Waking Up to Roosters and Other Benefits of a Mental Health Break

Oct 18, 2018 by Jeanette Hanscome

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Last week, I woke up to the crow of a rooster named Sheldon. It brought back memories of being at my Grandma and Grandpa La Chapell’s house, except we were in the foothills instead of Turlock and Susy had lots of critters on her property instead of lots of Bermuda grass. My bedroom had that intoxicating country fragrance that I love—the scent that makes me forget I might actually be smelling chicken feed and… other things.

Susy invited me and Julie to her cabin to write, and I did plenty of that. But when I stood on the deck the first morning sprinkling some of my homemade granola over the railing for the hens hoping they’d see it as manna from heaven, I knew why I’d really come.

For a mental health break.

What I’d needed more than anything was to be somewhere other than home (no offense, family), writing somewhere other than in my bedroom/office, with two good friends. I needed to get a daily kitty fix and give Sprinkles (Susy’s dog) treats just for being cute and knowing how to sit on command. The side of me that has never fit in the box needed to get to know Susy’s daughter, Teddy, who rehabilitates injured squirrels and has a blind screech owl named Marbles. Marbles isn’t a pet; he is an educational animal that she once nursed back to health. I needed to finally meet Susy’s retired racehorse, Stetson, spend evenings beading bracelets and painting Christmas ornaments, and go to a craft fair.

I needed to do things that my family wouldn’t enjoy at all.

Sometimes, we just need to get out of our rut. We need to be with people who love what we love, relate to what we’re talking about, and get why chatting with the local crafters is as much fun as finding something to buy. Those of us who are writers and deep thinkers need to get out of our heads.

[bctt tweet=”Sometimes, we just need to get out of our rut.” username=”JHanscomeWriter”]

Until this year, unless my family took a vacation, I had a hard time justifying a getaway that didn’t include teaching or attending workshops. Writers conferences felt like vacations simply because they included packing a suitcase. I didn’t want to spend money unless I could call it a business expense. I felt guilty leaving my son behind, fearing he would feel abandoned, until a realized he spent most the time with his cousins and friends. Maybe a weekend with my friends was the big girl equivalent to his sleepovers with cousins. He didn’t seem to feel guilty for having those. So far, he hasn’t asked, “Mom, do you feel abandoned when I spend the night at Dylan’s and hang out with friends on weekends? Is that why you’re in therapy?”

I finally gave myself permission to take an occasional break just for fun when I realized I couldn’t think of anything new to write about because I always did the same thing. I started to wonder if some of my mood slumps got triggered by boredom and feeling trapped. That and spending too much time alone. Most of my writing flows from personal experience, and I wanted fewer of my stories to include sad stories from the past.

Now they do!

Last week showed me why we all need a change of scenery, including change of scenery that doesn’t include those we live with.

They refresh and uplifts us.

They give us time to think.

We can spend extra time with God.

We can fully enjoy what fills us up instead of worrying about those who can’t wait to leave.

When we return home, we appreciate our families more and they appreciate us.

We have new stories to tell, like that time I climbed a fence and foraged for acorns for Teddy’s squirrel nursery.

When do you know it is time for a break? What refreshes your spirit? Share one of your answers in a comment.

[bctt tweet=”When do you know it is time for a break? ” username=”JHanscomeWriter”]

With the exception of my writing room with a view and the cabin plaque, photos are compliments are Julie Elder.

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