Does Anyone Else Feel Especially Sad Lately?

I suppose that we can all find some beauty to divert our emotions away from the dark side. I watch the sunset every evening and the beauty of it is very uplifting. Coffee in the morning with my wife and the two Bichons is beautiful and makes me feel good. The moon is there to enjoy when the dogs make their final potty call before bedtime. Talking on the phone with family members and friends helps me stay balanced. Exercising daily and minimizing exposure to the news is extremely important.

Oh yes, indulging in my favorite ice cream plays a role too.

What are your little tricks for staying upbeat?
 

Sometimes maintaining balance in one's life is difficult. Everywhere we look on the news there are people putting others down because of the color of their skin, or because they don't believe the same things or.... Hatred has popped out of the woodwork. Those who hate are really very immature. Hatred takes too much energy, which is for naught. Immaturity is rampant right now, and a lot of innocent people are suffering because of it. Last night on the local news the warming centers were talking about how they now can't bring as many people inside as they could before because the virus is out of control. The most depressing thing to me is that I thought as a country we had made more progress since the demonstrations at the time of the Vietnam War. Yes, Pecos, we have to find ways to pull ourselves out of this, and one of them we can't talk about on this site.
 
I've read all the comments above and for someone to come along all bubbly and happy would only irritate all you wonderful people. I want to speak plain and straight.

The entire atmosphere of the world is filled with thoughts of this sadness with which you are responding.
You are only a value judgement from changing your quality of thought. This is a choice of your mind.
The mind can't hold a happy thought and a sad thought at the same moment. Why would you choose to feel sad when you can feel happiness?
You can establish your own happiness. You have the power to SHIFT your thinking. Please don't give up today's happiness to embrace misery.

Be thankful for what you have right now. You might be feeling the tenderness of your soul. This tenderness also holds tremendous love, tremendous sadness, and the softest joy. To experience this is a wonderful growth of the soul. Allow yourself to feel this but then as you return to activity and the thinking level of the mind, create a light, happy attitude to attract joy into your life. Gently,take care of your body, your mind and your surroundings. You can value every moment and love everything that happens in your life! We can all get through this!
 

This year has been a complete waste as far as I am concerned. I hope this Corvid-19 thing is not going to go on for another couple of years. For the millannials & other young people it might not matter but for people my age, hack, we might not live to see the end. I read books & I walk outside daily to keep my sanity. However, I better cut down time on the www because most things are so negative. You can really get depressed reading the news. Good thing I cancelled our local newspaper. Good thing I cut the cable about 17 years ago. There is nothing positive in the news. The learned "TOP DOCTORS" are forever shouting at us to stay inside & have some sort of stupid virtual wedding, virtual funerals & even virtual sex. Hmmmmmmmm! That is really something! The pro-masks have been shouting all summer for everyone to wear masks all the time. Where I live the bars are opened because when the government tried to close them down, the very powerful hotel lobby group screamed "Blue Murder" and the law was reversed. Instead they are putting more pressure on the schools where there are almost no new cases. No coffee time, no Happy Hour, no social gatherings period! Nada! Go figure. No wonder everyone here is super depressed. Myself, I keep away from people. They all look like zombies to me & when they mumble through their masks I don't understand what they are saying. Maybe it's my age! Best for me to stay home & catch up with all those wonderful old Gunsmoke & Rifleman shows. LOL
 
I'm afraid that things will only get worse for most people. Not only do we have Corvid-19 but we have the usual shorter days, lack of sunshine, cold weather coming around; especially where I live in Canada. General, in normal times, many would "escape" south to Florida, Texas or Arizona or even Mexico. I certainly did when I was younger. I can still remember those wonderful Happy Hours and dances at Long Island Village in Port Isabel, Texas. Now, it's not so easy. Also, at the beginning of winter we always get the flu season. I really wonder how Christmas will be this year? So many people have lost their jobs & businesses. I bet they wouldn't be going to do any shopping sprees! Santa's "Ho, Ho, Ho" will sound pretty hollow when you have lost your job & can't buy groceries, pay the rent or the mortgage.
 
Packerjohn said:
I'm afraid that things will only get worse for most people. Not only do we have Corvid-19 but we have the usual shorter days, lack of sunshine, cold weather coming around; especially where I live in Canada. General, in normal times, many would "escape" south to Florida, Texas or Arizona or even Mexico. I certainly did when I was younger. I can still remember those wonderful Happy Hours and dances at Long Island Village in Port Isabel, Texas. Now, it's not so easy. Also, at the beginning of winter we always get the flu season. I really wonder how Christmas will be this year? So many people have lost their jobs & businesses. I bet they wouldn't be going to do any shopping sprees! Santa's "Ho, Ho, Ho" will sound pretty hollow when you have lost your job & can't buy groceries, pay the rent or the mortgage.
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Packer, in more normal times I'd say "Come on down to Texas and see us"...lol. Our short winters are much more friendly, one of the reasons we love it so. We got to have patience, the most beautiful of all virtues and certainly the most least understood.
 
I am sorry so many people are feeling so sad. It is not that I am happy all day long every day, but I am the happiest now than I have ever been in my whole life. I just wish it didn't take so long to happen. I have some serious issues, with others, including my son and my pet and I have financial worries too..........so my life is not really carefree. But the moments of my day are pretty much happy. The days of crying myself to sleep are over.
 
This is one of my favorite poems for when I am very sad.

Happiness
by Priscilla Leonard

Happiness is like a Crystal,
Fair and exquisite and clear,
Broken in a million pieces,
Shattered, scattered far and near,
Now and then along life’s pathway,
Lo! Some shinning fragments fall;
But there are so many pieces
No one ever finds them all.

You May find a bit of beauty,
Or an honest share of wealth,
While another just beside you
Gathers honor, love or health.
Vain to choose or grasp unduly,
Broken is the perfect ball;
And there are so many pieces
No one ever finds them all.

Yet the wise as on they journey
Treasure every fragment dear
Fit them as they may together,
Imaging the shattered sphere,
Learning ever to be thankful,
Through their share of it is small;
For it has so many pieces
No one ever finds them all.
 
@
Ruthanne said:
I've been trying to fight it off but it's apparent that I am feeling sad in so many ways. So many things happening and it's just hard. I feel it must be the same for many
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I just realized I responded to a comment on this thread but it wasn't relevant to the OP, nor did it speak to her situation specifically.

@Ruthanne, I'm sorry you're sad. :( Were there some specific things that happened to bring you down? Or is it more the generalized depression/anxiousness/concerns that most of us are feeling over Covid?

There IS a difference between sadness, and depression. You say you're sad, but could you be experiencing depression instead? I don't mean to be invasive with the questions, but because these two things are different, they're dealt with differently and if you try and solve the one, but it's actually the other, you'll get no result.

Regardless, I hope you can find ways to lift your mood. There are solutions and coping mechanisms to be had, no matter what the genesis of your feelings. As others have mentioned, this year has been the year from HELL and you're not alone in feeling down. 🧡
 
@Ruthanne. I try to grow plants and/or herbs indoors. The reason I am writing this in response to your post is that the very nature of growth gives me a positive lift in my mood. Psychologically seeing growth gives hope and future. I have also put a new stand in the garden with hangers for the birds which gives me a lift.
The continuous news about Covid 19 and the reactions/protests against the restrictions in many countries is disheartening, but I feel that anything that has growth, counteracts the negativity we can be continuously exposed to. Not sure if this carries any weight but it's just some thoughts. I hope you find moments away from your sadness however small. 🤗
 
Ruthanne...recently I was thinking about "potholders". Yeah, common potholders, but I'm still using some favorite crocheted ones our aunt Eva made for us 30 years ago! They are perfect for lifting up hot pan lids or slipping things in and out of the oven, even opening jars.

That led me to think how just doing something creative daily can make you happy. I sketch with colored pencils and do it most every day, as well as listening to soothing music while sketching.

Having interests is very important today I think and perhaps taking up
a new hobby would help lift your spirits. It changes negativea into big positives and after all these years, I still think of aunt Eva when grabbing that hot bread out of the oven.

il_570xN.430012032_41wh.jpg

Sketching:

100_7515.jpeg
 
To answer Ruthanne's question, I rarely feel sad but am frequently anxious these days. Between the pandemic itself, the social, political and economic problems it's causing, and the politically divisive atmosphere in the US, staving off anxiety is nearly impossible.

As the election draws closer I've taken to reading lightweight fiction, watching rom-coms and similarly lighter fare movies, and reading rather than watching the news (it aggravates me less).
 
Aneeda72 said:
This is one of my favorite poems for when I am very sad.

Happiness
by Priscilla Leonard

Happiness is like a Crystal,
Fair and exquisite and clear,
Broken in a million pieces,
Shattered, scattered far and near,
Now and then along life’s pathway,
Lo! Some shinning fragments fall;
But there are so many pieces
No one ever finds them all.

You May find a bit of beauty,
Or an honest share of wealth,
While another just beside you
Gathers honor, love or health.
Vain to choose or grasp unduly,
Broken is the perfect ball;
And there are so many pieces
No one ever finds them all.

Yet the wise as on they journey
Treasure every fragment dear
Fit them as they may together,
Imaging the shattered sphere,
Learning ever to be thankful,
Through their share of it is small;
For it has so many pieces
No one ever finds them all.
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I've never read this before. So charming and very true. Thanks for posting it. ♥
 
Ruthanne said:
I've been trying to fight it off but it's apparent that I am feeling sad in so many ways. So many things happening and it's just hard. I feel it must be the same for many
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Yes. I feel this, too. I think it is so many things. Social isolation, not being able to do your normal activities, the divisiveness of our country here in the US, hate mongering, racism, misogyny, misinformation and the loss of societal civility. I feel sad for all of this and a kind of helplessness.
 
PatientGrandson said:
Lots of the Internet is optimized for making you upset. Whether it's outrage, sadness, despair... Some of our most negative emotions are the ones most effective at keeping us clicking around.

It's often a good idea to take a break and stick to the classics like reading a book, taking a walk, calling a friend - anything other than looking at a screen (even a TV).
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I couldn't agree more AND take a break from all news media. It makes me happier.
 
Camper6 said:
I haven't seen it yet in my neck of the woods.

I checked with bar tenders and ask them what is the most popular liquor they serve.

Vodka. Why? It doesn't smell on the breath or so they claim.
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Beg to differ...yes, it does.
 

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