Hello, Dear Reader.

So, on a scale from “I am zen-ned out, self-aware, and at one with the Universe” to “Britney Spears circa 2007,” where are you today on your mental health wellness scale? I am somewhere in between, myself. One way to assess your mental health is to make a checklist.

Now, I LOVE checklist, any kind of list. They make me feel like I might have at least 2% of my shit together on any given day. And I will re-write lists multiple times if I mess up on ONE line of the list. Also my grocery list has to be in the order of where it is in the store (from left to right) because OCD reasons, of course. (Oh…I was going to go to Walmart, but now I’m going to Lowe’s Foods, and OH MY GOD NOW I HAVE TO RE-DO THIS LIST BECAUSE THINGS ARE SHELVED IN A SEPARATE ORDER.)

I”m not proud of this, it just is what it is.

So whilst sitting in my car one day, listening to Creed at top volume because I was stressed out and Creed calms me (go figure.) I thought, hmmmm. I should open the “notes” app on my iPhone and start a mental health checklist….you know, kind of take my own mental health temperature. I had been scrolling through the pictures on my phone and noticed that there were approximately a jillion pictures of my cats in the camera app. I also noticed that the number of pictures of cats, food, and inappropriate memes is directly proportionate to the amount of anxiety I am feeling.

So, here is my own list verbatim. You will notice a spiraling affect as I typed stream-of-consciousness style. Why not make your own? It makes for interesting reading after the panic attack passes!

1. How many pictures have I taken of my cat today?
2. Both cats?
3. Ok, all THREE?
4. Group shots?
5. How long has it been since I have worn pants?
6. Without drawstrings…
7. How many edifying Brene Brown videos have I watched on YouTube lately?
8. How many serial killer documentaries have I watched lately?
9. (It’s important to have balance…)
10. Did I take my meds?
11. Morning, noon, AND night?
12. And the 2 pm anti-inflammatory?
13. Wait..what time IS it now?
14. What DAY is it?
15. What YEAR is it?
16. I know it’s 2019, because I turned 50 this year.
17. Oh, God. I’m old.
18. I’m like the Crypt Keeper!
19. I’m hungry.
20. But that cellulite, tho.
21. Have I counted the dimples in my cellulite recently?
22. I remember when I met My Beloved. I didn’t have ANY cellulite…
23. Am I obsessing about fat now?
24. Yes. Yes, I am. What would my kick-ass therapist say?
25. Note to self: Make appointment with my therapist.
26. She would tell me that I have the power to change my thoughts.
27. So, here goes – I’m deliberately change my thoughts….
28. Think about my friends.
29. Especially the crazy ones like myself who “get” it.
30. Have I actually laid eyes on a friend recently…not just messaged or texted?
31. I need to call THAT friend now.
32. The one who understands the struggles.
33. She is really something special…
34. I appreciate my friends.
35. My cats are my friends, too.
36. How many pictures have I taken of my cat today?……

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Have a wonderful day, Reader. Don’t forget to make your mental health a priority! And call that friend that “gets” you. You are worth “getting!”