Dancing in the Rain (And Cleaning Up Dog Vomit)

So, I've been struggling with my mental health for a while now, right? And all the freakin' self-help books and advice just make it sound like it's as simple as flicking a light switch. Just think positively, they say, exercise, eat right, and *poof* all your problems magically vanish! But we all know it isn't that simple.

So, one day I find myself in the throes of a particularly awful panic attack and I'll tell you, the 'just breathe' advice seems pretty damn silly when you're hyperventilating like a lunatic. And then, in the midst of all this chaos, my dog walks in, gives me this look like 'Dude, you okay?' and then just throws up on my carpet. And I don't know why, but I just start laughing. Not just a chuckle, mind ya, but full on belly laughs. In that moment, my panic sort of melted away, replaced by the absurdity of cleaning up dog puke.

And I realized, sometimes life is not about waiting for the storm to pass but learning to dance in the rain, or in this case, cleaning up dog vomit. It doesn't necessarily make the anxiety go away, but it gives me a moment of relief, and that’s enough for me.

(Note: Based on real stories posted in mental health communities.)