Today’s blogging prompt from Long and Short Reviews is, “What do you do to shake off a bad mood?” That varies a bit on the mood itself — I need to be around friends to dispel some moods, but I need to avoid people in others — but a ready antidote to most is found in Latin. “Solvitur ambulando!” It is solved by walking. Whether angry, sad, lonely, anxious, whatever, I’ve found relief in a brisk walk. Sometimes I also go for rides and listen to music, and on the same roads I like to walk and cycle on — quiet county lanes that haven’t been repaved since Carter was in office, past cows and horses and creeks. I have a go-to list of movies to watch when I’m feeling sick or low (including Groundhog Day, The Philadelphia Story, and A Series of Unfortunate Events), and sometimes booting up a game and causing chaos also works. There’s nothing quite like an open bar brawl in Red Dead Redemption 2 to put me to rights.
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Those quiet country lanes sound nice.
Lydia
I like to walk, too. It’s great for shifting perspective, I think. Right behind our flat there’s a woods, which, at the moment is carpeted with a colourful carpet of crunchy leaves. It smells wonderful, too.
Haha the open bar brawl made me giggle! It has been interesting to me that nearly everyone this week included walking or getting into nature as one of their main coping strategies. I forgot to add that to mine specifically (only a passing mention of planting seeds), but am realizing time outside is probably the number one thing for most people, me included. I’m glad that you have found a healthy way to cope and that it sounds like you have a lovely area to walk and cycle in!
They’re hilarious, especially when I punch someone I didn’t meant to punch and this get out of control. I think the lack of outside time and physical activity is a major drag on happiness these days. 😦
I am completely with you on all those strategies. I don’t have so many country lanes to drive on nearby, but we have some excellent walking paths. And I’m more Infamous and Infamous 2 (I’ve never actually played Red Dead Redemption) but “let’s fire up a game and cause some chaos” is about as relatable as it gets for me!
Country lanes can be hard to come by, depending on where you are! I’m in rural Alabama so I have my pick. 🙂
Walking and cycling are wonderful! Although, I’m slowly turning into my dad… I took up jogging last year and found it’s also really good for letting off steam.
Walking is 100% good for uplifting the mood, I think.