MANILA, Philippines - While a lot of the love-poisoned mortals were painting the town red last week, there were sad souls who wandered, enjoying their pain or at least were in search of heartbreak anesthesia and pills for cure. I have mingled with some of them last Valentine’s Day and got a piece of their minds on how to get over the pain either momentarily or permanently. So for those of you whose tolerance for pain has reached its peak, read on and be free!
1. Let your fingers do the talking. Blogging is in! Your online diary is your best outlet to rant and be brutally frank. It’s for you to decide whether you let your online buddies/friends can have access to your entries; if so, then I’m pretty sure you’ll get some help with those comments popping from time to time. There are also tips from experts on the Internet that might interest you. Just keep it cool and express your mind. Like what they say, “Garbage in, garbage out,” so flush out those toxins!
2. Dr. Phil is in. It’s good to be with friends when you are at your lowest – you see open rebukes coming more often than hearing mushy quotes when you don’t need them at all. Your best friend, loved one or your barkada is your support system. They are just a phone away...they’ll come rushing to listen. Spend more time with them doing what you love best and you’ll see the results quickly than spending time alone, locked in your room, pigging out on junk food.
3. Diversion — the Medication. Discover a new sport, go nature tripping, travel (not to Paris, please...if your are very liquid, try Hong Kong hahaha), spend more time in the gym, enroll in culinary school or arts and crafts, tutor a kid, volunteer in charity works, learn SCUBA, put up an online store, go to a rock concert, shop in thrift stores, apply nail polish, watch comedy films (read: funny), learn how to fire dance, plant trees, clean the entire house, join competitions, listen to Mary Mary’s new CD The Sound, go karting, attend parties, fellowships and mingle, and the list goes on. Take note: Do these with friends.
4. No-nos. Don’t go star gazing, stop uploading heartbreak love songs to your iPod or MP3 player, no sad/romantic movies please, don’t party a lot enough for you to be a mess afterwards, don’t dine in your favorite resto, delete those cheesy SMS you still keep in your mobile phone and empty your Yahoo Messenger Achieve at once, don’t ever go night swimming, don’t cry in a pizza parlor, don’t ride a cab alone or else you’ll end up sobbing while listening to the driver’s favorite FM station, refrain from listening to Mariah Carey’s brain itchy song I Stay In Love With You, don’t over-eat, stay away from things that remind you of the heartbreaker, among many others. Heads up: Refrain from being bitter.
5. Grab a copy of the He’s Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys book by Greg Behrendt. Wake up call, women!
6. Stay dedicated. Don’t slacken your performance in the office. Stay focused in your goal to climb that corporate ladder. Spend quality time with your family and kin. Stay aware of each other’s needs and don’t miss out on family affairs/occasions. Go on with your life, there’s so much ahead of you.
7. Go to a retreat. I got this idea from an officemate who believes in divine intervention. Inquire on retreat schedules in your church and talk to a pastor or a priest about your present state. Admit it, you need counseling so better ask for remedies for the soul so as to revive your enthusiasm.
Don’t stay immobile, move forward...the silver lining awaits.
Warning: Nursing a broken heart takes time. There ain’t any shortcuts, honey.