“There’s nothing that says truth has to be brutal. It just has to be true.”
Simon Sinek
Song: HAPPY boy NF
Article: The Most Meaningful Way to Succeed Is to Help Others Succeed by Adam Grant
Thought: A few weeks ago my therapist prescribed me a “Happy Light.” The idea is that the light mimics outdoor light causing a chemical change in the brain that releases happiness hormones and reduces sad feelings. The main reported benefit is to boost your mood. I can’t believe we live in a world where such a device needs to exist – that’s how little time we spend outside and, in the PNW, in the sunshine.
Does it help me? The jury is out. I keep using it in the mornings to try and boost my mood and feel rejuvenated. Hard to tell if it’s the light or just the coffee. But who am I to shun a therapy method without trying. One thing I know that has boosted my mood is seeing my friends. Their faces are my real Happy Lights.
I went to Treefort and had friends stay with me. I made new friends. There was a lot of time outside laughing and dancing. That was way better than any lightbulb.
Then, I went to a work conference and saw even more friends. I had some incredibly deep and meaningful talks with people. I saw smiles and tears. I came back feeling more myself then I have in months just by seeing those faces. I got some of the best hugs I think I’ve experienced in years.
This week, I’m off to TX for another conference and a different set of amazing friends. Two of my favs, Aimee and Greg, will be there. I know being in their presence will transform me. I know enjoying the sunshine and smiling faces will raise my spirits and renew my strength to fight through depressing and anxious moments for weeks. These people are why I love what I do – I wouldn’t be who I want to be without them.
Maybe what I need is the reflection of light off the faces of the people I care about and not the light itself.