Mental Health Can Be Fun: What I Learned from Bananas & Sandbags
- Bruce Schutter
- Sep 4
- 5 min read
Today, my wife Lee and I headed over to Shippensburg University for our usual lunchtime ritual: the Mental Health Warrior Sandbag Workout. If you haven’t tried one, imagine combining physical training and mental training into one fell swoop. You grab a sandbag, carry it, enjoy the outdoors, sweat with it — and in the process, you work both your body and your mind.
The campus is the perfect place to do it. The students are always welcoming, and we love chatting with them between carries. Sometimes they wave, sometimes they ask about the program, sometimes they just stare like, “Why is that guy lugging a giant sandbag across campus instead of sitting in the cafeteria like the rest of us?”
Fair question. But by now, many of them know about the Mental Health Warrior Program
The Warrior Journey
For 20 years, I battled Bipolar Disorder, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders, and PTSD. Those struggles left me feeling so powerless that I tried to end my life. But in my darkest moment, I discovered something life-changing: mental health is the key to overcoming any challenge.
Armed with that knowledge, I created the Mental Health Warrior Program — a bold new SELF-HELP approach that puts YOU in charge! Through my books, tools like the Warrior Challenge Coin and Sandbag Workouts, I help others take control of their emotions, build resilience and build the life they really want.
But Back to Sandbags
So yes, I’m the guy walking across campus with a 120 lb. sandbag on his shoulders — not because I lost a bet, but because I found my purpose.
But today? Well, today was a little different. Because today, we ran into… a bunch of bananas!
No, not the metaphorical kind. I mean an actual bunch of bananas. A whole student group decked out in banana costumes, promoting their bingo night and handing out bananas as a healthy snack. Imagine this: a dozen bright-yellow bananas waddling across the quad, cheering, laughing and high-fiving anyone brave enough to accept fruit from a human-sized peel.
And, of course, Lee and I had to stop. I mean, how often do you get sandbag workout reps and a photo-op with bananas in the same day? (Don’t worry — that’s the picture you’re seeing attached to this blog. Proof that I’m not making this up.)
But here’s the thing: that silly, unexpected encounter taught us something important. It reminded us that taking care of our mental health doesn’t always have to be heavy, serious, or exhausting. Sometimes, it can be flat-out fun. And in fact, fun is one of the best tools we have as Warriors.
So let me break it down. Here are three powerful lessons from our banana brigade encounter that show how fun can boost your mental health:
Lesson 1: Food is Fuel for Mental Health
As silly as the bananas looked, they couldn’t have chosen a better symbol. Because food and mental health go hand-in-hand — and I’ve written about this in two of my books: The 3 Food Rules of a Mental Health Warrior and Mind Fuel for a Mental Health Warrior.
Why bananas matter: they’re natural, unprocessed, full of nutrients, and they give your body and brain clean energy. Compare that to the vending machine specials — sugary snacks and neon-colored drinks that give you a five-minute buzz followed by a two-hour crash.
When we choose real foods — fruits, veggies, proteins, healthy fats — we’re not just feeding our body. We’re fueling our minds. Bananas, in their goofy, dancing glory, were showing us a warrior truth: every bite is a choice and every food choice can help you build strong mental health.
Your Turn:
So, Warriors, next time you are hungry. Ask yourself: are you fueling your brain for resilience, focus and strength? Or are you feeding it junk that makes the challenges harder? Grab a banana. Or broccoli. Or a salmon fillet if you’re feeling fancy.
Your Mental Health will Thank You!
Lesson 2: Engage with People — Because Warriors Don’t Do This Alone
One of the best parts of our Sandbag Workouts is the chance to connect with students. We’ve shared laughs, answered questions, and sometimes just nodded to each other between classes. That engagement matters.
Because mental health isn’t a solo mission. Warriors fight best in tribes.
Stopping to chat with the bananas reminded me of this truth: human connection is medicine. Talking to someone, laughing with them, even just standing side by side in shared silliness — it all chips away at loneliness and builds resilience.
That’s why one of the Mental Health Warrior Principles is about connection. We don’t heal in isolation. We heal when we’re supported, seen, and encouraged by others who remind us we’re not alone in the battle.
Your Turn:
So here’s your challenge: the next time life gets heavy, don’t retreat into your cave. Call a friend. Join a group. Go meet some students dressed like bananas.
Because Warriors need their tribe!
Lesson 3: Fun is Fuel, Too
Here’s the kicker: while Lee and I are serious about our workouts and our food choices, we also know the power of fun.
And today was a reminder that fun doesn’t just improve mental health — it’s essential to it. Laughing with college students, posing with bananas, enjoying a moment of pure silliness — that’s the stuff that makes life feel lighter.
Fun breaks tension. Fun restores perspective. Fun reminds us that life is worth fighting for.
When we take time to laugh, smile, and play, our brains release endorphins, lower stress hormones, and give us that mental reset we desperately need. And honestly, what’s the point of building all this Warrior strength if we never stop to enjoy it?
So yes, sandbags and serious tools are part of the program. But so are laughter, joy, and unexpected moments of fun — even if they come dressed in yellow peel suits.
Your Turn:
Next time life throws a challenge your way, don’t let it steal your spark. Instead, take 10 minutes and go do something fun!
Grab a sandbag and blast your favorite music. Watch a goofy video. Scroll through something that makes you laugh (yes, like those banana pictures — total mood boost!).
Laughter is a powerful Warrior tool — it can cut through the negative vibes of any challenge and put you back on the path to triumph.
Wrap Up: Don’t Forget the Bananas
Life is serious. Mental health struggles can be brutal. I know that firsthand. But that doesn’t mean every step of the Mental Health Warrior path has to feel heavy.
Today’s workout at Shippensburg University reminded me of this: fun is a powerful part of mental health!
When we take care of our mental health with good food, real connections, and daily laughter, we don’t just survive the challenges — we thrive in spite of them.
And the next time life feels too heavy? Take a page out of our campus workout playbook. Grab a sandbag, lift it high and when you meet a bunch of bananas on your path… stop and laugh.
Because that’s what Warriors do. We don’t just conquer challenges — we celebrate the journey!
Bruce Schutter
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