| The other day, someone asked me if I was | | | | - Realize you only get one shot at this life. Take |
| happy. I had to think for a few seconds. Am I | | | | chances. Squeeze the joy out of life. The older I |
| happy? Yes, yes I am happy. I have not always | | | | get, the more I realize life is too short to waste it |
| been. I've had some very hard, dark times (hasn't | | | | being miserable. |
| everyone?) and due to overwhelming, ongoing, | | | | - Try to stay away from negative people. Those |
| bad situations in my life, I even got to the point | | | | you can't stay away from, tune them out. I |
| of thinking that if this was going to be my life, I | | | | pretend I have a suit of armor on me when I am |
| did not want to hang around this planet any | | | | around these joy suckers & whatever they |
| longer. Fortunately I have enough self | | | | say just rolls off the armor and can't penetrate |
| preservation to do some research on how to | | | | me. Realize that often people are this way |
| change things in my life. Unfortunately there was | | | | because they are so miserable in their own life. |
| no way I could change the circumstances at the | | | | - Surround yourself with things, places and people |
| time but fortunately there were ways to change | | | | who bring you joy. |
| my attitude towards them. Some of the things I | | | | - Realize that this to shall pass. Just as we have |
| do to keep happy: | | | | bad times, good times will eventually return. |
| - Smile. Simple but effective. It's hard to feel sad | | | | - I keep several positive thinking mantras in my |
| when you are smiling. | | | | arsenal and whip them out as needed. It does |
| - The first thing I do when I wake up is pray, | | | | seem to calm me down. |
| "God, make me a blessing to someone today | | | | - Realize that no matter how hard you try, you |
| & let something good happen to me too! | | | | will have down times. Hormones, exhaustion, |
| - The second thing I do is list 5 things in my mind | | | | situations or just plain old bad moods will effect all |
| that I am grateful for or look forward to that | | | | of us at times. I don't beat myself up when I get |
| day. | | | | like this. I try the above methods but if they just |
| - Before I go to bed, I write in my little gratitude | | | | don't work, then I decide today is going to be a |
| notebook, 5 things I am grateful for. Either things | | | | "pity party for me" day. I over exaggerate my |
| that happened that day or things in general (can | | | | misery & play it up. This often makes me |
| be as small as "It was sunny today" or "Susie | | | | realize how silly it is & gets me out of the |
| gave me a compliment today"). | | | | funk. |
| - I try to meditate for at least 10-30 minutes a | | | | I hope this will help someone who struggles with |
| day. It really does help to center me. | | | | this. Please seek help from a doctor if you feel |
| - Look for the good in every situation. I make it | | | | your depression is overwhelming you. Sometimes |
| my mission to try to find some joy, fun or a | | | | the problem may be medical and can be easily |
| learning experience out of every situation I go | | | | corrected with medication. |
| through, no matter how tough it is. | | | | |