Minorities and Mental Health

No seriously. What if I enjoy sitting at home, alone, in my sweats? I know, I know, isolation and hermit-like activity, is supposed to be a sign of a depressive episode, but what if it is on my top 10 weekend activities list?

I can very easily entertain myself at home alone. I know I should go out, be around other people, take in the fresh air. But there are so many enjoyable things one can do, at home, alone:

• Reading
• Watching TV
• Blogging
• Meditation
• Netflix
• Video games
• Contemplating the meaning of life

(not necessarily in that order). The world out there, while entertaining, is not always enough to override a desire to hibernate.

So how do you know the difference between unhealthy behavior and well, just what happen to want to do? I think doing stuff and seeing people is highly overrated. The only time this gets awkward is when people ask you, “what do you have planned for this weekend?” or “what did you do last weekend?” You can only say “sleep” so many times before people catch on. 

I am naturally an obsessive planner, I like to have every minute and every move charted out in my mind well in advance. Except when it comes to the weekend. Nothing brings me more pleasure than spending hours on end doing something, anything that lets me lose track of time.

In today’s hectic world, there is something wonderfully self-indulgent about not looking at a clock for more than 3 hours and just letting the time melt away. Sort of like when you go to the movies in the afternoon. When you walk in it’s light out, but when you leave it’s dark and your mind has a hard time making the adjustment. You get a little giddy with the split-second thought of all of the things that may have happened while you were in there that you don’t know about.

I think I am well-suited for a solitary lifestyle. If I was more outdoorsy I’d say I could be forest ranger or something. Since I’m not, I guess this just makes me weird.