular blog might take up... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Obsessive-compulsive behavior and competitive sports.

I know that seems an unlikely combination of subjects. But in my case it’s a combination that seemed to work in combating depression through regular physical activity. The sport in question is basketball. It could have just as easily been bowling (too expensive for someone who is a little down and... Sign in to see full entry.

Headlines (What is this?)