What picks you back up?

[Mia14]

When things get hard, what makes you smile?
When you're having a bad day, what little things make it a little bit nicer?
What tricks do you have for beating stress or the blues?
What picks you up and makes you feel better?

Activities, people, places, things, foods, etc?

[PostGenXtian]

Cinnabon...mmm....there is NOTHING like a gooey, warm, sugary pastry to lift my spirits. I've driven about 45 minutes out of my way to get one, and to get some for a friend. Hot chocolate too...

[Rick336]

Q: When things get hard, what makes you smile?

A: "Family Guy"


Q: When you're having a bad day, what little things make it a little bit nicer?

A: Driving up to Pilot Mountain in my truck and watching the sun set.


Q: What tricks do you have for beating stress or the blues?

A: Sitting on my front porch and talking to the neighbors.



Q: What picks you up and makes you feel better?

A: Beer.

[Zerbie]

Smile:
bunnies. cuddle plush rabbits. They are too cute.

bad day: ride it out, let time pass. Sometimes, the gym - if I'm feeling small, I might hit the weight room - moving ANYthing helps me feel like I can get a grip again.

stress or blues: for stress, yoga and prayer. for blues, cuddling with hubby and talking over with him the things that make me sad. then put on a silly movie at home and curl up on the sofa. Or even simply, Zzzzzzzzz.

feel better: all of the above. Plus coming on here and chatting with y'all. singing and dancing. And I confess, tonight. . .pizza.

[nowvoyager]

Smile - my cat dashing madly around the house chasing nothing, like a loon. (With a nod to Rick for the Family Guy thing, Stewie cracks me up..)

Bad day - a nice long walk along the river, with some fresh air

Stess/ the Blues - ring up one of my funny friends to make me laugh, or watch a funny movie like Zerbie... Best In Show, Napoleon Dynamite, Stage Door.

Feel Better - the above, or cuddles with my darling. Or there's always chocolate. And time heals all..

PS Fun topic, Mia14

[Vanessa White]

Whether it is needing to smile, lift my spirits, beat the blues, stop focusing on the ills, whatever..... these are some cures or relief from them for me:


Driving in my car, blasting the music;
a good, hard cry;
a long, soaking hot bath;
playing a board game with my daughter;
walking on my property;
a funny movie or tv show;
writing in my journal;
praying;
lighting a candle;
dancing in my kitchen (I have been doing a lot of that lately, and what a great release it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Fantasizing about my future- what it looks like;
and a lot of LETTING GO AND LETTING GOD.

Peace be with you Mia, and thanks for the thread! Vanessa

[Daniel]

Getting out!
A Walk in the Park.
Seeing or Hearing Beautiful Art.
Remembering and Feeling all the Love.
Watching the Way Mr. Husband Walks Down the Street.

[BruceChris]

When I was younger, O.K., a LOT younger, I had a bumpersticker made up for my already ancient Dodge Dart. It said, "The meaning of life is Sex, Motorcycles, and CHOCOLATE!" Well, O.K., there's always Chocolate.

Jogging, and hitting the stairclimber, to blow the cobwebs outta my brain.

And going online, and reading what some of you folks have to say, and posting now and then. Riding my beloved bicycle in almost any kind of weather. Meeting friends at church. Finding Neet things online, and passing them on to friends on and off line. Going online, in search of Wisdom, and Sanity. It's out there, if you look for it.

Peace and Love, BruceChris

[tdogg]

When things get hard, what makes you smile? A little bird fluttering by, thoughts of my sweetie, another smile, knowing how wonderful my home is

When you're having a bad day, what little things make it a little bit nicer? Coming home to my partner and my pets, realizing how fortunate I am to have a home, family, friends, a job, etc., ice cream!

What tricks do you have for beating stress or the blues? It generally doesn't last too long so i just understand that's how I'm going to feel for a short bit and not let it bother me too much and not try to analyize it too much - works pretty well and I'm back on track very soon

What picks you up and makes you feel better? All of the above, esp ICE CREAM! a hug from my sweetie, a massage from Midtown Massage (those girls have great hands and can knead the stress out of anyone!) Also, passing out compliments is a huge pick me up

Riding my horse (which I haven't done on this new one yet) is always a stress buster - just me, the horse, the birds, nature and God going for a ride together. It's like I'm in my own world and all the worries and stresses are non-existent for that time. Birdwatching does the same thing

[suzer1013]

My partner's a very good listener, and she can often give me a "pick me up" just by hearing me and letting me know she understands. Besides that, my favorite pick me ups are:

Music -- all different kinds, from traditional church music to country to oldies to show tunes

My cats -- I could watch them play, sleep, wrestle, hide in boxes, etc. all day

Exercise -- it's a toughie, but when I actually get out and do it, I feel better

Nature -- everything about it amazes me, and calms me -- the ocean especially (too bad I don't live closer to it!), mountains, the vastness of the sky

Finally, chocolate does this girl wonders!

Susan

[revtj]

Have you ever seen the tv commercial where the narrator asks a str8 couple what keeps their marriage together and the wife says, "antidepressants," and the husband says, "internet porn"? That was the first thing I thought of when I saw this thread...

Which leads to my first answer: Humor!

Followed by Beautiful music, authentic friends, prayer (I often think of this late, but better than not at all!) and then there's my work. I will pour myself into that to give myself time to reframe and re-approach a problem.

[MadHagger]

No matter how bad I'm feeling, this video never fails to bring a smile to my face. (Don't worry, it's completely work safe )

[Mia14]

When I get down, I turn to:
- bubble baths
- my many pets (clean a cage and I'll forget what I was worried about)
- music on my computer
- SoulForce!! (the original Soul Patrol!)
- reading (where I can get away from my life for a while and it doesn't seem so bad when I get back)
- work (where I'm too busy to think about myself)
- food! chocolate, candy, icecream, making food or learning new ones for my lady
- making new things (painting, photography, drawing, building, etc.)

[RyGuy23]

Things that make me happy (whether I'm down or not) include:
-My pets Kirby and Fat Cat
-A nice cup of coffee
-Watching a pretty sunset
-Reminding myself that I'm a good person and that God loves me

One of my oldest strategies for dealing with a down day is writing in my journal. I've always felt relieved when I write down things that are buzzing around in my head, because I can then let them go. I've also been able to work things out that way, much like you might talk to someone else and figure things out through conversation.

[pnggrad79]

Hmm, nothing makes me feel better quicker than a text message from my wonderful wife that she loves me and thinks I am wonderful. When I feel blue or in a funky mood, I turn on some music, usually upbeat and it gets me to singing and dancing and that always makes me feel better.

[Jennifer5]

When things get hard, what makes you smile? strangers... older people the most though, when you see them smile just for no reason at all, it's hard not to smile back... it touches you and makes you feel so warm

When you're having a bad day, what little things make it a little bit nicer? usually when I'm having a bad day it's really stress or sleep related so to really let down at all I usually come on here... but laying down for awhile does the most.

What tricks do you have for beating stress or the blues? wait for it to pass... just try to forget about it until it leaves.

What picks you up and makes you feel better? people and pets... just over all comfort of any kind

[SolApollo]

Originally Posted by Mia14

When things get hard, what makes you smile?
When you're having a bad day, what little things make it a little bit nicer?
What tricks do you have for beating stress or the blues?
What picks you up and makes you feel better?

Activities, people, places, things, foods, etc?

Singing to contemporary Christian music alone in private, writing poetry / articles, nature hikes, being with friends & family, church support, pets, reading, and, if lucky, seeing a cute hunk (*wink* LOL).