A message from Sandy. As human beings it is inevitable that at some point in our lives we will develop feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and perhaps depression. They can all be triggered by a number of things like losing a job, a failed relationship, or a serious health issue. Regardless, we are just people and no matter how hard we may try to mitigate negative emotions, they persist in our little part of the world. So, what might be some practical tools for gaining perspective in these rough times?

Living with perspective means always looking at your life from  10,000 feet above, so you can pull back and view yourself with this amount of distance, things begin to look a little different. Most often, they begin to look much better.

So HOW do we do it?

1. READ. Delving into a well-written book can really speak to your soul, and can be an excellent practice for learning how to view life from the vantage point of someone else. Read about someone you admire, consider if this person you admire were placed into your body what would he/she do?  Books that reflect struggle may resonate with you if you are there right now, living those days. For example books by Mitch Albom are very relatable, like “Tuesdays With Morrie .”

2. SEEK OUT AN OLDER PERSON. Someone you know who is 80+years old and initiate a purpose-filled conversation. Ask about their most cherished memories and listen to them as they speak of the past, when they were young, vibrant , and full of hope. You will get a sense of their feelings, the good and the sad, along with the struggles they faced. Would they go back in time to re-live those moments? Would they do things differently or the same? I would bet you will come away from that conversation with an understanding that right now YOU are living the life you will speak of when you are older. What will you want to share with others?