Feeling Blah? Explore Something New Today and Conquer the Blues

Discover the antidote to the blues and explore something new today.

This post is part of the Five-Minute Friday quick write hosted by Kate Moutang. Join us each Thursday night on Twitter (#FMFParty) for fun and fellowship, then grab a pen and start writing when the prompt goes live!

Feeling Blah

“Want to go off-roading tomorrow?” Pedro asked me last Friday.

“Sure,” I said. Secretly, I didn’t feel like going anywhere. Not even birding sounded exciting. All the changes and turmoil of trying to sell a house had left me feeling a little blah. But I know myself. For me, the antidote to feeling blah involves exploring something new.

The next morning, we loaded up our ‘quads’ (F.J. Cruisers) and took off for the mountains. Pedro wanted to show me a new area he discovered the previous week. He promised melting snowbanks, mud, and the chance to explore something new.

My 4-wheeling skills don’t come close to matching Pedro’s, but we have a trip planned for early June, so I need practice. As we entered the forest and found the road, I stopped and rolled down my windows. The smells of sun-warmed pine trees, melting snow, and new life.

A tiny spot of bright yellow caught my eye, so I jumped out of the FJ. Tiny yellow blossoms pushed through the forest floor.

Further down the road, Pedro stopped on the far side of a water crossing and radioed me. “Roll down your windows,” he said.  

A chorus of frogs (or toads) serenaded us. After getting stuck (and unstuck) in multiple snowbanks, we stopped for a picnic and climbed a nearby hill. The view from 8000 feet spread out before us, wrapping us in wonder.

Finally, the depth of the snowbanks stopped our forward progress. Along the way, we perfected a method of staying hooked together that allowed us to break through deep snow. Pedro would lead, and when he got stuck, I would pull him out with my FJ. If my tires strayed from the ruts, he would pull me out.

Explore Something New for a Mood Boost

We arrived home as the sun dropped below the horizon in a fiery ball. I knew the next day would include hours of power-washing mud off my FJ, but it didn’t matter. My energy and good mood had returned during our adventure.

I’ve discovered over the years the value of getting out of my comfort zone when I feel blah or notice a case of the blues creeping up. If you want to boost your mood, explore something new. You don’t have to go off-roading, either.

Explore something new in the kitchen, visit a new-to-you park, or try a new activity. Take a different route to work and ask God to keep your eyes open to the beauty around you. I like to think of trying new things as a way of singing a new song to God.

Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!

Psalm 96:1 NLT

When I cling to my routines and methods of doing things, I make it difficult for God to show me the new things he wants to do in my life. What would you like to explore this week?