5 ways to get happy
It was hard for me to agree to end a life. Not the human kind, but my 17-year-old furry feline. Poor old Pixie, she battled right until the end and it broke my heart when the vet declared that she had no quality of life and when she levitated to the cattery in the sky. For the rest of the day and the proceeding week, our family was quite devastated, even the dog searched around her favourite napping places. It was hard to feel happy even though we knew she was no longer in pain. On the eve of her week’s departure and to get out of the feel-down funk, these were the five ways I got happy, post-pet trauma.
1. Clean your surrounds
It's physical, it’s a good way to concentrate and a good way to cleanse the area. While kitty kat fur may linger, getting the vacuum out along with the dust cloth is most therapeutic, even if you are surrounded by shiny. I washed down windows, kitchen cabinets, rugs and mats, turned on the candles and made friends with the disinfectant.
2. Connect with a human
If you are busy like me, chances are connections with friends and relatives can threaten to fall along the wayside. While it wasn’t the opportunity for me to be sad, phoning a friend who can be assured to lift the spirits is a must. I purposefully didn’t mention the passing, but just hearing about someone else's funny endeavours was enough to bring a smile to my face. Thank you Ms Z.
3. Take in the fresh air
The last of the winter weather is always beautiful in Sunny Sydney. Walk = dog = happy.
4. Go barefoot
Serendipitously another great friend posted the importance of being barefoot on the ground, or in other terms: Earthing. (Although my mum has been practising this for decades!) Science along with common sense proves that the pagans knew what they were doing when barefoot was the norm. Do you remember the last time you walked barefoot on the beach, through the grass or in the bush and simply reconnected with the Earth? How good did it feel?* According to the authors of “Barefoot Healing” Earthing can lower stress and promote calmness in the body by cooling down the nervous system and stress hormones. Now is the time to throw off the shoes and wriggle your toes in the sand or mud or soil or clay…(you get the picture).
5. Drink a Smoothie
Any fruit or vegetable or combination. Particularly delicious are green smoothies packed with leafy vegetables that are full of nutrients such as Vitamin K which protects cognitive (mental) ability and Vitamin C which is also known to demonstrate protective qualities by functioning as an antioxidant. Smoothies clear the mind and cleanse the body with the added benefit of extra fibre. My favourite all-time smoothie as a happy pick-me-up which you can use frozen or fresh is the ‘flat belly.’ Either way, a smoothie is a meal in itself and great for flushing the sadness away.
Ingredients:
1 cup baby spinach or Kale (I also use frozen)
¼ avocado peeled and stone removed
¼ cup broccoli florets (again frozen can be used especially great in summer)
1 frozen banana
Large handful of mint leaves
3 raw almonds
1 teaspoon coconut oil (organic is always best and readily found in the supermarket)
1 cup almond milk
1 teaspoon of stevia to taste, or if you are feeling extra protein-ish, 1 teaspoon of peanut butter.
Method: Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
And if you are looking for that extra shot try this green-a-colada mocktail..swiish deelish!
Lastly, when all the tears have been shed and the heart feels a little lighter, look to what is still around or yet to be born, go and find your happy.
#happy, #connect #clean #barefoot #smoothie #freshair