Jumpstart

Going forward after going backward

I made a mistake this week.

I broke my news diet and gorged on present-day events, eating headlines like cotton candy. But just like cotton candy, there was no nutritive value to what I ingested.

Yes, I chose to turn my back on self-care and sanity in order to stay informed. I chose to read, watch and listen to all the news about the new U.S. administration’s antics. And, predictably, I was distraught about what has befallen my country, the U.S., as well as worried about the future of other countries.

Being informed was detrimental to my psyche. So I wallowed in depression and an awful headspace and texted a friend. He was worried about me and insisted we speak on the phone immediately. So we talked, and he reminded me that life is short, and we cannot afford to waste time on such intense worry.

And then he gave me the jumpstart of a lifetime: He told me to get my paint brushes ready and start painting, as well as to continue writing. He reminded me that I had a poetry book and an art series to eventually get out, and that depression is not serving me. He advised that we must refuse to get emotionally and physically sick over the new administration and that getting aggravated constantly is not healthy.

That was the impetus I needed to recommit to my news diet and put into perspective what I’m really grateful for, shown in the below list, not in any particular order of importance.

• My family is vital and anchors me.

• My great friend who gave me such stellar advice. I’m lucky to have him and other friends in my corner.

• Art and writing are my constant companions. I won’t ever forget how wonderful these creative acts are for me. And I get to share the love of art with my daughter, which is a bonus.

• I survived cancer thus far.

• I’m adhering to the news diet and have no plans of straying.

• I went back to the gym after a hiatus. Working out was a joy for me, though I’m out of shape at this time.

• I am so grateful for you, dear readers.

My advice for anyone having difficulty coping in any way would be to tap into your creativity, whether it’s journaling, (Sara at Self-Care Power Hour has unique ideas for making journaling a creative act.), scrapbooking, writing, playing music, dancing, sewing, knitting, or any other activities that fill you with purpose.

And I am practicing what I am preaching. A while ago I started painting a landscape. It’s a scene with a waterfall in the center of rocky outcroppings and vegetation, as well as a body of water. I initially was going to give up on this artwork, thanks to depression. But after my phone call with my dear friend, I refused to give up, and I reworked it.

Here’s the first draft, where I focused on the placement of the elements.

Below is the second draft, where I introduced gray and brown rocky crags on either side of the waterfall. I left some space for the greenery, which will be interspersed with the jagged rock formations. I definitely want the rocky outcroppings to be jagged, with strong angles. More work is needed on this element, as well as the sky, which I reworked.

Overall, this landscape will be a challenge, but I’m happy to be challenged by art rather than the news.