Everyone has a week where things didn’t exactly go as planned. This can be extremely frustrating for any number of reasons. Last week, I planned to finish a book that I was given to beta read, and I couldn’t touch it at all because I was so tired. This week I’m making good progress, and the book is fantastic. However, I’ve barely slept all week. It just goes to show that you never know how life will turn out.  

I’m not saying people can never be frustrated. That’s a part of life and it’s bound to happen. It can be really easy to miss the good things when you are going through a rough time. The things I like to do when my week is not turning out as I hoped are reading, listening to music, writing, and working out.

Reading has always been an escape for me. Fantasy books are a vehicle that allows me to travel to magical places and worry about someone else’s problems for a while. I’ll find something out about myself through how I relate to a character in the story. Whatever lesson I learn may help me find a solution that I need in reality. 

My first creative writing professor in college taught us that every character you create is an extension of yourself. This led to journal entries about my characters giving me unsolicited advice for my life. It helps me get to know more about them. This also helps me sort out my feelings so that I can talk to people in my life about what’s going on in my life.

Music helps me calm down if I’m feeling too overwhelmed to do any of the other things listed above. I love finding the right songs for my feelings in a given moment and letting the lyrics wash over me. It’s also great motivation if I don’t want to sit in silence.

Working out is my newest form of stress relief. I used to go to a gym with disability-friendly workout equipment when I was younger, and it gave me a lot of confidence. But I have lost a lot of strength and mobility in recent years, so I am building up my strength with free videos on YouTube. I’m not seeing the progress I want yet. However, I am seeing a little improvement, so I’m satisfied for now. It helps me towards my goal of being as independent as possible. 

Bad times in our lives happen. It’s okay to be upset and angry. Emotions are beautiful and are a part of being human. Everyone has them and it’s okay to let them out. Don’t let your emotions cloud your judgment and derail you from your path. Use them as a way to fuel your dreams.