Who doesn't get in a funk every now and then? Especially if you live in place that happens to pour buckets of rain for weeks on end. Or even if you don't, sadness is a part of life sometimes. Everyday can't be sunny. However, I am not qualified to remark upon sadness. I am not qualified to comment upon happiness either, but I'll try anyway. Whenever I become unhappy, “about a problem like Maria”, or any other issue, I always try to do the following.
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I sing as though my life was a musical.
It's not that my voice would ever be considered for any production, never mind a Hammerstein, instead I sing because it's so terrible, it makes me laugh. I make up lyrics about whatever is drawing me into a funk, or I just warble off a few bars of West Side Story: “I feel pretty, oh so pretty….” Astonishingly, five minutes into some form of musical rendition, I realize how goofy and silly my problem was. I mean really, who cares about the fact that I'd rather be a (starving) aspiring writer than put my law degree to good use to earn at least fifty grand a year?? -
I pray and I pray hard.
I once read, a while back, that God is there to listen no matter what. No complaint is too irrelevant or insignificant, the book assured me. Well, once the floodgates were opened, there was no turning back. Whether it's a remark about a new sweater I'd been eyeing and wanting, or a grumble about the peanuts in my salad that I specifically requested not to appear, I talked to God about it. Not always out loud, but certainly always in my heart. And when I do get a chance to escape prying eyes and curious ears, there is no hesitation in the stream of emotions I pour out to him. He's the best therapist I've ever come across. Best of all, not only is he available 24 - 7, he's also 100% free. -
I get active.
Reese Witherspoon in character as a pink-loving law student in the sleeper hit Legally Blonde remarked at some point in the movie that “exercise gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy, and happy people just don't go around killing other people.” This is a true and poignant statement. Are you feeling sad? Are you feeling upset? Then get up off your butt and get outside. Even if you are only walking Fifi around the block or strolling to your nearest grocery store to grab some more Chunky Monkey, just GO. I promise if you exercise regularly in a fun manner (torture by treadmill is not really included in this category), you will have fun. You will also forget about whatever it was making you “not-fun”. -
Go try something new.
The saying “variety is the spice of life” is not only trite, but also an altruism. Want to shake the blues? They run at the mere thought of your mind being occupied with something other than the doldrums! Go learn how to throw raku pottery, or how to shake up the dance floor with rumba moves, or even how to build the best spice rack. Go with whatever tickles your fancy. -
Finally, learn to enjoy your own company.
No one knows you better than yourself. No one spends as much time with you as you. It's best to become well acquainted with someone who is closer to you than even your own shadow. Who knows you might even learn to love yourself, and when that happens, doldrums, blues, funks, grumbles, and the mean reds will be less frequent.
If all else fails, revert back to number 1 and sing after me: I feel so charming, oh so charming.
译文:
5个略带滑稽的办法，让自己快乐起来
谁不是时不时地处于恐惧中呢，尤其是当你呆在一个连着下了几个礼拜雨的地方时，就更恐惧了。如果你不是经常处于恐惧，那么就一定经常难过，不可能每天都艳阳高照，事事顺心。然而，我没有资格来评论悲伤和幸福，但是我会尽量。每次当我不开心的时候，比如碰到了一个像玛利亚这样的问题，或者其他问题，我会照着如下方法做。
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就算我的妻子是个音乐家，我也要唱得响亮.
不要睬什么Hammerstein（奥斯卡·哈默斯泰因），我这样做不是因为我的歌声有多么动听可以出品，而是因为歌唱是件美妙的事，它能让我高兴。我会把那些让我感到害怕的事编进歌词里，或者我就只是哼几句West Side Story（西区故事）的片段：“我觉得自己很漂亮，很漂亮”。陶醉在音乐里5分钟之后，我就很神奇地意识到我的问题是多么愚蠢。我的意思是，相比起靠着我的法律学位来每年赚五万英镑，谁会知道其实我是很热切的想当个有作为的作家呢？ -
我会努力地祈祷
我看过一句话，只要回过头，就会发现上帝在那等着听你倾诉。那本书告诉我，再怎么抱怨都可以，不会有人觉得这完全不重要。然而，覆水难收。不管是我议论一件我中意的毛衣，还是抱怨我的色拉里没有我特别要的花生，我都会告诉上帝。不是每次都很大声地说出来，当然每次都是在心里默默地说。当我避开别人好奇的目光后，我会毫不犹豫地向上帝宣泄感情。上帝是我遇过最好的医生，尤其，他24小时都在，而且完全免费。 -
让自己活跃一点.
Reese Witherspoon（瑞茜·威瑟斯彭）在可以说是黑马影片的Legally Blonde（律政俏佳人）中扮演一个喜欢粉色的法学学生，她说：锻炼让人舒缓，舒缓让人快乐，而快乐的人就不会到处去杀害别人。这个说法真实，犀利。你感到悲伤吗？你感到沮丧吗？那么别老坐着出去走走。就算只是沿着街区溜溜狗，或者到最近的杂货店胡乱抓一把香蕉，那就去吧。我保证，如果你定期通过一些有趣的方式锻炼（当然被单调的工作折磨不算在这一类），你会快乐的。你也会忘了那些让你不快乐的事。 -
尝试新鲜事物
有句话说：多彩的生活才有情趣。这句话很简单，也能帮助别人。你想要挥散郁闷吗？当你的脑子被其他东西占据的时候，就不会感到郁闷了。去学学怎么玩raku pottery（乐吉瓷器）或者学学怎么跳伦巴，或者怎么弄一个最好的调料套装。什么能让你高兴就去做什么。 -
最后，学会享受孤独
没有人比你更了解自己。除了你自己，不会有人一直陪着你。你需要熟悉那个比你的影子更接近你的人，他可能会试着爱你，如果你做到了，忧郁，郁闷，恐惧，怨言和那些心绪不宁的日子就不会时有发生了。
如果上面所有的尝试都失败了，那就回到第一条，跟着我一起唱：我觉得自己很迷人，很迷人。