Please help me find a reason to be happy.

[Nikepallas]

My motto is quickly becoming life sucks then you die and it sucks then too. I am sitting here trying to get happy about the holidays but I can't. I often believe the holiday season does bring one hope and encouragement for the new year. But not for me.

Not only with everything BUSHCO is putting people through but my personal life as well. After being unemployed for a few months I am still struggling. We can't seem to get ahead because all the companies I explained the situation too and asked for some types of arrangements told me oh, well, life is bad either get one or more jobs or else they will ____(fill in the blank anything from Shut off to take back.) My only saving grace from this mess has been my landlady who says give me whenever you can.

My sister is pregnant and I'm very happy but we live too far apart to see her and I was told by someone who I thought was a friend that I am too excited. That it's my sister's baby not mine. I know I will not be able to have a child unless I use fertility drugs which my insurance will not cover and between my husband and I probably will not be able to afford until may 2 years from now. I know it will be my sister's child but don't I have the right to be happy for her?

Earlier this morning I tried my hand at being funny and did a tongue 'n cheek 700 club. But I think it was over the top. Felt guilty about doing it and just in general am losing my sense of humor.

I'm not asking for any money or pity but please remind me of something good so that I can have some hope this holiday season.

[Cuban_Liberal]

1. Is your health good?

Do you have family who loves you, and friends who do the same? You're having a rough stretch, but if you REALLY think about it, you have lots of reasons to be happy.

:hug:

[Debi]

2. Cotton Candy

That's a happy thought.

Or going sledding and gettng so cold that when you come inside to drink your hot coca your hands are numb and holding the mug hurts.

Making snow angels.

Bubble baths.

M & M's

[flamingyouth]

3. Why shouldn't you be excited about your sister having a baby?

The person who told you that was being pretty insensitive. But I know how you feel, when you're feeling down, every little slight like that hurts.

This time of year is very hard.

I think you should be very excited about your coming niece or nephew - that is definitely something good. :hug:

[raggedcompany]

4. lot's of things are good.

for example, Zlad is good.

It's also good that death is certain, because life ain't good enough to do forever. We give it the best damn shot, and then we get to stop. Prepare for down count!!

Merry Christmas!

[orpupilofnature57]

5. GEORGE BUSH CAN NEVER RUN AGAIN, U2'S new album is great1

[OldLeftieLawyer]

6. The holiday season will end

That should be a real pick-me-up, since this is the time of year when healthy, sane people get depressed.

Take some heart in the fact that you're not alone in that. This artificial, contrived, omnipresent, materialistic, preternaturally cheery Christmas season is nothing but marketing. Some people have caught on, and they're the sane ones, I think.

Be very happy about the arriving niece or nephew. That's an enormous piece of good news, and I'm happy for you and your sister. Whoever said that to you, about being "too excited," deserves a sharp stick in the eye. Don't worry right now about your having a child - besides, there are a lot of babies out there who need homes, and what greater gift could you give a child than the miracle of your love? There's no magic in giving birth, believe me.

Forget feeling guilty forever. About anything. Life's too short.

Look, it's all a twinkle in someone's eye, so we might as well make the best of it. I wish I could offer you some hope on your financial front, but that seems to be something that a lot of people have to struggle with right now. Sounds like you've got a great landlady, by the way.

Instead of measuring what you don't have, why not check out what you do have?

Oh, and there's no way to parody the 700 Club. It's already a parody.

Now, the very best news is that we're still here. Celebrate the moment.

<smoooooooooooooooch>

[brainshrub]

7. Here you go:

And for my fellow heterosexual males:



I know I feel warm and happy inside. :evilgrin:

[NC_Nurse]

8. Sometimes it seems like everything sucks...

but remember that great saying "the only certain thing in life is change" or something like that...(I can never get sayings right)...

Lately I have plenty of reasons to give up to...but I say FUCK THAT! Things will change. I alos try to remind myself of how lucky I am, like other people have mentioned.
Every day I meet people with cancer and other terrible diseases who have lost everything. I am one lucky woman next to that! ...no matter what rough spot I hit.
I say you should REVEL in your sister's baby. I would have loved that when I was having mine, a supportive interested sibling. Nothing wrong with that!



:hug:

[achtung_circus]

9. Kittens and puppies,

Say no more.

[achtung_circus]

10. Schmaltzy, but

SUNSHINE LOLLIPOPS AND RAINBOWS

Sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows
Everything that's wonderful is what I feel when we're together
Brighter than a lucky penny
When you're near the rain goes, disappears, and I feel fine
Just to know that you are mine

My life is sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows
That's how this refrain goes
So come on and join in, everybody
Sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows
Everything that's wonderful is sure to come your way
When you're in love to stay

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

11. You have friends

that landlady sounds like a good person. And you have friends. And sometimes just when things seem the bleakest, something happens that turns out to be wonderful. I know from personal experience.

[Systematic Chaos]

12. About all I can do...

is commisserate. Just consider yourself lucky that you have a loving partner. That's all I have right now and without my wife I don't think I'd have the strength to cope.

Be absolutely ecstatic that your sister is having a baby, and anybody who criticizes you for that must not be the friend you thought they were. Better to find that out now than later.

Bless you and I wish you the best of luck in finding a new job and getting your bills under control.

[LiberalEsto]

13. I can relate to what you're saying

This has been a tough year financially. I haven't been able to afford stamps to send Christmas cards this year (at least not till payday) and my mood definitely sucks because of the election.

Tonight I opened a card from a dear old friend. Shiny confetti spilled all over the table and I just had to laugh! Here we are in our 50s, known each other since high school, and she can still make me smile, bless her.

And a branch fell off a neighbor's pine tree into our yard, so I salvaged it for holiday greenery to decorate the table.

I am deeply impressed with your ability to be happy for your sister's pregnancy despite your fertility difficulties. When I was going through tests and painful procedures for similar problems I was so depressed I couldn't bear to look at my husband's many nieces and nephews. Luckily a couple of Clomid pills was all it took, and now my older daughter is 21. Acupuncture helped with the second one, now 18. Your turn is coming!

Best wishes!

[Sequoia]

14. Your "friend" and the sister's baby comment

is out of line and wrong, not to mention mean and low. Probably intented to make you feel bad. Some people spend their time thinking up new ways to make others unhappy. I pray things improve for you.

http://oldghostshome.com/holiday.html

[wildeyed]

15. I am not getting happy about the holidays either.

More like just going through the motions. And I don't even have anything all that bad going on (knock wood) in my personal life.

When I was pregnant, nobody could be too happy about it as far as I was concerned. The more people who were ecstatic, the better. The fact that you are joyful about your sister's pregnancy instead of green with envy speaks volumes about who you are as a person. If your sister is bothered, then you have an issue, but why does your friend need to make you feel bad about this?

[sbj405]

16. Nikepallas

:hug:

Things will get better. I promise. There's lots to be happy about. Having a bunch of smart, whacky, progrssive online buddies for one. Soon you'll have a neice or nephew to dote on (I think it's great that you are excited for your sis).

[GoddessOfGuinness]

17. When my stepson's baby died from SIDS, I learned

that no matter how bad things seem, you can always find someone who's worse off in some way or another. My daughter-in-law said to me, "I'm grateful that I didn't have to watch him suffer, as parents of children with cancer do."

At the same time, a parent of a terminally ill child might think, "At least we knew her for a few years." With all things there is a silver lining to be found.

I don't know if I can give you hope, but I can offer these thoughts:

1) Volunteer whatever small piece of time you might have to visit a lonely person in a nursing home, talk with a homeless person and give them a piece of fruit, or go caroling with friends in the local hospital. Maybe you'll find hope easier if you offer it to others first.

2) You breathe and you are alive...This is a wonderful gift! Inhale, and feel your lungs fill with all the misery you're feeling. Exhale, and sense that all the wonderful things you wish for the world are flowing outward with your breath. Maybe this sounds a little kooky; but it might help if you imagine your soul acting as a filter for the despair you now feel.

3) Accept your discouragement as a gift. Every time we suffer, our capacity for compassion grows. How much better the world is for your compassion!

4) :hug::hug::hug::hug::hug:

[Nikia]

18. Things will get better

You will get a job. You will make it through your financial problem. You will be a proud aunt. You will have better days where people are nicer to you and laugh at your jokes. There is always hope.

[Nikepallas]

19. Thank you SOOOO much everyone! I do feel better. Thank you