30 seconds of survival during tough times: what is yours today?

[Peppermintbach]

Hi everyone,

I have a little survival idea that want to run by you all:

I’m not asking for 30 hours or even 30 minutes. I’m only asking:

If you have been going through a hard time or struggling with something (whatever that may be) what were 30 seconds of respite, reprieve or relief that you experienced today? What were you doing in those 30 seconds?

You can write as often as you like or as infrequently as you like. It also doesn’t have to be 30 seconds either. That’s just a number that I chose, because I thought it would be doable for most people. It can be more or less than 30 seconds of survival.

I would love to hear from you 🙂

I’ll start:

On my way to work, I spotted some Christmas decorations, and instantly thought “oh, that’s so pretty!”

30 seconds of relief from my troubles. 30 seconds of survival.

Background/inspiration for this thread:

I was inspired by a book that I’ve been reading. It’s based on real life events where a woman lost her husband unexpectedly, and was left both a widow & single parent overnight.

As you can imagine, she struggled with immense grief and loss, and was unsure when she would be able to see beyond it...reminders of him were everywhere, and she wasn’t sure when the pain would ever subside.

But during a work meeting, while giving a presentation (or maybe she was chairing a meeting?), in that brief period, she forgot about her loss as she was immersed in her work. Sure, of course, her grief returned (as it often does). But in that brief moment, she felt a sense of “normalcy”, if there ever was such a thing.

Okay, so maybe work won’t be your “thing” and maybe it’s not grief that you’re struggling with. Maybe it’s something else (that’s okay and valid).

What I’m getting at is recognising our capacity to survive by recalling brief moments of survival. It all adds up...

Moments when either your pain, heartbreak, loss, disappointment (whatever you’re going through) was temporarily forgotten or even subsided a little. Moments, however fleeting but nonetheless important, of survival 🙂

[Gambit87]

Hi Pepper and everyone!

My 30 seconds yesterday was sitting in 'Zen' room kinda thing at the aquarium. Relaxing music playing, low ambient light and large windows to watch the fish swim by. It was really relaxing.

[Padfoot02]

Hi Everybody

So yesterday the stuff that helped me relax was of course cadets, but it was also the fact that I finished writing the lyrics to one of the songs on my album, which I also named (it's gonna be called "Running from Pain"), I also figured out how I'm going to distribute it. My plan is to bulk buy a heap of blank CDs and burn the album onto them, I'll also include a code of some sort so whoever buys the physical copy gets a digital download for free. But because everyone here is helping me so much, I'll provide a special digital download for you all which will have 3 bonus tracks. I've also started drawing the album art. One of the people in my music class also wrote a song which is AWESOME, I'd it online but we were told not to.

Todays relaxing was hanging out with Rhiannon (my girlfriend, I asked her if it's alright that I share her name and she's alright with it) after school and that's about it.

I hope you all have/had a great day and I can't wait to read about your 30 seconds 😄

from Padfoot

[quirkywords]

yesterday at the drs I nearly was upset as my doctor was not there and I was going to leave. In 30 seconds I found the courage to stay and she was very helpful.

[Guest_4643]

Hi all. My 30 seconds of survival today was doing an 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle, some of it anyway since they're difficult.

Also the walks I go on, the scenery and walking tracks, bird life, and that it's peaceful is nice. Two Pelicans and a Hawk flew over my head to name a few!

Pepper - thanks for the kind words, and yeah it is nice! Sometimes it clears my head a bit walking.

Padoot - sounds lovely, I'd love to hear your music, it sounds like you enjoy it and you work very hard on it so well done.

Quirky - sorry to hear that, but I'm glad the other doctor was helpful.

Gambit - that sounds quite peaceful and relaxing.

Take care everyone,

Tayla

[Padfoot02]

Hi everyone.

My 30 seconds today was a fair few things happening.

So it was an old friend from cadets 18th (he lives in a different town) today and I couldn't for the life of me remember where I met him until another cadet friend told me. I also sat down in the music room at school with the drummer of my band to try and figure out the guitar for one of her songs and it sounded AWESOME which made me even more excited to write more music.

That's about it really. I hope you all have/had a great day

from Padfoot

[Guest_4643]

Great to hear that you love music so much and you're so dedicated to making it yourself, good on you Padfoot!

Tayla

[Padfoot02]

Hi everyone.

My relaxation/coping for today was spending the day with Rhiannon. We went to woolies and bought 80 condoms and filled one of our friends' bedroom with them after we blew them up because she gets back from New Zealand in the next few days. I didn't really work on the album much because I was out of the house most of the day but it was a really good day nonetheless.

Anyway, hope anyone who reads this has/had a great day

from Padfoot

[Padfoot02]

Oh yeah, I forgot this in my last post but, how are you doing Peppermintbatch?

What's been your coping/relaxation methods for the last few weeks? What's been happening in your life? What kind of music do you like?

You've been looking after all of us so much that I think it's our turn to look after you. I'm glad my words about creativity moved you.

[Guest_4643]

My 30 seconds of survival today was:

Going on these forums, going for a walk although I had a panic attack and cried, and that's all I can think of currently.

Hi to everyone here.

Tayla

[Padfoot02]

Hi everyone

I hope you're all doing well and avoiding the coronavirus if you can. I haven't had any major moments of joy today or yesterday. I mean, I met this fat little dog named Eddie who seemed to trust me instantly. But I also found out that ALL cadet activities are cancelled until further notice which is great.

So yeah, hope everyone is doing alright. I hope I get a response fairly soon, it's pretty lonely here.

from Padfoot