The Quest for a Healthy Mind.

As this winter gray weather haze and fog lingers over my hometown and daily life, it just kind of sucks. Today's entirely gray skyline, with zero ounces of sunshine and colder weather, has a gleeful mood buzzkill factor. Today is the type of dreary weather day in Austin, Texas, which causes me to wonder if this is an example of the daily living environment of Portland Oregon, Seattle Washington and America's Pacific Northwest? I've personally never traveled northwest of San Francisco, California and wonder if the rainy, dreary weather is what dictates the Pacific Northwest Resident's day and moods. Are we succumbed by nature?

If yes, Count me OUT. I am not a fan. This gray, overcast weather is both depressing and unexciting. As creatures of our surrounding environments, everything around us has an effect on our moods and well-being.

Recently I spoke and visited with my fantastic, friendly, and humorous neighborhood car mechanic expert. For the majority this married, light-hearted and diligently working man is engaging, caring and extremely knowledgeable about automobiles. I credit this exact man, with pre-inspecting my current 2004 BMW 325i, I own and claim title too. After he and I  gave it a gas chugging test drive, this mechanical expert then gave me permission to purchase the vehicle. Upon being given the green light, no lemon stamp of thumbs up approval, I next purchased my current 2004 BMW 325I used with around 120,000 miles on it for just $3,500 dollars a few years ago. On a side note, I am personally immune and just not excited by the bombardment of "Buy NEW TV Car Commercials." I will most likely never buy a brand new car or spend a bunch of money on a personal vehicle for work and leisure. Why? 1. I don't enjoy the act of driving 2. Traffic Blows. 3. Cars are not a financial asset, as they are depreciated in value daily, and with continual usage.

So why do I bring up my awesome and friendly neighborhood car mechanic? It is because he recently confided in me, his struggle and family history of depression. Mental Health is a prominent and un-advertised issue in today's society. Mental Health and Depression is a real sickness and disease. There should be no shame in discussing your own, family members, or a friend's struggle with  Mental Health. I GVM, have personally never had any issues with this sickness, yet hope for a gainful recovery by those affected by it. Drawing from my own conversational overhearing ears, I've heard the prescribed drugs of Zoloft, Valium, and Zanex may help cure and lessen the symptoms of depression and mental health fatigue. What do you think? Are these three aforementioned pharmaceutical drugs helpful? Yes? No? Maybe? Sometimes?

So how should us regular Americans try to keep and maintain a Healthy Mind? Here's what I do! I actively remember to get plenty of sleep. Personally, for me, a cup of coffee and breakfast in the A.M. morning after at least 8 hours of real, uninhibited sleep is the best answer! An overtaxed, stressed and jumbled mind is not ideal. Surprisingly I've noticed the act of temporarily playing video games, eases my mind, relaxes me and detoxes my brain from the working grind and income unknowns. As your day spins, my advice is to write down 4-6 achievable actions steps for the day. As you achieve them, cross them off, and your baby steps feelings of accomplishment will enhance your mood. Just do as Admiral Williams H McRaven's advice and best selling book says, "Make Your Bed, Little Things that can change your life and perhaps the world."

Here is another suggestion on the quest for a healthy mind. Avoid and cut out negative influencing drama, news, and people from your life completely. They say individual humans are a combination of their 5 closet friends, mentors and contemporaries. So choose your 5 most intact circles of friends wisely. Avoid negative influences in your life and non-beneficial distractions. For example, don't get sucked into the pervasive 24/7 News Cycle too much. Often times negative news will hamper your world outlook, unnecessarily. Rarely does the news cycle highlight and glorify current excellent examples of humanitarian sunshine. Remove toxic people from your life.

Specifically, people who do not work, people who engage in drugs or cigarette smoking addiction. Avoid people and influences not conducive to your current dreams and life ambitions! Be open to constructive feedback. Challenge yourself by working and being around people more talented and successful to you. 

Recently the former NCAA Football National Champion, Florida Gator Heisman winning quarterback, ex NFL Denver Broncos QB, current New York Mets Pro Baseball Player in the Minor Leagues, and a man whom recently married Miss  freakin' Universe,  all while being a devout Christian, Tim Tebow gave a glorious diatribe and recent inspirational media interview. Click here to View. Tim Tebow's message of simply trying and striving for your dreams, while detaching from the chances of failure is a welcoming and a well-needed message in today's current social media, and instantly judged times. Mr. Tebow encourages the young and youthful people of the world to "get out there," "try something new" and to "leave your comfort zone", He professes that later in life, one will be more likely to regret inaction, than action. What do you think? I personally think Tebow's message is an inspirational, positive and honest aura towards daily life goals, and decisions. I predict in the future, the Disney channel or some other Movie executive will create a Rudy-esque movie of Mr. Tim Tebow's successful, setback and forward-striving life.

In our quest for a healthy mind, remember to try and keep it toxin free, and removed from negative human and media influences. Occasional recreational alterings are still allowed and considered a reset. There are generational reasons why "Happy Hour" still exists. I'm not saying you have to go live the Angel way. If doctor prescribed pharmaceutical pills are the answer for you, then give modern medicine a down the hatch, followed by a glass of water try. Overall, I do think it is possible to self-train your mind into a positive outlook. Try the natural method first.