According to the internet, there are actually a few more days until the 2021 Inauguration, so the count is actually 514. Normally I will try to find actual news pieces to share, and I did find some that I've bookmarked for another time, but for today I thought I'd write up a list I've been working on all day. I would love more ideas for this list, so if it inspires you and you think of any others, let me know! I'd love to expand the list.
Life is rough, there are a lot of expectations we have on ourselves as adults. There are a lot of no-nos that we impose on ourselves and each other. This is a list of things that I am hereby giving us all permission to partake of in life. If it helps you get through the day and feel better about yourself or life, go for it! The only thing we're not allowed to do, is judge ourselves or each other for doing anything on this list. Here they are, in no particular order:
*Read books geared towards children, tweens, or teens. Seeing the latest craze and feeling left out? Give it a try!
*Reread your favorite books you read as a child or young person. Break out those Baby-Sitters Club books I know you have stashed away in your attic and read them again.
*Watch the Disney Channel/Nickelodeon/the Cartoon Network. There's a lot of fun stuff on these channels.
*Enjoy sappy Hallmark movies. And not just the holiday ones. Because, why not?
*Not have an opinion on an issue that doesn't interest you or that you don't know enough about. No, seriously, it's ok.
*Color in children's coloring books. With crayons.
*Make friendship bracelets. Remember those? Let's bring them back.
*Turn off the news and social media when it's too much. This doesn't make you a bad person.
*And never turned it on again, ever, if you need that. Looking out for your own mental health needs is never bad or selfish.
*Not worry about calories. Enjoy the heck out of that doughnut you're contemplating and feeling guilty about wanting.
*Not know the answer to something. We never stop learning in life, it's ok to not know something.
*Take delight in silly, small things. This can make the difference between an unbearable day and a day that you know you'll at least get through.
*Read comic books. DC, Marvel, Elfquest, Archie, whatever you want. They're fun, and why would you deny yourself fun?
*Go to the zoo/aquarium/Disneyland, even if you don't have kids. A lot of adults avoid these types of places if they don't have children because they aren't made to feel welcome there. But let me tell you, sometimes these places are MORE fun without children...!!
*For women-It's ok to love the color pink. You are not betraying your feminist beliefs by loving pink, I promise you.
*Not be perfect. Let's all give ourselves and each other a break, ok?
*Eat S'mores. Next time you're at a campfire and the kids break out the graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows, make sure to join in.
*Do word-find puzzles. Sure suduko and crossword puzzles are considered more "intellectual" or a better use of time, but sometimes it's just too much. You have my permission to do word-find puzzles with impunity.
*Rewatch favorite childhood shows and movies. You know you want to. Go ahead and break out those Full House dvds or rewatch Labyrinth or The Neverending Story. It's never a bad thing to watch these!
So, there you go. This is a small list of things I am now declaring ok for people of all ages to do, free of judgement or fear of being discovered for enjoying. There's a lot of garbage in the world, and allowing people to find happy and healthy ways to temporarily or permanently escape from that garbage is important. We can lift each other up by extending the common courtesy of not putting others down for doing these things. I hope you all enjoy finding little ways to take care of yourselves during this time. We all need it!
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