Sadness...

You are probably the reason why you are sad. I'm not talking about mourning a death or a romantic break-up, but a general sadness. It may come from your past or a concern about your future. Sadness can come from something said to you as a child or something that someone did to you. It is your choice to stay sad and isolated. I understand clinical depression, but some of it may be self-driven and the more misery you indulge in the more miserable you feel.

You sail your own ship. Prozac, Valium and booze mask only the symptoms. If you are angry, figure out why. If you are lonely and bored - shame on you. There is an entire world of people, learning, exploring, and (yes) even falling on your face trying to do something new. Don't be one of those people who gets to seventy-five years old and wonders why they didn't play in a band, or plant a vegetable garden, or paint a picture, or take a class, or volunteer for a cause.

Oops, your life just passed and you forgot to do anything at all.

Many people are depressed because they have made their entire lives about dwelling on themselves and their negativity. They can't figure out why they are down all the time and yet they sit and watch mindless TV while talking about their neighbors and contemplating why life sucks so badly. If you haven't found the creativity or the joy... just listen to the giggle of a child. If you don't have one, go play with someone else's.

Life is about choices. If you insist on waking up every morning and being cranky with everyone around you.... know that it is driven by YOU. Let go of the past because the past isn't driving your damn bus now. YOU are. Quit worrying about the future because the future may never happen - you may die of a heart attack in one hour and fifteen minutes from now.

Think VERY carefully: how do you want to be remembered in this life of yours? Are you bringing joy and kindness to people or bringing them down? Do you make everyone feel sorry for you? Are you that needy for attention? Ask yourself why? You have the choice to THRIVE or to NOSEDIVE.

Thriving takes practice. It takes making a complete and utter fool of yourself to try something new. "No pain, no gain" is putting it mildly if you want to thrive in your life. CSI and Jersey Housewives on TV will not build your confidence or strengthen you mentally. It will not stimulate your brain and make you think.

Me? if I am not looking up at least three new words daily in my dictionary, I have had a bad day.

If nothing else, try the gym over Prozac... the endorphins will heal your depression and give you a purpose towards a goal. The other alternative to happiness is MUSIC. Listen to all types of music daily and (better yet) learn to play an instrument yourself.

(I am tired of excuses that you aren't coordinated... what a bunch of horse shit.) You learned to drive a car didn't you? Take guitar, flute, piano or violin lessons. Music enriches your soul and makes you a whole person.

Without it, you are missing one of the great healers.

Um Ba Ba be... Eh Day Da... Da Day De... Ee Da De Da de Da De Da Mmmmmmmmmm

S.W. Feldman, Tai Chi master (2013)