Five Ways to Fight Malaise
A bit of encouragement on this Election Day
Malaise. Anyone else wake up feeling this way today?
The weight of the world is heavy on my heart. I have this sinking feeling that no matter what happens in the Presidential Election, the next few months are going to be tumultuous and full of pain. It can be easy to give in to that feeling, to wallow in discomfort and despair. And while sometimes we need to stay in our pajamas all day and read under a blanket, pretending the world is no bigger than the four walls around us, it’s also true that malaise can be a disease that kills us from the inside out.
So today, on this Election Day full of hope and fear all at the same time, I thought I’d share five of my favorite ways to fight the discomfort and make the day a good one, no matter what the outcome.
One: Read Out Loud
The first thing I did with my kids this morning was read out loud. We read from the Gospel of John, where Jesus tells us he is the bread of life. We read about Fort Jefferson in Halliburton’s Book of Marvels. My kids read poems to me. Later today, we’ll read a chapter or two from the new Swifts book.
The act of reading out loud connects us not only with the people we are reading to, but the people we are reading about. Reading stories out loud brings the stories to life in a way reading silently can’t. If you don’t have kids, read to your partner, a friend, a pet, or even to a stuffed animal.
Not sure what to read? Here are some of my favorite chapter books to read aloud and here are some of my favorite picture books.1
Two: Sing
Singing makes us healthier and happier. We’re singing a lot of hymns today because they remind me that today is a gift, but is not the end. Singing about God’s grace and love reminds me that there is something greater than the country or world that we call home.
But if hymns aren’t your thing, sing anything that makes you happy.
Three: Admire Art…or Create Your Own!
As I stood in a Georgia O’Keefe exhibit yesterday, I was struck by the stillness that nature offered her in the midst of what were incredibly turbulent years. O’Keefe started painting as a young child and went to Art school after graduating high school in 1905. She painted through World War I, through World War II, through the Civil Rights Movement, through Vietnam, and the Cold War. As I continue to process my own feelings about the tumultuous times around us, I’m inspired by the way she spent time in nature and then continued her reflection of nature through art.
Four: Connect with People
Go outside. Walk around the block. Connect with your neighbors. Find the things you have in common. Knowing you aren’t alone will make a huge difference in how you’re feeling about yourself and the world.
We are so lucky to live where we can walk to our polling place. When I left the house to vote today, my heart felt heavy. But when we walked in the door, we were greeted by people we knew and loved from our neighborhood. We said hi, we smiled at one another, and occasionally we even gave a hug. We didn’t talk about who or what we voted for (or against). We talked about the weather (which is absolutely gorgeous and is giving us all whiplash). We talked about our pets, our kids, what we’re having for dinner. We connected on what is happening in our every day life, and in the conversation, we were reminded just how much our local community matters. Because we took the time out to say hello, to ask how they were doing, and spend just a few minutes in conversation, we made our neighborhood a happier, healthier, safer place.
Five: Dance
Just do it. You’ll feel better. I promise.
Friends, whatever you do today, please go vote. Your vote can make a difference. Your voice matters.
Just a reminder that these are affiliate links, which means if you buy something I get a very small commission. But I promise I’ll never give you a recommendation for a book I don’t like. And I’ll never tell you to buy a book I think you’ll only read once. Every single one of these books is worth reading over and over and over again.
Much needed today!! I have a candle lit while I cook dinner and after we’ll read books out loud together!