"One of Them Days" is Therapeutic
SPOILER ALERT: I reference details about this movie throughout the blog.
I saw “One of them days,” in theaters. I had to support my girl Issa Rae, the predominantly Black cast and crew of this movie on the eve of MLK day. This movie was therapy and a reminder of useful therapeutic tools. It actually helped me cope throughout that difficult week (IYKYK).
Humor- The movie was actually funny. I’ve been to some comedic movies and can count on one hand the number of times I laughed. Keke Palmer, Kat Williams, Janelle James, Lil Rel Howrey, along with the entire cast of actors were on point with their punch lines. Did you know that laughter has the capability of relieving stress and regulating the nervous system? The mere act of smiling can have lasting, positive effects on your mood. Although humor can be a deflection from pain, in moderation, it can be used as a tool to cope and ground. There are plenty of structured ways to get you laughing such as this movie, a comedic show. However, in this economy, sometimes we may need to catch a laugh on a budget. Oftentimes my greatest laughs are with friends and family in comfortable spaces, like at home with my fiance. Places where I can be as boisterous and free with my laugh feel super safe and grounding. The occasional public chuckle with a coworker will do as well.
Community- The community in this movie was outrageously powerful. It made me a little disappointed that my neighbor isn’t my hair braider. I felt nostalgic seeing “Mama Ruth”, a character who reminded me of my childhood candy lady. The way the community showed up for Keke and SZA’s characters, Dreux and Alyssa, had an everlasting affect on my psyche. Characters came together for a cause to help one another while enjoying each other’s company. They had a shared purpose, which is powerful for mental well being. Along with humor, community allows for connection and a sense of belonging, a major element for healing. Feeling connected to others helps combat isolation associated with depression and a host of other symptoms. Having a community can give you emotional support, access to resources, and a sense of cultural identity which reinforces and enhances your self esteem. Community can provide you with validation and remind yourself you’re “the 1 and the 2,” as Dreux and Alyssa claimed when affirming one another. This validation was displayed within Dreux and Alyssa’s strong friendship.
Positive Self Talk- Despite Dreux and Alyssa’s relationship having a few bumps, the basis of their relationship involved them pouring into each other with positive self talk. Alyssa’s character was very spiritually inclined, which often grounded and inspired Dreux to be more confident and positive in the way she spoke to herself. Positive self talk is super important when it comes to your internal relationship. Oftentimes the relationship you have with yourself is mirrored externally. If you're feeling good about yourself, it’s so easy to uplift the people around you. This is also a reminder to be a positive force in the lives of your community, because we feed off of each other's energies.
This movie is a classic and a great reminder of coping tools and pathways to healing. These three aspects easily feed into one another. I encourage you to try honing in on at least one and see where the “universe” takes you as Alyssa would say.
