Now that May is almost over…
Did you know that May is Mental Health month? A dear friend also informed me that May is the month of strawberries, so it must be my month for sure.
I’m not sure what one is supposed to do in celebration of mental health month. Perhaps those of you who are sane should do a little dance around your living rooms in celebration of being so; while those of us who are insane should find a comfortable chair and choose a liquor. I don’t really see what good any of that will do. At any rate, I’ve chosen beer and my family’s computer chair.
This article lists some of the everyday factors leading to poor mental health. Stressors like being overworked, undernourished, under-rested, and a fast-paced lifestyle are what lead people to be stressed and unpleasant in the modern day.
Clearly, the best way to deal with each of these stressors is to assume a position in life that keeps you away from work, fast food, air pollution, and the rest of the conveniences we have come to depend on. Unfortunately, I’m not ready to give up my MP3 player just yet, so anxiety attacks over finding batteries in time are sure to remain a part of my life. Perhaps we would all live in perfect mental health if we lived in grass huts in the desert. But if we did that, we would probably miss out on McDonald’s and really? No one wants to drink home-made beer. Trust me. The stuff from the liquor store is JUST THAT GOOD.
I have no idea what good a mental health month can do for any of us. Is it a month devoted to being insane, or is it a month devoted to becoming less insane? Valiuum for everyone! Or is that not a good way to go about acheiving a society of good mental health?
I really do wonder about all these arbitrarily named months and days devoted to this and that. I’m not sure what good they do. Raising awareness is always a positive step; however, because everything has become a pet cause for so many people, the realities of some peoples’ situations tend to get diminished.
Do you participate in arbitrary days created for cultural reasons? Examples would be Mental Health Month, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Secretary’s Day and so forth. How do you feel about these?
May 22nd, 2007 at 12:34 pm
“while those of us who are insane should find a comfortable chair and choose a liquor.”
I’m choosing my overstuffed TV chair and beer as well. Come on over, there’s room for two of us in this chair if your computer chair gets uncomfortable!