First of all, I must comment on the title of this page. When I was in the partial hospitalization program at our local mental health facility, we were told to use "coping skills." At the time, they didn't seem to work. It felt ridiculous to have some guy sit there and tell you how to be happy. So, my friends and I like to use "quotation fingers" when we say the phrase "coping skills." Think Dr. Evil from Austin Powers. The funny thing is, they really do help! We just never gave it a chance. Learn from my mistakes... Read on! Visit my Connect with Me page if you'd like more information on anything you see below.
Movies can be great stress relievers... Everyone loves a good laugh or a good cry! Even you manly men out there. But the key is to pick movies that aren't triggering. See my Glamorization page for my commentary on Hollywood's influences. Watch fun movies! Anything Disney is good. Oh, stop scoffing... I can't sit through The Fox and the Hound or The Lion King without crying... No matter how many times I see them. And I always belt out the songs from Mulan with proud energy. If you're too "tough" to watch these kiddie flicks, try something a bit more grown-up. I LOVE Ghost. Patrick Swayze, Whoopi Goldberg (Oh yeah, that Demi Moore too), a few good laughs... What more can you ask for? And I always cry at the ending! Ok, already-- enough crying, you say? Well, comedies are wonderful too. Tell me who honestly didn't laugh at "Austin Powers I" or "II?" "RRrrriiiigghhhttt..." Pull out the movies that make us laugh. Forget movies claiming to be "This Year's 'There's Something About Mary'" or "This Year's 'American Pie.'" And don't even get me started on "I Still Know How Phantoms Screamed About Urban Legends at Your Final Destination: a Scary Movie Theater H2SNORE" ... Check out Wayne's World, Clueless, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Ten Things I Hate About You, The Blue Lagoon (Not that awful sequel!), "Pleasantville," and A League of Their Own to get you started. And don't forget Romy and Michele's High School Reunion! Laugh, cry, get your feelings out!
Oh, TV! Right now, you might be wondering, "Why is a girl with such excellent communication skills putting 'Movies' and 'TV' as the top priorities? I'm shocked and appalled at her outlandish behavior!" Well, the truth is, movies and TV get more attention than books! Yes, that's right, I'm a pawn for the media! I've been brainwashed by corporate America! HAHAHAHAA... Ok, really, I'm done. ANYWAYS, TV is cool. Really. But only in moderation!
I'll start with cartoons... The Simpsons is BY FAR one of my favorite shows. Tons of people don't like it because it's "controversial." Personally, I think our world is controversial! As Lenny says, "It's like a lottery that rewards stupidity!" Homer replies, "Stupidity, eh?..." Never have I seen a show with so many relevant and insightful lines. The writers are so S-M-R-T, I mean S-M-A-R-T! Forget "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon;" I have a theory of my own... "One Degree of Simpsons!" For ANY topic, from cowlicks to eyebrows to politics to food to plumbing... It's all there. But enough Simpsons advertising... On to other shows. I love the show Daria as well. SO much better than that Beavis and Butthead nonsense. Daria cracks me up... So cynical, yet so right! The show points out the flaws in all of its characters so we can learn a lesson. Awww. Next, I love The Critic. No one seems to remember that show, but it's really witty. Jon Lovitz is great... Another "smart humor" show. As you can tell, I like intelligent humor, even if it's hidden behind an idiotic facade (D'OH!).
As for non-cartoon shows, I love a few in particular. Smallville is one show I *never* miss. For those of you who don't know what this show is, it's Clark Kent's life before he became Superman. Absolutely fantastic. I highly recommend seeing at least the pilot episode if you've never been exposed to this awesome show. New episodes are on Wednesdays at 8/7 central. Unsurprisingly, I also love Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. I learned so much from this show... That we all have weaknesses, love perseveres, killing people is wrong, you can create a secret identity just by wearing glasses, your wedding will be disrupted by clones and holograms and amnesia and being framed for crimes, and, most importantly, Dean Cain is SO fine... especially in spandex! Ok, wow... I just proved I'm human with those last few remarks. ;) Unfortunately, Lois & Clark is no longer airing in syndication, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the DVDs. The only new non-Superman-themed show I watch is The O.C., a surprisingly funny and interesting hour-long drama on FOX. New episodes are on Wednesdays at 9/8 central-- right after Smallville! Did I mention I love Wednesdays? :) Other non-Superman shows I love are Seinfeld and Roseanne, both in syndication. Find some good TV!
Finally, to the more educational stuff. First of all, there is one Book that everyone should read. Yep, The Bible. Go ahead and hiss at me, but the Bible really has a lot to say about depression, anxiety, hope, and loss. Some other great Christian books I've read are the Left Behind series, The Chronicles of Narnia, A Ready Defense, Knowing God, Pleasing God, Chosen by God, and Essential Truths of the Christian Faith. I've read more, but I don't want to bore you. Check out the Christian authors R.C. Sproul, C.S. Lewis, J.I. Packer, and Josh McDowell if you'd like to get started. Now, I'm not merely a one-dimensional religious fiend here. I'm proud to say I endorse all the books I've read for school. Dickens, Homer, Hurston, Miller, Orwell, Steinbeck, Wilder to name a few. I don't agree with some views (Voltaire's Candide, Homer's The Odyssey), but you must be well read in a variety of subjects in order to understand our world. Another wonderful series is the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. They have a book for everyone! I myself have Cat and Dog Lover's Soul, Christian Soul, College Soul, and Teenage Soul I, II, and III in addition to the original. I love learning on my own time... Make me read a book in class, and I won't like it. Let me read it on my own time, and I can't put it down!
Music is one of the most amazing gifts we've been given. Pick up an instrument... Don't be shy! Once you've learned one instrument, the rest are much easier to handle. I recommend piano to start. Piano is a great instrument to learn music fundamentals on. I moved from there to violin, to trombone, to euphonium... Now I'd like to play guitar. When in doubt, grab a good old triangle or tamborine! :) If you're not confident of your musical abilities, then listen to some good stuff! I know it's not "cool," but Classical music is awesome. Everyone is familiar with Mozart, Beethoven, Wagner, Bach, and others whether they like to admit it or not. I love listening to orchestras and bands. I think operas are pretty cool too... Even if they are a teensy bit long. :) I love Oldies as well. I can't get enough of The Archies, The Beach Boys, Jay and the Americans, Elvis, Louis Armstrong... The list goes on and on. Movie soundtracks with Oldies, like Now and Then, A League of Their Own, Pleasantville, and Girl, Interrupted are winners. I really like James Taylor, hehe! Modern music can be fun too... But don't listen to any of that rap nonsense. Too violent and sexist! Everyone acts so surprised when rappers end up in jail or dead. Duh, listen to the songs they write. So yuck. Stay away from music that endorses drugs and violence. That isn't going to help any of us!
Arts rule! Wonderful ways to be creative. When you're stressed, go be imaginative. Doodle, paint, sculpt, color, scribble, whatever! Get involved with acting if it interests you. Write in a journal or hey, a website! Ok, so maybe making websites isn't an art... yet... hehe... but it still gets your emotions out!
Games are so much fun. I still am entertained by great classic games like Monopoly, Life, Clue, Guess Who? (Game cards do not actually talk!), Chutes and Ladders, and Trouble. All of those games are cute. I don't particularly like those games like Alien Autopsy where you dissect things... ick! But wait, you guessed it... I have some Simpsons quotes to share!
| 1. Homer: | Now all we have to do is play the waiting game! [Waits five seconds...] Aww, the waiting game sucks. Let's play Hungry, Hungry, Hippos! |
| 2. Marge: | Let's play a board game! "Hippo in the House..."? "The Game of Lent..."? |
There are so many more relevant quotes, but I'll be quiet now and move on!
Ahhhh, exercise! What a wonderful way to release pent-up energy. You can get exercise doing just about anything. Try to stretch every day if you can. Lift weights. Run. Dance. Play sports. Join a club. There are so many different levels of fitness and something for everyone. You don't have to join a fancy health club to get fit, but you might meet some fun people if you do. Make sure you talk to your doctor about your exercise plan.
Everyone needs people. "When you're alone, and life is making you lonely, you can always go... DOWNTOWN!" It's true. When you're feeling upset, go out with family or friends. Talk on the phone with someone. The internet is cool too because you can chat with people across the world. But don't give up personal contact in any way! Which is more fun... Going out for pizza with a friend, or looking at a picture of a pizza online? Hmmm... If you don't want to talk about your problems with someone you know, try calling a crisis line. Check out my How to Get Help page for more info on the wonders of human support.
The above activities are just to get you started. Explore as many healthy options as you can whenever you get frazzled. Life really can be beautiful.
When The Cut Goes In Deep originally posted on 03-05-2000 and
reposted after remodeling on 06-22-2000.
Ronnie 2000-2004 ©
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