#marchtips

(image via)

Mid-March, a time when 45 degree weather and occasional chirp of a bird reminds you that spring is just around the corner but at the other end of a long block. 

During this rough patch, it's important to recognize that your life is actually not that bad and your depression is not as debilitating as you think it is. You can get out of bed and walk to the deli for a breakfast sandwich.  You can.  You just have to push yourself.

With that said, my number 2 tip for march is to get over yourself, go out into the world, and do something GOOD.

I've found that if I commit to something well in advance of the day I have to do it, I am more likely to follow through.  I tend to talk up the things I have planned, and it would seem like I was lying if I backed out at the last second.  The vanity keeps me committed.  I also never advance-commit to anything too far outside my general areas of interest. 

Last November I made a commitment to volunteer for the March 8-10 Adaptive Ski Weekend at Double H in upstate NY.  The organization is part of Serious Fun - Paul Newman's worldwide network of not-for-profit recreational and therapeutic experiences for children with serious illnesses. 

We all know there's no such thing as a selfless act, but what I didn't realize was that lately I haven't given myself the opportunity to spend time putting others first. 

After volunteering, I was surprised by how refreshed I felt after getting away from MYSELF all weekend.  I was so busy playing and learning and helping that I got to take a break from my own thoughts.  It was wonderful.  Helping yourself by helping others may still be selfish, but it's the best way to be selfish.

Oh March, you grating and persistent death rattle of winter.  Coming from a family of self-diagnosed Seasonal Affective Disorder sufferers, I truly have to plan in advance to avoid falling into a miserable black hole of late winter depression.  For the past 3 years I've gone on an awesome Caribbean vacay mid March, giving me something to look forward to just when the going gets tough (approx. Feb 1).  Unable to pass on a once in a lifetime invite to go to Colombia in January, my March vacation happened early this year.

In the past I've turned to alcohol, poetry, bad relationships, and crash dieting for support during these hard times.  They didn't work and that's how I got on my vacation kick.  This year I have some new vices that are less detrimental to my health and won't add to the piles of notebooks shamelessly documenting my pathetic emotions. I will share them with you here throughout the month!

Surviving March - Tip  #1: Arcade Games and Beer

The main thing keeping me going is my national Brewskee Ball League team, "PusSkee Riot".  Every Wednesday we are matched against another team and play a good hour (10 games each) of skee-ball at Full Circle Bar in Williamsburg.   I am not good at skee-ball and for a while I held the 3rd lowest score of the entire league, but it is fun and the atmosphere is great.  I get to catch up with my friends and play games and drink cheap tallboys (Genesee, I'm looking at you). 

I joined the league to make new friends and even though I haven't gotten any phone numbers, everyone is super friendly and it's easy to maintain friendships at the weekly matches.  If you can, I suggest getting yourself to a place that offers a game + beer environment at least once a week.  You could go bowling, play darts, or play pool - anything that gets you moving but doesn't actually require much physical exertion.  Facing a fun new challenge allows you to get your mind off the things that are depressing you like work, money, homeless babies, and unadopted shelter dogs.

Sorry, that got sad.  That's what happens.  That's where my mind goes. 

Here are some photos of our match last night!

The lanes, begging to be rolled on:

These people are excited and about to high-five because they are totally beating us (that's Mike, our only reliable player, on lane 1):

Let's not forget this is a competition.  Scores are meticulously recorded: