Beating da "funk"

Every now and then I get in a funk....you know the drill; that Bruno Mars feeling of not wanting to do anything. I still don't quite understand who Bruno Mars is, but I've had my students singing this song to me and so I have come to understand that this character is a popular singer for the poppy teenage generation. Am I an out of touch 75 year old already?? The answer: probably. So, I've reevaluating my 75 year old feeling self and just feeling funk like...and not in the cool way, like Earth, Wind, and Fire. I know, it sounds ridiculous - how can you be feeling "blah" on a tropical island. Well, the sad reality is that it doesn't matter where you are, you can change your location all you want, but you have to deal with the things that get you down eventually. (Harsh little bit of reality)

So, today, I'm working to pull myself up by my bootstraps, or something along those lines, and try to get my smile on. My list of funk-busters easily qualify as "stuff white people like", but it works for me. I hope the list helps you, but if not, go read about TED conferences, roller derbies, and Mad Men on the Stuff White People Like Blog. That might bring a smile to your face while you eat your hummus and jam Bob Marley. Shoot, I like Ray Bans!

The get funky and out of your funk list:

Get physical. If I can't hike out into the mountains of the 4 corners, USA, I have to do something to get my moving. Running is my go to. If I'm bogged down by thoughts, at least I can stew over them while doing something good for my body. I used to go on walks with my friend, Zoey, in college and we would chat about shenanigans while just cruising around our neighborhood. Pre-powerwalking we would laugh at the ways that we would deal with our problems, turning to chocolate, wine binges, and Einstein bagels instead - wondering, "Why don't we go get active when we are down?" "Why don't we get out of the house and get moving instead of wallowing?" - Getting toned while being sad? Now that's hard to complain about! Power walking became our destressor - especially night walks under the star scattered Flagstaff skies. Pretty epic.


Or, if I can't get out and run - stretching is ohhh so good.

Create a playlist. It's a completely random group of songs, but it works for funk-busting. I call it my "feel good" mix on my itunes and it looks something like this:

Top Loader - Dancing in the moonlight
Michael Franti - I got love for you
Miami Horror - Holidays
Natasha Beddingfield - Love like this
My Chemical Romance - Teenagers
Marvin Gaye - Mercy Mercy Me
Jem - Save me
Habib Koite and Bamada - I ka barra
Ed Solo & Skool of Thought - We play music
Donovan - There is a mountain
Donovan Frankenreiter - Life, Love, and Laughter
Dave Matthews Band - Satellite
The Cars - Just what I needed
Bombay Bicycle Club - Open House
John Mayer - Slow Dancing in a burning room

Good food. Duh, hummus.Oh, and chips and salsa - because I'm a New Mexican girl and you can't neglect this delicious treat that is mandatory at all game days, southwest dinners, and snack times. Bliss.
 










Lastly, mangosteens are an incredible fruit in this part of the world. You open it by smashing it with your fist, then eating the fruit on the inside. Do not eat the fiber-y purple outside! This is not an apple - and people will laugh at you...plus you'll get purple shell and juice all over your "teef". It is a sweet, slightly tangy fruit that will make people who shun fruit and get their kicks from Lucky Charms mixed with ice cream for breakfast, consider the fabulousness of this food group and maybe even try an orange! (I have known people like this and I'm horrified to report that this person, making "charmed ice cream" in the Northern Arizona University food court, once picked out all of the marshmallow charms from Lucky Charms, made a bowl of just the marshmallows, added milk, and tried to eat the whole bowl. He said it was nasty as shit....years later, he would eat an orange, realize it wasn't that bad, and go on a "healthy...er" eating kick. I can only wonder what would happen if he tried these bad boys).







Blogging. Yeahhh, that's right, working out all of my thoughts through e-mails and blogs has definitely helped me out a lot. I think that writing, even if it is just to say, "I feel so whacked out, inside!", is so helpful. I know it is a little selfish, unloading emotional baggage on the world wide "internets" - as my friend, Bobby, used to say, but it really is therapeutic being able to think about things as you write them down, see your mixed up feelings more or less consolidated,  and then hopefully be able to start moving on.....or at least feel a little better after letting it all out.




And if all else fails: Chromeo. If you aren't mixing up a itunes selection that works for you listen to Chromeo. I swear you can not be angry when you are listening to electro funky beats about "fancy footwork". For added entertainment value (maybe do this on your own and not with your family present): put on neon short-shorts and dance around your living room. Fact.