Fight the Funk

Ever been in a funk? I laugh at myself for even asking. Every single person on this planet has, so the better question is: are you in a funk right now? or been in one this week? I have. As positive and upbeat as I am, I still fight funks every week with different degrees of severity. Typically they aren't huge weights to carry and often they come from not sleeping enough or not being intentional with my time. But those funks that show up from someone/something acting in a way I don't agree, followed by me choosing anger/disapproval/frustration as my response... well those funks stick longer and harder. So it doesn't really matter why we get into a funk, it is inevitable. I am more excited to master the art of lifting my energy. So lets talk tips and tricks for fighting the funk.

Ok, first off, some low hanging fruit: for me that's coffee. Is this even fair to say? I'm a decaf or half caf kind of girl anyway. But it's more than just coffee. It's starting my day sipping some warm coffee, on the couch with my pups, in the dark, while looking at the pictures on my phone, well shit, I'm happier just thinking about it.

More challenging action: Working out. Yeah yeah yeah.... pretty sure every single person on the planet has told us working out brings us endorphins that make us happy. And Legally Blonde backed it up with science "Happy people just don't kill their husbands". So working out, works! Now, do I love fitness? Hell YES! So a lot of the time getting a workout in doesn't take much effort. But in a funk, ooooo even I struggle. I mean, wake up early or get that sleep I so desperately want.... it's so confusing at times, right? If I am tired maybe it's the sleep that will help the funk. 99% of the time nopppppe. It's been a rare find that one day of sleeping an hour more equaled my energy feeling especially better. This is why the self talk to get a workout done is so important. And when in funktown, I pick low low low hanging fruit: my favorite workout movements, done on repeat for 10mins. If at the end, I feel inspired, I'll do more. Maybe not. And if I film myself doing it, well that gives me the extra energy bump I need to pep up. Usually after the 10mins, I'm happy to do 10 more mins. And maybe even 10mins after that. Getting the momentum seems to be the key. So try it out. I have NEVER regretted working out. Even the day I tore my achilles working out. Still felt the effects of the not killing your husband endorphins.

But the real guaranteed energy lifter: giving to others. Making others feel good ALWAYS makes me feel good. It's the best win-win out there. I think it might be impossible give and not feel instantly better. Honestly, I think it is a more selfish act for me. My Mom taught me that how you make people feel is how you will be remembered. So who I want to be and how I want to be remembered is tied to kindness and love. What a beautiful lesson I didn't really understand until much later in my life. Again, selfish but man does it feel good. You never know what might really touch someone deeply. Those moments are magic. They ripple onto others. ALWAYS. So I use this technique all the time. Do, give, help others. It's law to me. Invest in the most important resource this planet has to give: others. None of us can do life alone. So feel good, help your mood, and create a community. Done. You're convinced? Cool. Shortest blog I've ever written.

Just kidding. When have I ever told a short story. Not going to start now. I gotta tell a few stories to drive home the point and give you all the feels!

Anyone out there read last weeks blog? Maybe four of you did. For the other six of you, lets recap. Last week was about the amazing relationship and lessons learned from our electrician. But there is so much more to the story. Porter, our electrician, went out of his way to be kind and thoughtful. He tackled an unnecessary job earlier than expected and ultimately made us feel really appreciated. I was really grateful for him. Especially because renovating is stressful. The stress doesn't just show up for the time you are dealing with the renovation. Oh no. It sticks, like all stresses do. It sits in the background like those apps you never close, constantly running. It will drain your bandwidth faster, and then show up in strange and funky ways. So while I'm a happy person, this chapter of life is complex and messy. I try to pad my life with giving unto others so my funk stays low, even when I don't think I need it. Point- I wanted to give back to Porter. And you all know I'm a huge fan of cards. These cards. Written to the brim with a detailed personal thanks.

Thank You Cards

So I wrote Porter a long card. I highly recommend doing this. It's one thing to write a card and say "thank you" but its really special when you articulate what, how and why the action getting thanked was so meaningful.

So you know what happened next? Not only did a get a phone call thanking me for the thank you card (funny action in it of itself), BUT I found out Porter now carries the card daily as a reminder of his WHY. My card hit him that deep?! Amazing. Wow. Definitely didn't think it would do that. That is level 10 funk-erasing for sure.

The card cost me nothing. I think they are $18 for 25 cards. So 72 cents. I've spent WORLDS more on candy corn. But candy corn, although the greatest candy on the planet, as never made me feel THIS good.

I just reordered cards because I'm literally out. It's almost like a game: see how fast I can give these cards away. I think my happiness level is directly correlated to the inverse time needed to give these away. Does that even make sense? The faster I write these, the higher my happiness.

So buy these cards and try it out. This might be the lowest hanging fruit, with the BIGGEST return. Funk cant stick when there is gratitude.

A screenshot of the Thank You I gave Lew Dix from his YouTube video

A Christmas "Thank You" to our Birth Mom

Now that you've got some "easy" ideas.... want to up your happiness game even more? Do even more giving to others. It might take more time, effort, even money. But again, your return on investment can never be beat. We all know friends, coworkers, family members who would pay BIG money for happiness. This is it. So what are your gifts? Share them. For me ice cream making, baking, beekeeping, interpreting, flexibility of time, are some of my current gifts I'm blessed to have. So while I was in a mild funk a few weeks ago, I listened to a still small voice telling me to make a dear friend ice cream. So much more to this story.... and maybe a future blog.... but for now know making ice cream to honor & remember a friend's birthday who's brother was killed in Afghanistan set my soul on fire.

So much fun in doing this. So beautiful. And a true funk eraser. I go back and look at this post anytime I'm feeling low. Because funk cant exist where there is love like this.

Now you say, "Marcy I don't know or have time to make ice cream from scratch". I so get this. Making ice cream labor of love and time that I don't always have either. But you know what isn't? Going to the store (which I already planned to do) and snagging some "get well" remedies for a friend feeling sick. I planned to just drop it off, sent a text and be on my merry way. Well maybe not quite merry, some funk can linger. But this lightened the funk a ton. Then when I received a sweet thank you from this friend, I admittingly shared I needed to give to get momentum moving in a positive direction and away from said funk. She immediately responded with: "Wanna Talk? Just know I'm here to listen..." Yep.... Immediate funk lifting energy too. It was so genuine and kind. She 1000% meant it. I felt heard and loved in return. And by a friend, not a best friend or even a friend I message daily. Just a friend. And while I have a solid inner circle of family/best friends who I know will listen if I'm ever needing it, hearing this friend wanted to help gave me even more lightness.

This might be selfish. Even as I write and share I feel a sense of looking for something by doing a "selfless" action. But the action itself DOES give you those feels. There have been many times an act of kindness goes unsaid/noticed/unacknowledged. And that is awesome too. But when there is love exchanged after, it doubles down those good feelings.

Additionally, being the recipient of cards rocks! I felt AMAZING and the card wasn't even for me. Not only does Murph get a yearly shout out on the radio for his birthday but a birthday card with confetti and a balloon. When someone shows love deeply you cant help but bask in good juju. Even if its not directly for you.

Di, you're the BEST. And you hopefully know it. Murph and I both love you!

Not feeling any funk. Love those days! Still give gifts. Get momentum behind those good feeling days.... then ride the wave hard! Things you might not think help with a funk so do. I invited the neighbor's daughter who was curious to learn about bees to join me. This was one of the most FUN beekeeping days because of her presence and curiosity. I'm not even a good beekeeper! But looking at this photo now reminds me of that fun, her excitement, and the good juju that flowed. So remember I said sipping coffee and looking at pictures makes me happy? It truly does. The feels you get in these moments of kindness transcend the moments and live on in pictures. So give to others, workout, write cards and take pictures. Funk doesn't last forever, but these beautiful memories and feelings surely will.

Thank you Katie for joining. You made MY day more than I made yours