FIRST AID COMFORT BOX

[susand]

As we trudge through some of these dank, dark days I wondered if we could share what lifts our spirits, warms our hearts, keeps us going on the grey days. I have what I call my "Winter Warmers". Once upon a time that would have included chocolate, but sadly I have gone off it!
Now invite me to a glass of red wine and I will begin to feel brighter.... A bunch of golden daffodils - a prezzie - made me feel brighter too. The promise of sunnier days and Spring flowers. A friend made me gluten-free coffee and walnut cake - yummy - and planning a week in Tuscany is proving fun. A beautiful cello recital in a gracious Georgian house (now turned event facility) and a classical guitar concert have both helped keep the tattered edges of the current uncertainties and future outcomes in a semblance of balance! I might not always wake with a "song in my heart" but I scrabble for one anyway. And I find it true - singing does lift the spirit. Apparently that, along with smiling, stimulates the production of endorphins. The more that these flood our bodies the "better" we feel.
As Yoda said: "DO or DO NOT, there is no trying!!" (Mind you I just BET that he doesn't have a PID and any of its associated challenges.)
I have other warmers that I use, some for enjoyment and learning, others just sheer escapism! Any more ideas out there?
Perhaps we should start a FIRST AID KIT or a personal BLUES CURE BOX - a list of ideas to help us over the inevitable troughs and bumps we meet along the way!

[s162216]

Following on from susand here are some things that I do when feeling a bit down (quite frequent these days although nothing to do with PID [trying to find a job as a biosciences graduate and sitting around having nothing really to do is a real nightmare!])

1. Listen to classical music (Mozart's Violin Concerto No.5, Gustav Holst's 'The Planets Suite', Jean Sibelius's Symphony No.5 or of course Beethoven's Symphony No.9 [especially the 4th movement - aptly the chloral segment is titled 'Ode to Joy'!) are usually good choices for me amongst others).

2. Go for a long walk, preferably across open country if its not too bad weather (I may be a "man for all season's" type hiker usually, but even I have a limit!)

3. Watch my old VHS tape of Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast' - this was always my favourite film as a young child (I probably watched it about 4-5 times a week at one point), and a few months ago I came across my original VHS tape of it. I had not seen the film for a good 13-15 years probably, and a few weeks later feeling a bit down I decided to watch it; considering the age of the tape (~20 years) and the number of times I must have played it as a child it was actually in surprising good condition with only a few minor lines appearing every so often. The strangest thing was that about 20 minutes in I noticed I was unconsciously humming along to the songs, and could in some cases mentally recall the lyrics! Surprising considering how long ago it was since I had last seen it, and it was every bit as emotionally stirring as I could remember it; by about 5 minutes in I felt quite happy again, exactly like I always remember when I used to watch it.

What do other members do then? Go on?

[john]

What a good idea for a thread Sue,
In my first aid box it would be super if there was...
Bassett’s Jelly Babies,
Alison Krause CDs for calming me down,
Gotan Project CDs for cheering me up,
Instant sunshine and absent neighbours,
No hospital appointments in the diary,
A rush of energy that makes me get out and walk in the countryside,
More Jelly Babies,
A few holiday breaks booked up and actually looking like they’ll happen,
Some positive and encouraging comments from my doctors for a change,
A pile of Good reading material.

Any two of these at a time would do nicely!

[s162216]

Resurrecting an old thread to see if anybody else might have any examples as to what they do when they feel a bit down.

Go on!

[floopyjim]

Maynards Wine Gums!
Croissants.
One of my dogs on my lap (who would probably be helping me eat the croissant!
The support of my family.
Dvorak Symphony number 9 (of the new world) or This Mortal Coil (any album). For some reason, I listened to these many times when I was in hospital and found them nicely distracting. I even let a doctor do an ABG as long as I could listen to Dvorak at the same time!

Positive comments from doctors? Now that would be a good thing!

Great thread - keep it going - I could use some more ideas.

[glowing]

70's music never fails to lift my mood, by reminding me of when I danced through the housework, singing and laughing a lot with my three young children and two dogs.
KitKats.
Reading of, hearing about and seeing humorous events and jokes.
Phoning poorly friends knowing we'll end up giggling.

[hlh]

Ummmmm...... take a guess?

[floopyjim]

Sausage Rolls?



Doughnuts, like chocolate biscuits, are to be avoided by me - 1 pack (regardless of size) would last 15 minutes at best!

[hlh]

That is why we NEVER buy that many. Way too dangerous....

We have a philosophy about eating "bad" things. If you are going to be "bad" and eat something you really enjoy that isn't so good for you, get the BEST quality and tasting bad thing you can get. Never waste those binges/calories on anything less than fabulous.

We live near a great little family run bakery that makes truly outstanding chocolate cake donuts. I don't like supermarket donuts. But I love these.

So I do what I can to make infusion days lest onerous for my Dad, by adding things to look forward to.... That means a chocolate donut, and watching something great on DVD during the infusions so that they fly by. Right now it's the series House of Cards. If you are going to be bad, and watch TV..... watch the best TV you can!

Enjoy folks. It is often the simple things that make days better.

[cassie]

Chocolate, really good quality but when desperate will settle for M&m's
a list of good books to read
lunch dates on my calendar with friends
planning a trip. Several months planning is part of enjoyment
finding a good series on Netflix to binge watch
a swim on a hot day

[conniek]

Chocolate
A good book
Crazy as this sounds, watching videos of cats licking/kneading other cats/other animals, humans. I don't know why but they really relax me. I'd love to have the real thing, but no pets are allowed in the apartment building where I live.