There was a welcome announcement on the radio this morning: “The dog days are over,” referring to the energy- draining heat of summer. I can’t recall another time when so many people (including myself) have been blue and lethargic. I doubt, however, that it’s solely due to humidity. We’re not only victims of nature’s unpredictability , but that of politicians. And with mass shootings routine, no wonder so many of us are suffering from a feeling of helplessness
I keep a quote from Joan Baez on my desk: “Action is the antidote to despair.” But what kind of action? Cleaning the apartment doesn’t do it for me. I conducted an informal surveys to find out how people free themselves from paralyzing feelings. The answer from both men and women was surprisingly unanimous: “I get out of the house into nature.” Apparently even a short walk or bike ride can alter our perspective. The common runner-up is gardening. As an Ohio widow said, “Getting down to the soil nourishes me.”
The fight to pull ourselves up is more difficult when we live alone, and there’s no comforting hand to hold. So it’s helpful to join a group of people with similar interests. I was an ardent marcher for various causes in my younger days and found allies who had similar enthusiasm. Not everyone has the strength or time for this, but we do need camaraderie in some form. Fortunately there’s the umbilical cord of the telephone, A sympathetic friend can be a treasure, but caller beware whom you turn to1 I remember a former friend who had a “what’s the use?” attitude about everything. If I said the weather was beautiful I’d be deflated by her usual “It will rain tomorrow.” By the time the call was over I’d be in an emotional basement. I’m grateful for friends who can be positive about life, for that’s contagious.
In the spirit if full disclosure I confess to the comfort of chocolates. But sweets (and wine0 betray us, for although they elevate our mood temporarily, a familiar letdown follows.
I .vote for the panacea of purpose, not for the alliteration but because of the difference between waking to empty hours versus having something planned for the day. But finding the right antidote is a personal quest, there’s no one-size-fits-all. What works for one person leaves someone else cold. My way to recharge is to get to the computer and work on a story or poem. But most of us are human beings, not robots (?), and our needs can vary from one day to another, even one hour to the next. There are times when. the best we can do is allow ourselves some guilt-free moments to read a novel or watch a movie. Maybe that’s another way to replenish our energy..
.Many of us also find that we’re helped by being helpful. If I take time to visit or call a lonely neighbor, or participate in a local environmental act, I’m the beneficiary. For I gain a sense of my own strength!  Isn’t that out best weapon against helplessness?
Website:www.annehosansky.com
Current book: ARISING, available in print and digital – Amazon and BookBaby.