Showing posts with label depression. Show all posts
Showing posts with label depression. Show all posts

Friday, December 2, 2016

Friday thoughts...

In response to a recent comment
I wrote this from the heart
and thought it might be a focus for Friday
as we approach the festive season...
which for many,
can be fraught with emotion.


Gate of Harmonious Interest in Victoria's Chinatown

"it is sad to think that people want to inflict their gloom on others who embrace the good things in life and seek out beauty and prefer to be joyful. We all experience dark days and there are many who suffer from depression and chronic pain which I can understand as I have been there and have come out of the bouts with an invigorated and focused approach to embrace the little things in life that make me happy. My wish is that we work at finding solutions and tools that make our way through life a richer and more rewarding journey."


Juan de Fuca Strait
as viewed from King George Terrace
"after the storm"


The skies reminded me of a Tony Onley watercolour.


I love looking at the holiday lights as they transport me back to my childhood.
Mother and Father would let us stay up late, 
bundle us up in our pajamas and robes 
drive us around town looking at many of the homes with the twinkling lights.
Some had lawn ornaments and several had mechanized reindeer with Santa guiding the sleigh.


Our family fell into what we might consider as the middle class.
We had a home in a nice neighbourhood but we did not have a lot of money.
Gifts at Christmas were often second hand...

Mother was an excellent seamstress and she made our velvet Xmas dresses.
She sewed one for herself and with the leftover fabric she made my sister and I matching dresses.
Our pictures every year show 3 of us in matching coloured velvet frocks!

Father was very handy and he could fix things.
I remember getting a pink radio!
It was a vintage (even by1960's standard) radio that he refurbished and painted pink just for me...
I'd say that was a labour of love.

One year I got a bike...
a Raleigh, that he completely rebuilt with new tires and a fresh coat of paint.

We also got things that we "needed" like socks and underwear.
Books and a couple of small toys.

My Father was in the Fraternal Order of the Elks and they had a Christmas Party for the families every Christmas and that is where we got a super duper gift!
I remember getting a Barbie, a Midge and Skipper dolls.
The gifts were a real treat.

My Father grew up during the Depression and I think it had a huge impact on how he viewed money.
He scrimped and saved to put money away in the bank.
His family struggled to put food on the table and I heard a story once that they sold their claw foot tub in order to pay for something!
Can you imagine?


My thoughts are rather discombobulated 
but what I am trying to say is that life is a tapestry of events 
sewn together rather haphazardly
what we choose to do with these events 
has a huge impact on who we are
how we are seen by others
and what we bring to the table.

Life has struggles and challenges
and
after all is said and done...

We all have choices...
we can wallow
feel sorry for ourselves
OR
take action
work hard to change things
adopt the attitude of gratitude

 I choose gratitude and when I do,
 happiness follows...


If you know of someone who could use a little cheer today
please take it upon yourself to lend a hand.

Carol Woodard the slow cooker cookbook is yours!
please email me your address at bungalowhostess@gmail.com


~ Be Well and Be Kind ~