Thread by @KatecBowler

Alright my loves. I have a friend having a Very Very Bad Day. Which all of us with precarious health or circumstances understand.

I have my own rules for Very Bad Days. Please feel free to share your own.

1. Listen to beautiful, soul-filling music. Only comfort listens and old favorites are nice. No "I Wish I Had a River" lyrics here. Sorry Joni Mitchell.

2. Early bedtime. My mind goes from Disney to Nietzsche after 7 PM. If you can't trust your mind, give it a break. It might feel different in the morning.

3. Do some absorbing work or reading. I love to research. It's why I got tenure while dying. I just needed something to do instead of dying, which is very boring.

4. Focus on someone else's problems. I would recommend anyone with a bad boyfriend, whose faults can be catalogued and re-enacted. Someone's pain can be a gift in the midst of your own.

5. Gratitude lists. I put a giant one on the wall and wrote down small things. The taste of basil. Nothing that makes you feel like you have to be a miracle or nothing is wonderful.

6. Entire television series that you can swim in. Did I mention that Jennifer Garner spoke 10,000 languages in Alias? How is her Punjabi? Let's find out.

7. Be outside as long as you can. Something about the air staves off the great abyss.

8. Prayer. I loved it when people would put their hand on my shoulder and pray for me. But if you don't like crying, maybe give that one a break. Also ask first on this one. But I appreciated that people could hope for me without embarrassment.

9. Angry hobbies. When life is terrible, please give me a chainsaw.

I'd love to hear what helps you.