Introducing: Good Shit Daily
Hello, Bad Yogis, I’m Laura. I am a fellow bad yogi, anxiety fighter, mom, vegan and proud empath. Throughout 2015 my anxiety and depression took over my life, and it helped to ruin my relationship with the love of my life and landed me in a psychiatric hospital for a few days in October. Out of all this loss, all the heartbreak and fear, Good Shit Daily was born. I decided to start listing all the good things that happened to me each day, everyday, no matter what. It’s helping me on my journey to be grateful and focus on what is instead of what was. Good Shit Daily is also a place to be open about my feelings and encourage others to be open with theirs as well. Vulnerability is hard, y’all, but none of us are alone.
There was a lot of good that happened this week, but also a lot of darkness. I have been battling severe heartbreak the last few months, and dragging around 140 pounds of anxiety under that makes daily life a struggle. (Shout out to those of you who can leave the house mascara intact. Y’all are heroes.) This week I was fighting going back to work after a two week hiatus. Last Sunday night I was pumped for life, ready to take on the week. I got comfy, settled in for bed. Before I knew it the clock read 5am and I was still wide awake, sick and anxious. Crushed, I called into work. Tuesday I was back at it, doing what I needed to do (however that looked). That was a major victory.
Wednesday morning came and I couldn’t get out of bed. My stomach felt like — well, it was bad. Unspeakably bad. I spent the next three days in bed (read: my couch), trying to fight anxiety by getting out of the house whenever I could. I worked on projects and reached out to friends, but everything felt terrible. Friday night was the height of it all when I stumbled upon a post from my favorite bar/restaurant giving some love to my ex’s photo. Just the post (which was just of his drink on the bar) made me sink into deep sadness. I cried for hours. I started watching How I Met Your Mother for the 10th time. I got sicker. It happens. All this heartache and life stress and anxiety got me to this place.
So, what next?
Despite how my body felt this weekend, I went for a 6.7 mile walk around my beautiful city. I took some self portraits and experimented with light. I did some yoga, even if I sobbed through the entire flow. I had out-loud conversations with myself about what self care means. I gave myself permission to do whatever the hell I wanted and to feel however the hell I wanted. Then I went to the grocery store and planned to cook something delicious for myself. Because I fucking could.
That’s some good shit.
Random good shit: I hosted a giveaway on my Instagram recently with a local (to me) bracelet maker. She sent me the bracelet she donated for the giveaway, and in addition another one for me with a note attached. I felt honored and grateful. I can’t wait to pay that good shit forward.
What good shit happened to you this week?
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7 Comments
Wendy Timmons
May 15, 2016 at 2:20 pmBadass Yogi, you mean. #myinspiration
Yvette
May 16, 2016 at 7:00 amDude I love you! I’m in the anxiety leaking boat too, though I reckon my spoon/water removal device has less holes this week, so I’m currently not in sinking mode. Pretty damn proud of myself this week actually. Anyway, you can totally count this article as “Good shit” for the week! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Megan Reddix
May 16, 2016 at 11:23 amThis is awesome! I love the idea of Good Shit Daily. Sometimes we forget that through all the bad in life, there is some truly fantastic stuff going on. Like right now. I’m sitting at my desk, frustrated with some people in my office, some people in my family, some people in general. There’s work to be done and I want to rest because my husband and I spent the whole weekend moving, with no help at all. But then I look out the window. It’s sunny. The tree outside is bright green and blowing beautifully in the wind. Once I get home, I will be in my brand new, just build little piece of heaven with the most wonderful husband and adorable cat on the planet. I will practice yoga and I will dance in the kitchen and my husband will laugh and everything will be good. And life is good. The frustrations will melt away and be non-existent for a time, and isn’t that good? Thank you!
Amanda
May 16, 2016 at 12:37 pmYes! I try always to focus on the good, but I really needed this reminder today after the terrible, tear-filled day I had yesterday. Gratitude is helping me keep my current anxiety levels under control and giving me the strength to deal with whatever comes next.
Pála Margrét
May 18, 2016 at 5:06 pmGo good shit! My good shit is the beautiful weather (any weather really), the strong and beautiful trees that seem to know and understand everything – and the delicious food I made just for myself. Go Laura! 🙂
LLJerseyGirl
May 20, 2016 at 1:01 pmGreat post! You’re a talented artist and writer obviously falls into that category. I admire you so much and appreciate the transparency. YOU make a difference, by being you and sharing this difficult time in your life. You’re a rock star! Keep moving forward, even when it feels like you aren’t!!
Susan Beringer-Beattie
November 15, 2018 at 4:20 amI’ve been stuck in depression mode for months. Mascara is not always intact here on a daily basis. Focusing on the good shit is not my first or second thought, my mind jumps directly to the bad. I know it takes training your mind before it becomes second nature. At any rate, I am hopeful. You are doing amazing!