Okay, this is a fun one. Today’s HAWMC challenge for Day 9 is to develop our own “Keep Calm” poster.
(You can begin at HAWMC Day 1 here)
You know those posters right? I remember the first one I saw was in Barnes and Noble saying, “Keep Calm, and Have a Cupcake.” I instantly took a photo and emailed it to my friend who could practically live on cupcakes.
One of the biggest tools that I’ve found helpful with a variety of mental health issues, including infertility, is simply being present. And I mean that literally. This is mindfulness to the max. I once had a client who became anxious in a public place and spotted a bowl of lollipops. She proceeded to count all of the lollipops and after a little while, she calmed down.
Yes, it’s that simple.
For some people sight doesn’t work as well as other senses. Perhaps you would need to close your eyes and listen to the sounds around you. I love doing this when I’m at the park on a day when nobody is there, or even in my backyard. You can even use touch. For example, if I’m in my backyard, I pay attention to what it feels like to sit where I’m sitting. I feel the slight breeze or the warmth of the sun on my skin and the chair underneath me. But, where exactly is my skin warm? Just my face? What else do I feel?
Perhaps scent is more your thing. I know lavender always calms me down. And the smell of Mexican food always makes me feel at home.
As such, here’s my Keep Calm poster, colored in pomegranate, the official symbol for infertility:
What sense(s) will you use today?
Be well,
~M
