Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Smile Therapy

I’m the first to admit that I’m a person of many moods. I’m not like the “united states of Tara” or anything, I’m just… I don’t know, emotional. I feel what I feel, you know?

My ex-husband, who had a great sense of humor, used to deal with my moodiness by sharing an adage from his homestate. “It’s like we used to say about the weather in Michigan,” he’d tell me. “If you don’t like it, just wait ten minutes.”

Being old enough now to understand my rhythms, I appreciate that my ex was onto something. My mood (particularly if it is a negative one) is unlikely to last. My life just never sucks that much, and so I have no reason to drop into irretrievable doldrums. When I’m in a low mood, I pretty much only need a little pick-me-up. And because I’m in a low mood, I need for that pick-me-up to be provided by someone else.

As prescriptions go, this seems like a fabulously affordable solution. Don’t need to wait for 2014, when universal healthcare kicks in! Oh no, just give me one other person – one other contagiously cheerful person. That’s all I need.

But that also is the caveat. I am self-employed, you see. And so I spend a good part of my day at home alone. I spend a good part of my day sitting at my computer. If I have a co-worker at all, it’s the radio, and if my co-worker can be identified as a downer, it’s only because I’m hooked on NPR. (Let’s face it, the real news is not exactly uplifting these days.)

I’ve been self-employed now for ten years, but this is not the first go-round with independent work. I also took a stab at it from 96 to 97 or so. At the time of that first stab, I had no artistic outlets and so I was at risk of being particularly morose. The isolation did a number on me. A painful number. I remember once, running some errands in the middle of a weekday. I had gone into a store and I happened upon a conversation between a father and his small son. Hearing their dialogue made me smile, and when I smiled, I also made a mental note: “That felt good.”

Yup. Smiling felt good.

I don’t want to think how long it must have been since my last smile, but the fact that I felt it and appreciated how it changed the contours of my mood speaks volumes. The fact that I felt it indicates that, like a good stretch, it was a body maneuver that needed to happen and was long overdue.

These days, there’s more art in my life, and that brings me joy. There also are more friends with whom I share art. There are more friends who know the artist in me.

Still, though, there are days when the isolation gets heavy. When working alone threatens to turn me into Michigan’s worst cold front. But I know what to do in those moments. I just smile. And, cheesy as it sounds, I feel better instantly.

9 comments:

Anna L. Walls said...

Keep smiling ;-)

gouima said...

Okay, what does, “united states of Tara," mean?

gouima said...

I like the word "caveat!"

Katie Gates said...

Hi Gouima, "The United States of Tara" is a TV series (Showtime) re a woman with multiple personality disorder. I've never seen it, but I know that Toni Colette, who plays Tara, has received plenty o' golden statues for her portrayal.

Anonymous said...

As much as we can all be stubborn when we don't feel like being happy, yes, it is just that easy.

David Patterson said...

Hey I joined your blog as a follower per Kathy Brooke. Can you also follow my blog? Trying to increase the number of followers.

http://theseedsofsong.blogspot.com.

Thanks

Unknown said...

Katie. Your post speaks greatly to many, many women. How true you are about smiles and having "someone" with an uplifting mood to sweep you upwards as well, like angels wings. You sound like a lovely soul and were you nearer to me I know we would be great friends. Ever need a laugh or smile, just convo me. Take care and happy arting! Linda

Martha Gates-Mawson said...

Love seeing all these comments! Have been working hard on my art this week, so somehow this escaped me on Wednesday (what a crappy week I've had). This is a wonderful piece. And that smile of yours lights up the world...

Lisa K. said...

I've worked from home for the last five or so years myself, so I know what you mean about the isolation. I think that's the wonderful thing about the internet though is that all I have to do is minimize one screen, maximize another, and I can connect to a whole worldful of people!

:-)