- Do not listen to music. This is especially true of country music. Hip hop may be okay.
- Do not commute to work over long distances that leave you with too much time in your head.
- Take fast showers, and stay focused on hygiene, not the emptiness.
- Avoid looking at family photographs.
- Ignore the fact that the holidays will still exist.
- Abstain from drinking more than one glass of wine at any one point in time.
- Do not travel down Target aisles that pose a threat, such as those where you might see a can of his favorite kind of nuts (Beer Nuts) or catch the scent of Old Spice aftershave.
- Talk to your dogs about chewbones, the weather, or anything but how you’re feeling. Especially if they have big, brown-saucer eyes and floppy ears.
- Do not allow yourself to linger for very long in the company of compassionate and kind people who ask you how you’re doing.
- Do not text your sisters or call your mom.
- Tell your husband no thank you when he wants to simply hold your hand or massage your neck.
- Amp up your carb intake and emotionally overeat as necessary.
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