The Caregivers is a unique series focused on the challenges and triumphs of caregiving. These stories have been created through a strategic partnership between AARP and Word In Black.
We all experience a few funks at some point in our lives. A funk is a period of sadness that, if addressed effectively, can encourage inner healing and draw you into the fullness of who you are. When a funk visits, you may wonder what caused it and how you can process your uncomfortable feelings in a healthy way.
Give yourself a moment to feel, then take in these words of encouragement:
“It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.” — Confucius
“The pain passes, but the beauty remains.” — Auguste Renoir
“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” — Muhammad Ali
“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” — Alice Walker
“I have come to believe over and over again that what is most important to me must be spoken, made verbal and shared, even at the risk of having it bruised or misunderstood.” — Audre Lorde
“Just don’t give up what you’re trying to do. Where there is love and inspiration. I don’t think you can go wrong.” — Ella Fitzgerald
“Here’s my chance to dance my way
Out of my constrictions […]
Do you promise to funk, the whole funk,
Nothin’ but the funk?” — From Funkadelic, “One Nation Under a Groove“
“Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.” — Helen Keller
“The pain will leave once it has finished teaching you.” — Bruce Lee
“One word frees us of all the weight and pain in life. That word is love.” — Sophocles
If your funk creeps into your day-to-day activities, influencing many areas of your life, then there may be underlying reasons, such as long-term grief or depression, or trauma. Seek additional support, such as a counselor or doctor. Here are some resources that address issues that may cause sadness or discomfort.
Mental well-being is a cornerstone of healthy living. AARP wants to help you get healthier and stay healthy. Visit AARP’s Mental Health Center at www.aarp.org/mentalhealth for tips, tools and resources that can help you develop healthy habits for mental well-being.
