In the words of one of my favorite Bachelorettes, Rachel Lindsay, I gotta keep it 100 with you all. I haven’t been feeling like myself for a while. It’s been a strange and difficult year, right? Searching for a job while simultaneously searching for myself has been… stressful. I have no doubt it will get better, but it’s crazy to think how you can lose your sense of self when you’re not in your ideal or usual circumstances. Guys, I’m completely out of my element.
Not to sound dramatic (probably too late), but I’d like to get back to feeling like myself. I can only read so many motivational Instagram posts telling me to “shoot for the stars” before wanting to throw my phone at the stars.
I made a conscious effort this week to get my metaphorical groove back by first getting my literal groove back. I made a playlist with the most undeniably upbeat songs to immediately boost my mood. You should try frowning while singing “Build Me Up Buttercup” at the top of your lungs — I dare you. It’s impossible.
Next on the agenda was reuniting with my friends for an evening of whiskey, burgers, and conversations so funny it makes your face hurt. It feels good to spend time with your people. You know, the people who make you want to pee your pants from laughing so hard and cry because you’re so grateful to have them to lean on. We were out celebrating the launch of our friend’s paper company, Grish & Watson, which is not only beautiful but it also promotes sending love and encouragement every day. Pretty perfect.
Thursday comes, and so far, the week has not been terrible. Woohoo! My efforts have been sort of working. As I’m in the middle of listening to my magical playlist for the 37th time that week, a friend calls me as she’s leaving work to vent about her own discouragement. I obviously first asked if she had been listening to my magical playlist. She had, but apparently singing at the top of your lungs in the office is frowned upon.
Then, thinking of my own advice, I asked her: “Have you been to Forest Park? Do you want to go on a hike on Saturday? It’ll be cold, but it’s not supposed to rain.”
Even though my friend has lived in the Portland-metro area her whole life, she has not really explored Portland very much. Because of this, we have an ongoing list of all the restaurants, donut shops, boutique stores, and random sights we will visit. Luckily, one of the items on the list was hiking the Lower Macleay Trail up to Pittock Mansion. In fact, The Oregonian last year said the Pittock Mansion hike is Portland hiking at its best.
So we went hiking Saturday morning, with the promise of rewarding ourselves in the end with some of the best bagels Portland has to offer at Kenny and Zuke’s Bagelworks. Even though the sky was dry, the trail was not. It was a glorious, uphill mud pit. Every step created that squishy sound you make when stirring mac and cheese. As we huffed and puffed our way up the mountain, we picked out all the dogs we wanted to kidnap and rolled our eyes at the people who leisurely strolled past us, Starbucks cups in-hand. For three hours, we discussed funny stories from our pasts, exciting dreams for the future, and who would be the bug eater if we were on the Amazing Race (neither, apparently).
The view of the city from the mansion will always be one of my favorites.
I was surprised to wake up Sunday morning only feeling a bit of soreness in my calves. The last time I hiked that trail, my legs were jelly for three days! Even though I can’t see it yet, it’s cool to feel the progress I’ve made by running.
That being said, I still wanted a low key day. After finishing a delicious brunch and coffee, my mom asked me if I wanted to take a trip to the record store. My answer to that will always be yes, but especially because the new Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings album was released on Friday and they were selling a limited edition red vinyl, only available in indie record stores.
All in all, I know there will be weeks where I’m feeling less than stellar, but I’m going to appreciate the ones that are pretty good. Now, if you’ll excuse me — I have to get back to my literal groove.
What do you do when you’re in a funk and not the fun kind? What gets you pumped up?
Please Elaborate 