Light a Fire
My parents, my friends, the news all agree:it’s rough out there. I’m not even going to get into it, you know what I’m talking about: President tensions/Iran tensions/general what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-the-world tensions. You know how the landscaping is looking, we can all paint our own palace of horrors.
What do we do? Wallow in fear? Nope, it’s summer (up north, at least). If the sun and surf and sand aren’t enough to brighten your mood, snap out of it. You’ve got living to do. Make your belly happy, and your mind will follow. Here, a few kick starts to get you in a better headspace:
Light a Fire: It’s so simple. Heading outside gets you out of your hot box of a kitchen (and emotion), and working those BBQ flames is simply soothing. It’s primal, it’s straightforward: just you, the fire, and the constant reminder that we’re all going to the same place eventually, so we better to celebrate while we still can. If you don’t know how to light a fire, learn how to for goodness sake! How else will you fend after the pending doomsday comes?
Cook on Said Fire: If you’ve got a fire, best to cook on it. That char, those burn marks, that flavor — it can’t be beat. A steak is great, but have you been eating your veggies lately? Science says they’re proven to improve energy and mood, meaning you’ll be less down in the dumps about all the, well, dumpy things happening in the world. So load up on greens, then throw them on the fire. I was going to curate a few key grilled vegetable recipes for you this week, butBon Appétitdid a fine job already.
Take it to the Table: It’s cliché, but follow mom’s advice and eat your fire-cooked dinner at a dining table. Like, a real one with chairs and other people. Leave your anxiety-inducing, depression-fueling phones across the room (face down on the table doesn’t count), and talk to your friends on the other side. Topics of discussion: anything but politics (i.e. Trump, N. Korea, Iran), religion (why can’t we all get along?), or climate change (and its very realness). All these topics should be talked about, but not when you’re trying to close out the day with a smile, with friends and family. Keep it light, keep it fun, and talk about this big world issues tomorrow (better yet, do something, whatever you can,about them).
Drink a silly drink: Some drinks are serious (scotch, brandy, etc), some are not. If you want a lighter mood, get silly. Think tiki bar for inspiration. Color is good. Get the blender out even. Just try to have a bad time when there’s a banana dolphin on the rim of your glass.
Take these tips, they’ll get you through the summer so it’s not such a bummer. They sure sound better than “taking a depression shower.” —Paul Brewer
