I don't consider myself to be a particularly moody person, but every now and then, a blue mood creeps up on me. Actually, it's something we all have to contend with, as it's part of the human experience, and sadly, no one is immune.
Conversely, there are a multitude of "mood-elevators" out there to help combat these occasional feelings of sadness, which range from chemical to herbal, yoga and meditation to hard-core exercise, music, and even sleep. Then there are the vices, and again, we all have them to some extent; shopping, alcohol, cigarettes, gambling, prescription and illegal drugs, and, my personal favorite … chocolate.
(You thought I was going to include shoe shopping, didn't you?!)
Okay … I won't lie. I admit that I've occasionally sought out some form of shoe therapy … but only now and then, and with varying degrees of success. But sometimes even a gorgeous pair of 4" stilettos didn't do the trick.
Throughout what I've come to call my "Fabulous Shoe Night Journey," I've noticed something remarkable. For lack of a better term, FSN has added punctuation to my life, immeasurably enriching it, while underscoring my experiences on this journey with color and emphasis. This last year has been a roller coaster of emotions for me … all felt more intensely, indeed because of Fabulous Shoe Night.
So, imagine how it felt this week to present the Family Support Line, (www.familysupportline.org), who will be receiving the proceeds of our Media, PA chapter's monthly Girls' Nights Out for all of 2012, with more than $600 from the proceeds from just one GNO in March? I'm still flying … literally soaring. And it got me to thinking …
It's so easy. So wonderfully, simply, powerfully easy.
In a bad mood? Feeling blue?
Give.
That's right … just give.
Give a compliment, give a smile. Give a hug or a kiss. Hold a door open for a stranger. It doesn't have to cost you anything. Let someone ahead of you in the grocery line if they have fewer items than you. I recently did this for a woman, and that simple gesture started a conversation that left us both smiling when she waved good-bye. We teach our three boys to hold doors open for people when we're in public. This small gesture never fails to elicit gratitude, and more often than not, surprise, because it's so unexpected and up-lifting. The best part is that it makes them feel good … which means they do it more often, on their own. I can't think of a more valuable lesson to give my boys.
Yes, Fabulous Shoe Night is fun. Women love to get dressed up and share cocktails and conversation with other women, but I can tell you that as a group, that's not why we meet. We come together, every month, because we know we're making a difference, and it feels good. Doing good feels good.
It's during those blue moods that we feel most alone in the world, yet, ironically enough, it's an experience we all share. The human experience, with all it's up and downs and roller coaster emotions, is unfailingly enriched by reaching out to those who need a hand, or perhaps, even just a chance.
Want an example? This is my gift to you. It literally exemplifies every point I've discussed, from elevating mood, giving someone a chance, to that unexpected, unbelievably up-lifting rush of emotion that absolutely defines the human experience and connects us all to one another.
Now … how do you feel?
(Smile) I know … me, too. Now go out there and pass it on, in any form you choose. That's the beauty of giving … the possibilities are not only endless, but more far-reaching than you may have ever thought possible.
And not only will you feel … well, fabulous, but I'd be willing to bet that it will elevate your mood higher than any pair of 4" stilettos.
"Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more." ~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
