The 100 Years Club Installment #106: A Crap Year? Nah…A Good Day! The “Adult Crayola Method”

I talked to a friend recently about past years I remember as “horrible.”

Without spending lots of words on the gruesome details, the period involved death, relationship issues, losing body parts (mine), cancer diagnoses, relationship struggles, and business and financial woes.

And yet, here I am, smiling and planning for the future. 

Because, after all, that was still less than 10% of all my years on earth. And not every day during that period totally sucked.

As we age, we get perspective on the entire journey and the art and science of rebounding.

That leads to the philosophy that now rules my life and my framework for 2025…

As long as I wake up in the morning, see, hear, and move my limbs, things are (as Larry David would say) “Pretty, pretty, pretty good.”

Then, it’s up to me to make at least one thing happen that day that brings me joy, helps another person, makes money, or teaches me a new lesson.

Being alone over the holidays is never easy. I’m not gonna lie.

Do I feel waves of loneliness or self-doubt? Hell, yeah! Big time!

So, I drag out this great picture of me from when I was probably younger than 10.

I remember waking up early and being bored and a little sad. Just look at that miserable face!

I grabbed a comic book or my 64-pack of Crayolas (with sharpener) and journeyed into a fantasy and fun world. I also remember playing with my big toe, which was not particularly sanitary but was a handy self-soothing technique.

And I still amuse and uplift myself today with my writing and reading, baking and cooking, knitting, movie-watching, phone calls to friends and relatives, travel planning, and weight lifting. (I have abandoned the toe-fondling, however.)

These uplifting and distracting activities are my Adult Crayolas.

Charts and graphs depicting depression and anxiety by age group abound, and I was looking for one to include here, but viewing the stats made me a little anxious, so I abandoned that search.

Which leads me to my next point…

If you find that something you’re doing, watching, or otherwise consuming is making you sad or anxious, simply move on and grab that crayon!

My small nuggets of wisdom as we enter 2025 (based on close to 70 trips around the sun) are:

1. Know what and who makes you happy (without dependence on others). Make a list if you need to.
2. Focus on things, activities, and people that don’t steal your joy and potentially bring you joy. Hanging around with little kids or wise people with perspective and a sense of humor can be a mood-booster.
3. Avoid negative self-talk. Scrolling on social media can contribute to this, so avert your eyes or remind yourself of the amount of filtered BS within that medium.
4. Make plans (small and significant) for the future. We all know that shit happens, and your plans can be derailed. But don’t allow that to plunge you into the depths of inertia.
5. When bad stuff happens, know you will ultimately deal with it and rebound. Read stories about people who have made epic comebacks from tragedy (if that will buoy your spirits)
6. Seek professional help if you find yourself in an endless funk. If you must vent to a close friend or family member, let them know if you need to spew or are looking for specific solutions. Always check first to ensure they have the time and energy to listen to your woes. Long-term depression is real, and you should seek experts who specialize in it.
7. At the end of every day, write down ONE thing that made it a good 24 hours. Whether you use a screen, a paper notebook, or a jar of scrap papers, it’s a great practice!

I’ve chosen to end 2024 with this music video from a man who has become a dear friend (and future podcast guest).

He was married to one of my college besties, Howard Bragman, who suddenly passed away at 66.  As a result of the loss, Mike and I connected, and I became one of his biggest fan girls.

So, listen up, sharpen your crayon, and have a fantastic (or even pretty, pretty, pretty good) 2025!