I’m Amazed By The Huge Effects of These Small Things On My Mental Health
Sometimes it really is the little things that mean the most
Meet Octavia, a small stuffed pink octopus who makes a big difference in my life. She’s my inner child’s representative and lives on the nightstand beside my bed. Every night, I hold her close and say things like, “I love you,” “I’m so proud of you,” “All of your big feelings are okay,” and “You’re awesome just the way you are.” Even my worst days end on a happy note.
And when my husband Steve goes to bed first, he puts her on my pillow and gives me another reason to smile.
People who say you can’t buy happiness must not own smiling pink octopuses. She is priceless, but I purchased her for $5.99.
Another small thing that has a large effect on my mood is motivational stickers. I put on my laptop, water bottle, and journals. These encouraging words help me persevere when I’m tempted to give up. They remind me to celebrate the progress I’ve already made and enjoy the life I have now.
Next up is my favorite animal, the sea turtle. I lived on Maui for ten years and often saw turtles when I snorkeled. As a Hawaii Wildlife Fund volunteer, I got to watch a turtle dig a nest and lay her eggs. I also saw hatchlings emerge and crawl from the sand to the sea. A state wildlife official even let me hold one.
Sea turtles will always have a special place in my heart. And I see them even more often now. They are images instead of live animals, but I’m still happier because I get to admire them every day.
The sea turtle on this shower curtain is one of many in our home.
We have a bathroom floor mat and comforter on our bed that match the curtain. There are framed photos of sea turtles. I came home from a trip to Mexico with a metal sea turtle sculpture (you can see it behind me in my Substack Live videos).
The two turtles pictured below are my favorites. The one on the left is a metal art print on our bedroom wall. It’s one of the first things I see when I wake up.
The one on the right is the ankle tattoo I got when we lived on Maui. It’s a permanent and powerful daily reminder to savor happy memories and create new ones.
Small things like these have huge impacts on my mental health.
So do small actions, like singing and dancing as I watch Bruce concert videos. And finding myself in this one was an unexpected bonus!
I’m standing above the left stage ramp, just behind the barricade, wearing a red t-shirt, holding a blue poster, and enjoying one of the best nights of my life.
My walks in the park and frequent stops to admire and take photos of the animals I see are also small actions that do wonders for my mental health. Here are a few favorites:
I hope seeing these small things that improve my mental health inspires you to identify or create small things that bring you joy, and share them!
P.S. I combined many of my best nature photos with original quotes to create this beautiful ebook.
Very enjoyable post and great photos to accompany it. Blue
This resonates with me....The small things contribute significantly to the overall experience of life!