I need a little no a lot of cheering up

You only have to be as cheerful as you want at least if you are around me. Hang in there !

Find what you are truly thankful for, and write it down. Hopefully that cheers you up.

Maybe think about what you have to be thankful for in your life. That should bring some good thoughts.

Not much cheer here; I spent half of yesterday crying -- mostly for no reason in particular. But you can have a hug! [huggzzzzz for Carol]

I am so thankful for so many things in my life. 1 more Thanksgiving with my Mom, my fair health, my job, 2 working vehicles, my husband is a wonderful husband, my lovely daughter, our great pets.......

although the little bit of Christmas music I have heard so far makes me want to cry. Mostly because I don't think my Mom will be with us at that time any longer. :(

Think about the last time you laughed, I mean really laughed, then do that again.

Thanks to all and God bless. I'm just depressed over several issues but I have many more to be thankful for. My love to all of you.

sorry you are depressed

I too feel a little depressed this time of year. I am 1000 miles from "home" although I have lived here for over 12 yrs. Just do what you want. Indulge yourself. If you don't feel happy do not make yourself pretend to be. I know its hard this time of year, but once its over things always tend to get better.

It always helps if I keep myself busy whether it is writing, reading , or just watching a good old movie. Good luck and hope you feel better .

I feel that way closer to Christmas. I have MUCH to be thankful for but still get depressed around the holidays. I pretty much have my shopping done already, will have my present wrapped, the cards sent out and then it is still a couple weeks to Christmas and I'm ready for it to be over!!

I can relate. I work retail so I'm bombarded with cheerfulness and grumpiness at the same time.

Good Luck! It will be over soon as the holidays seem to fly by!

I agree with the others here - keep a gratitude journal to remind you of what you have to be thankful for - it should help in cheering you up. I also agree - Christmas has become all hype and doesn't mean anything any more. In our family we're paring down, and trying to concentrate on our meaningful relationships with each other instead. My husband and I treasure our tiny family Christmas just he and I our animals more than anything. Even if it was just me by myself I'd fix myself a cup of apple cider and a Christmas cookie, put another log on the fire, turn on the white lights on a small tree, put on some classical music and concentrate on the good things in my life as much as possible.

I can relate to you as well. This time of year is the hardest time of the year for me. Last year in September I had a baby who died shortly after birth ... then back in 96 I had a daughter who was born in november and passed away in february. Then with being divorced and a single mother ... it gets depressing this time of year. You see everyone with the 'ho ho ho's and holiday cheer' and inside your heart is ripping itself apart. Then with being a single mother comes the low low income and being broke all the time as it is then I have to try to come up with christmas gifts for my four kids ... makes it rough. Breaks my heart that I can't gett them everything they want for the holidays ... then I go to bed at night and just feel alone .. and like a failure. So this time of the year sucks for me too.... hopefully it will get better for all of us. Lets just try to remember the good in our lives ... sometimes I think the weather and it getting dark earlier doesn't help either! Keep your chin up .. your not alone.

Carol - I am so sorry to hear that you are feeling this way. The holiday's used to be very difficult for me...feeling like I had nothing to celebrate. My father passed away right before Thanksgiving and my mother just days before Christmas...it can be depressing when those are the thoughts and memories that I focus on. I don't celebrate the holiday's ... I celebrate the meaning of the holiday and that helps me so much. When I focus on the love that I get to share with the people in my life, the appreciation for all that I do have, and the beauty of the new life that I have received through Jesus Christ. I pray that you will find joy and peace within your heart through all of your days! God bless

You don't live in Detroit. Now isn't that a cheerful thought.
I understand. I hate cold weather. I always get sick when the cold weather moves in.

I'm not paying a lot of attention to all the hype this year Carol. We are moving to a new state and home on December 15th. All the selling, buying, getting a mortgage, packing, and all the other details involved are a priority. The holidays will just have to come and go without us. We have been going through these ups and downs since July and I still won't be comfortable until all the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed.

Sometimes it is hard to be cheerful. I wouldn't worry about it as it will pass like everything else!

I actually at one time had found this time depressing too cause I'm rushing to find the right presents, making sure I have everything I need for the holidays, etc. I had to learn thats its not all about having the perfect presents or even having presents at all (which seems to be the case since my hubby has only got me one christmas gift in the 5 years we've been together) but its about spending time with family and friends. About love and grace. It about Jesus' birth (if you believe in it) or whatever religion you are and about the time we need take thinking about all the good things that happened in our lives.

Michelle is right. Sometimes it is hard to be cheerful but I found that I don't have to try anymore, I truly am happy and don't have to pretend anymore.

I love Thanksgiving. With everything else going on this time of year, Thanksgiving is just warm family time to spend together. We all do some cooking, although my brother and sister-in-law do most of it. Thursday I will lay in bed and watch the Macy's parade before getting into the shower and heading out for dinner. Wed night I'll bake a dessert of some kind--but I like to do that--so it's no big deal. And this year I have Friday off, so it's all good.

I suffer from depression and have been down for a while now, but Thanksgiving really is something I look forward to, so that has me perked up a little.

Look at it this way....1 in 5 people are mentally ill. Think of your 4 closest friends. If they're all normal.............

Sigh........it sounded so much better in my head.....

you don't have to pretend to be cheerful, just because it's the holidays. Lots of people get depressed over the holidays, especially if they have big worries and problems, it's perfectly natural sometimes. It's hard when you have kids to not try to be cheerful and all hyped up on "holiday spirit", but just give yourself permission to feel how you feel, and hopefully your mood will lift soon enough. I haven't had any real Christmas spirit or real excitement about the holidays in a few years...I love the holdays and wasn't depressed about them or anything, just wasn't "into it' for some reason. This year, for some reason, I actually have some holiday spirit and I'm looking forward to them.

I'm about the same way....too many people...and people tend to get nasty at stores...

Carol - just a reminder - think about all the people on Gather that you've made happy - and that appreciate you loads! I'm only one, but there are many more out there! Hope that thought cheers you up!!

I'm sorry your feeling that way, I hope you cheer up soon. Maybe play some christmas songs and sing : )

If you want to feel better then read my book. Just knowing that all this misery can be changed and all our lives improved helps. Otherwise life looks like it will go on being dog eat dog forever. There really is a way to make people act like they cared about you and treat you well even if they don't know you at all. It doesn't require that they become nice or loving or generous. They can continue to be the rotten stinkers they have always been. But we can change their situation, all our situations, actually, and thereby make us act like good friends.

This optimistic, funny, heartwarming practical guide to improving our lives is titled "Invisible Hand" and is published at my page here on Gather.

And since I really don't care about the points you can also read the complete novel (all 43 chapters) at:

http://www.unc.edu/~mason/hand.html

Since it's an educational web site there are no ads. Try it. You'll like it.

I hope things get better for you.

Bah Humbug. I'll be better tomorrow. I spent a good part of the day playing with my granddaughter. She's just starting to walk and she's a hoot. There is no reason for me feeling this way, I just feel like I've cried for days.

Honey, this too will pass. It always does. I wish I could give you a great big hug.

Been There
Done that

Well I am dirt tired from nursing my 2 week old, but gosh dang it if he isn't a cutie pie and if that isn't worth smiling I don't know what is! Ok I am not too thrilled that the school district gives the kids the ENTIRE week of Thanksgiving off so the oldest are constantly asking to go on the computer but hey, the slave labor has helped me get more housework done!

Find a good cheerful book Carol and have a good read :)
If that doesn't work find some item you really need to get rid of and destroy it ;)

I am working some cheer here myself. Hope we both can find some.

Here are Ten Ways to Cheer Up...
I am going to try some & see if they work :-)

1. Socialize & Think Positively!
If you will force yourself to call a friend & get out to have lunch, go for a walk, the movies or (anything) to change your atmosphere, chances are good that you will change your mood for the better. GATHER.COM COUNTS. ;-)

2. Do Something Just For YOURSELF!


Be totally selfish here. Think of something you want to do for yourself & JUST DO IT.
It does not have to be big to work.

3. Give Something To Another Person.
Feeling good in our heart can have a great impact on how we feel!

4. Rent Or Go See A Happy or Funny Movie.
Laughter is the best medicine. I bet this one helps.

5. Volunteer Your Time.

One of the best ways we can help pull ourself out of feeling blue, is by helping other people who have problems of their own. (bigger problems)

6. Get Out Of The Past & Into The Present!

Let old hurts and pains and anger go! Doing so will free up positive energy and your body and mind will have a chance to be MUCH healthier.

7. Walk To Cheer Up.


Walking is prescribed by many doctors to help depression. Mall walking/window shopping counts!

8. Call Someone You Like Who Is A "Positive" Person And Chat.

Talk about good things & keep it light!

9. Meditate


Meditation can be a very good way to change your mood.
I want to try this one. It can't hurt.

10. Be CREATIVE!


Creating things alters our mood. It shifts us from the right side of our brain to the left side. Cook, paint, bake, knit, needlepoint, anything goes.

I came from a "fake it, 'til you make it" family. It doesn't always work.

I hope that you are feeling better:)

I am sorry to hear you are not your usual self. This time of year puts pressure on people to be happy all the time and we can't. Being happy is not artifical, it's from within. Don't let others force you.

A lot of people feel this way (me too!) Hang in there, don't force yourself to feel anything you don't, go with the flow...and ignore all the "crap" about the season

Sorry to hear that its not the best of times now. Hopefully things will get better soon.

Will another comment cheer you up? I always feel like crap this time of year!!

I can understand the feeling. I hate all that stuff too. I think that the pretty houses, not too filled with stuff, cheer me up, as do the smiles on the childrens' faces - even without gifts. When they see something lit up, or the gifts under the tree, or anything like that - OMG, I just get all cheerful! The thing that bothers me at this time of year is that all you see is Christmas, how about other religions have other holidays at this time of year - Chanukah, Kwaanza - let's see what others do to decorate for their holidays. We are a big world. Lots of different religions and holidays. Let's hear Chanukah music (I know Chanukah is over but I could celebrate it all year long) at some point in the month.

Cheer up, it is almost over! lol

I always feel better when I am making cookies. We made several batches last night. Now I hope someone will stop by to eat them.