what makes you feel better?

I just thought it might be interesting to start a thread where people can offer up suggestions of things that have worked for them to help them feel better when they are having a bad day.  And I mean concrete examples:

I'll put up the first one:

Setting up a bulletin board or whatever works for the size of area you have to work with and put photos and words that make you feel good on it, that way whenever you are having a bad day or moment, at work or at home, you can look up at the board and get re-focussed, re-energized because it's like a beacon of positiveness in a moment of darkness.  It worked for me before when I had more space here at the office, but all my stuff has been scattered, and I haven't had the time or energy to put it back together.  But it did help when I had it. 

By doing this, it might help someone who's looking for some ideas to help uplift them from where they are.

Just an idea.

slowlygoingcrazy

To feel better count your blessings, not your sorrows. See the glass as half full, not half empty. If you have your health go visit someone or read about the many that are really ill. If you have a roof over your head the think about those that do not. If you have food, read about those in the world that do not. If you have your limbs then look at those who do not. If your kidneys are in good working order there are thousands on dialysis who would love to trade places with you. If life gives you lemons then make lemonade and party. If you don't like the situation you are in do everything within your power to change it then let it go. If you don't like the people in your life then leave them. If that person is you, then change yourself. Don't forget to love and forgive and care for yourself. Don't ever forget that life is very short and any days wasted being misserable are days lost forever. Missery is a choice.....believe it or not. It is. We can choose to be happy by changing how we look at things. We choose to be happy and we choose to be sad. We have to fight depression by refussing to wallow in self pitty, and by refusing to believe that everyone else has it easier. Many think that depression is really anger turned inward. Keeping a positive outlook is work but well worth the effort. Lesley

Being able to work again.  Nothing major....3 to 5 hrs daily at a school's office.  Seeing the children play, focusing on their energy, listening to their laughing and having "fantastic" co-workers....has helped me tremendously.  And going shopping by myself or with someone, or shopping on the internet (small things, again, nothing major).  And the most important for me ....playing with my three dogs.

All of the things mentioned above (especially seeing my kids doing well) have made me "feel beter", but I wasn't after just feeling better I was after permanently being better. The thing that did that for me was to truely identify my fears and issues, being brutally honest with myself about them and then taking them one by one and working them out. I was as honest with myself about how to fix them as I was about what they are and it has been like a breath of fresh air.

Listening to a favorite song, taking the time to watch the sun rise or set , drinking a glass of fine wine, calling a good friend or family member who always makes me laugh, lighting candles, taking a bubble bath, going for a brisk walk, eating chocolate, accomplishing one small task around the house, sitting down and hand-writing a letter to an old friend, curling up with a good book, or writing down a list of at least 10 things I did well that day.   

Being totally honest with what has got to me that day.  I'm lucky that I have a husband that is so completely supportive and in tune with me.  He doesn't always know how to help but he makes me genuinely laugh, he makes me look at what I can control and what I can't, he makes me see that not everything is of 'life and death' status and is a great shoulder when the 'it makes no sense' tears start to flow.  Sadly I don't believe in God, but I do feel truly blessed to have him and just thinking of that can help lift my day when it is all going wrong.  We have been together for 13 years and married for 6 - and I still get those elated feelings like we just met, not every day, but it is there.

He is the 'sense' in my crazy little world and that keeps me going because I would do anything for him.  I suppose it is like that for people that have kids - you have a bond that you will fight to the death to protect.

Wizzer