And the best place to start is with yourself!
Spring is here, socializing is a thing again, and activities are back! So here are a few ideas for taking care of yourself and having fun:
Try a yoga or meditation class.
Learn something new, like cooking, painting, martial arts, writing, or gardening.
Get outdoors--walk, bike, swim, play pickle ball, climb a rock, go sailing.
Start something new--a book club, a weekly luncheon, a senior basketball team
Call a friend you haven't spoken to in a while. Better yet, if they live nearby, do something together. (Get your nails done, go to karaoke, go to a farmer's market, go to a fair, take a class together.)
Volunteer--help the environment, or the hungry, or children, or animals...
(Having purpose in life is vital to our mental health.)
For those of you who are struggling and may need some extra help, don't deny yourself therapy. Start by asking your health insurance company for referrals. If you don't find what you need there, you can check out these sites:
Counseling California https://www.counselingcalifornia.com/
Los Angeles County Psychological Association www.lacpa.org
Psychology Today www.psychologytoday.com
Lesbian and Gay Psychotherapy Association www.lagpa.org
Los Angeles County Dept. of Mental Health https://dmh.lacounty.gov/our-services/
World Professional Association for Transgender Health www.wpath.org