The positive thread

[Droopy]

Tell us about something good that you have done lately. It could be something you've done for yourself or someone else. Just say something positive.

I gave money to a homeless man the other day.

I helped an unemployed friend out with some cash to keep the lights on at his house.

I have abstained from alcohol since the beginning of the New Year.

I just signed a deal to sell my house which is going to help me out in a big way financially speaking.

I made my 4 year old niece laugh when she wasn't feeling well.

I got a new job and it's the best job that I've ever had.

I made a good impression on the people at my new job with my ability to learn the job quickly.

I bought a cool gift for my mom for her birthday.

Okay, your turn. Let's hear it.

[Droopy]

1. Christ

This thread has been up for 60 hours. It has 17 views and 0 replies. Don't you all have something good to say about yourselves? One thing that always helped me out when I was suffering was reflecting on something positive that I had done. It helped keep the idea alive that maybe I wasn't really a bad person. The first things that go when you become seriously mentally ill is your confidence and self esteem. Post here and tell us why you are a good person.

[EFerrari]

6. Thanks for the nudge, Droopy. Really. Thank you.

:loveya:

[mopinko]

2. i'll tell you something about my daughter.

she loves to read. she had a hard time learning to read, (bad eyes) but once she got started, she read voraciously. she had a really hard time believing that she was smart. till she found out that most people do not spend half their waking hours with their noses in books. her social worker in high school used to give her books to augment her therapy. (i'm glad she got past reading true crime. it's fine, but she took it a little too seriously for a while.)
she is hilariously funny.
she has a job at a doggy day care. she loves it.
she is very tight with her little sister.
she is a pretty good cook.

[Droopy]

8. Excellent!

Your daughter sounds like a great person. You must be very proud of her. :)

[mopinko]

12. so proud, and so happy for her.

even though i know that life will not be easy for her, she has made so much progress that i have real hope for her. she is having a great time in college.
and i am happy that we are able to be there for her.

[mrgorth]

3. Just saw it

As poor as I am I continue to buy recycled TP and organic foods because I think it's the right thing to do.

[Droopy]

9. Marvelous!

It would be a much better world if everybody shared those values.

[hunter]

4. I recently changed my meds and hit the mark, first try.

How lucky is that?

My marriage is solid, and my kids are doing well in school.

Pretty good for a crazy guy, eh?

[Droopy]

10. Hey, that's pretty good for anybody.

The good marriage and the great kids are what most people want, but don't always have- it doesn't matter that you have to take meds in that regard as long as you are getting what you need. And you are very lucky indeed to get the right medication. It took me a couple of tries, but I eventually got it right, and believe me, I'm never going back to the way I used to be.

[hunter]

14. No, I'm never going back...

That is actually one of my great anxieties. I'm not joking when I say I've told my family to hunt me down in the desert, shoot a tranquilizer dart into my butt, and drag me off to treatment if I ever go back to the way I used to be. It scares me that I don't always recognize it in myself, so I try very hard to build up relationships when I'm right, for the bad times when I'm wrong.

[EFerrari]

5. Okay. I'm renewing my driver's license for the first time in six years.

I'm painting again after not painting for several years.

My dog is learning English! She knows "treat" "stop" and "I'll be back" and her name.

I'm going to the march on 1/27 when I didn't expect to.

I've found a way to stop second guessing the explosion of my family by using thought stopping and by mentally reminding myself of things I can be grateful for.

I've lost all the weight I gained after Andy died and can wear anything in my closet.

My neighbors have been very kind to me and I like walking around in my neighborhood because there is always someone I can say "hi" to and who I care about.

My oldest son is coming over tonight to plot what we will do in D.C. together. We haven't been this close since he was 8.

:)

[Droopy]

11. Awesome!

It sounds like you've got a lot of good energy working for you. I think you and I are both blessed especially with the family ties. I don't know where I'd be right now if it weren't for my family and friends.

[EFerrari]

13. Me, either. My family has always been at the center of my life.

They have always been there for me in some way. :)

[Random_Australian]

26. ...

:applause:

[EFerrari]

7. Kick. Give it up, DUers.

[undergroundpanther]

15. got a few to add

Set up the xmas tree, lights and made 5 batches of homemade kick ass cookies to enhance everyones holidays.

I helped out my roommate , giving him some of my food I got from a donation place because his check was late.

Cooked dinner alot for mom and roommate.

Kept my cool half the time with moms dog.

Painted a really nice canvas for my sisters gift.

Got/made gifts for everyone on my list and didn't kill my budget and what I gave wasn't cheesy either.

Kept the house clean.

even gave a bag of coffee to my ex.


Entertained my kitties with the laser pointer and tons of cuddles so they wouldn't be bored stiff in my room avoiding moms dog.

Took my mom on the bus to redeem her Macy's gift card and was her clothes gopher.(harder work than you'd expect as mom is particular about her clothes.)

Gave my mom a thank you note for helping me get my male chest reconstruction, done and got her a sketchbook pencils etc. too.

Got a pizza for everyone the night before mom left with the last of my spare xmas cash.

remembered to turn off the outdoor garden spigot before this cold weather hit.

bought mom's dog another brand of dog food when he didn't eat what she had for him for awhile.

Went out and got mom her cigarettes a few times.I had to walk 15 minutes one way to do it but what the hey!

Got mom some ice cream too.

Put away the xmas tree, decorations lights ect.myself.Mom didn't have to sweat it. Just spot me going up and down the attic ladder.

remained cheerful even when my back was killing me most the time.

[Droopy]

16. Fantastic!

It sounds like you've been busy. The fact that you can see all the good stuff is a good sign. I think a lot of people do positive things without even thinking about it. I think it's very important to remember that stuff. Helps the self esteem and confidence.

[EFerrari]

17. I got on a plane, twice, and the stewards didn't have to lock me up

in the restroom. I was pretty much okay after take off and believe me, there have been many, many long white knuckle flights in the past.

Also, on Saturday night in D.C., I went looking around the hotel for company, something I have no practice at all doing. It felt really odd, like finding your foot or something. But, I found two DUers! That's was so cool.

:)

:grouphug:

[Pharaoh]

18. I got to meet........

sfexpat2000 in Washington DC, and found out she is a very attractive woman ! :hi:

I was able to retire in October (41/2 years early) due to depression. See depression can have it's positive points :party:

I am working on dissolving my ego by reading Ekhart Tolles "A new Earth" for a third time(this is a difficult task!)

I am doing volunteer work at "creating a peaceful world" where intention is used to create more love and peace in the world O8)

I hope to travel somewhere warm next month!!!

[EFerrari]

19. After D.C., WARM sounds really good!

:hi:

[EFerrari]

20. (Slightly OT. I love reading this thread. When I get stressed out

or when the depression bites hard, insight seems to dip or even disappear. This thread is a wonderful tonic for those times. :loveya: )

[EFerrari]

21. I think I'm ready to go back to real work. It's been six months

and one week and, I think I'm going back on Tuesday. Also, I'm looking around for an MFCC program because I want the badges but mostly, because I love being in school.

It took six MONTHS! But, March is sure looking and feeling different than August did. Thank God for time and space, my two new favorite features of this universe. :silly:

I also made an arrangement to see a therapist for several sessions as I move through this change and that was a big deal for me because I mostly suck at asking for that kind of help.

[mopinko]

22. mfcc?

congrats on moving forward. :toast: :bounce: :party: :beer:
are you going back to a previous job, or is this a new one?

:hi: :loveya: :grouphug: :grouphug: :hi: :hi: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :loveya:

[EFerrari]

23. I'm going to work in the family business for a while until

a program spot becomes available either at Cal or at State or somewhere 'round here. My mom needs the help and I need to be useful. So, I'll be working as a project manager at the ranch for a while. It's really pretty there in the Spring -- with all those red winged black birds hanging out in the green fields. Plus, the job comes with a clipboard! :silly:

[EFerrari]

24. And I think this is the program I want to be in!

(And I CAN'T WAIT to fill out all those forms! LOL!)

http://www.newcollege.edu/gradpsych/socclemph.cfm

[Random_Australian]

25. Things seem to be happening to me right now, rather than me doing them.

For now. Not for long though.

Anyway, what can I say.

1) After going home about 22 November, I have not been able to visit here until now. I have gone off to uni now - but back home if my parents found me anywhere near a mental health group they would freak out of their minds. But now I can say hallo to all my friends again. :)

2) I'm back at uni. I can still sort of make friends, at least my flatmates and me get on well.

3) I finally did something for me that I wanted to do for ages - after noticing that things going wrong would make me put my hands on my head (like I was trying to keep something in, really), I finally, finally had enough time alone in a quiet spot to finish practicing meditating with my hands in that position, to the point where putting my hands like that makes me calm and empties my brain (I can think of no other words to describe it) almost as a reflex. There's nothing else I've wanted for quite some time now. :) So I was very happy to complete that little project. :)

4) Starting study again. Nothing makes me feel better than the long, slow thoughts accompanying both my normal studies, and my preperations for some of the more difficult arguments I intend to hold here on DU. (More debates than arguments, though. Battle of me vs. intellectuals stuff)

[EFerrari]

27. Hi there, Random_Australian. Good to read you again.

WB :hi: