Got a mild case of the blues? It happens to me occasionally. I can feel it coming on when the days start to blend together; I decline invitations from friends and spend more time hunkering down at home.
Sometimes, I feel like I’ve earned the right to withdraw. After my mom died last year, I needed a period of quiet to reflect, grieve and heal. After a while, the sun felt warm again, and I knew I was ready to reenter my normally scheduled routines.
When a funk sneaks up on me, like a late January case of the winter blues, I have a harder time shaking it off. I need something dramatic to help me refocus.
When a mild case of the blues strikes, I add a little “Whee!” to my life.
Fear + Excitement = Whee!
So, I bet you’re asking… what’s Whee! time?
Remember the first time you rode a roller coaster?
I was coaxed onto the Mighty Mouse at our local amusement park by my fellow campers when I was about 11. I was excited to try, but nervous too and the opposing emotions churned my stomach while tickling my brain.
As the coaster car steeply climbed, I fought the urge to leap out, gripping the safety bar until my knuckles glowed. As we reached the top, I gasped at the view. It felt like I was on top of a world much larger than Westchester County, New York. It was amazing!
And then, just like that, the car fell forward, my body lifted a bit off the seat, my internal organs left their normally assigned body slots, and my always unruly hair flew ever more crazily in all directions.
Whee!
Exiting the car at ride’s end, I grabbed my bestie’s arm and shouted “Again! Let’s do it again!”
What Does a Whee! Time Look Like?
A Whee! moment for senior adults doesn’t have to involve centrifugal force.
When I need a reset, what I’m looking for is an experience that’s an intense emotional combo of fear and excitement. For me, it’s like striking a flint. The experiential fire consumes my blues and gives me the giddyup I need.
My blues tend to come on in winter like many seniors who struggle with seasonal affective disorder (SAD). So I look for something that’s exciting and just a little scary.
This year, I’m going to audition for a community choral group. I don’t know anyone involved, so walking in as an unknown will be awkward. And it’s been decades since I’ve read sheet music.
But I love to sing. Belting out ballads on road trips in my Subaru is one of my life’s sweet pleasures. The chance to meet people who share my passion is exciting and this could be the beginning of an exciting new hobby.
Just writing about the possibility makes me feel the winter blues slipping away.
Best Ways to Whee!
Here are some activities that are likely to inspire fear and generate excitement.
Try an Unusual Exercise Class
Have you given aerial yoga a go? Pilates? Spinning? When I picture these exercise classes, I don’t see groups of seniors. But they sound like so much fun. Consider trying a fitness class that’s different from your normal routine.
Check Out Toastmasters
Have a fear of public speaking? It’s a common form of anxiety. Toastmasters International is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals develop public speaking skills and confidence. Although chapters are most commonly organized in workplaces, I found a local community group near my home. The first time I delivered a speech, I nearly fainted. But, over time, the fear subsided once I learned how to prepare a speech and engage an audience.
Take a Solo Trip
One of my greatest pleasures in life is traveling by myself. Although I love a romantic couple’s getaway or a rowdy family vacation, a solo trip is an incredible luxury. You get to go where you want to, when you want to and eat everything your heart desires without having to take into account other people’s wants and needs. But it comes at a price because you’ll be making all the decisions and weathering all the mishaps on your own.
So, if you’re feeling a little blue, I hope you’ll give one of these Whee! suggestions a try!
Let’s Have a Conversation:
Do you like to challenge yourself? Have you tried something recently that was both scary and exciting? How do you beat the blues?
