Any inspiring suggestions for a person who is out of sorts, not feeling too wonderful ....

I can really relate to what you're saying. I've been feeling quite similar myself lately, and just turning a year older the other day didn't lift my spirits... except for those around me here and on A2K sending best wishes.

A lot of this, for me, is stemming from the fact that I'm not able to find any suitable employment, at the moment. As most probably know, I retired back in 2006 from my long term job, and the pension is "okay", but my wife and I are feeling limited by it, and would be more comfortable with some extra income coming in on a regular basis.

I definitely feel that I'm being discriminated against by potential employers due to my age. Nearly all the jobs that I've applied for have been low skill or no skill required. I have passed up some jobs, as they just would not have been suitable.

Also, I'm feeling more "my age" lately with various aches and pains, etc. Next Monday, I go for a CT scan on my head to confirm that I do not have a brain tumour. I'm fairly sure I don't, but the doc wants to rule it out.

I've found going for a quick walk temporarily changes things, plus I also lose myself in an online game that I do everyday.

I come to A2K every day, mostly to just read, and it's nice to see threads like yours that I can personally relate to.

Will continue to follow along and see what others have to say here.

Note that it shows: " Replies: 40 Views: 332 "; a lot of people agree with u.





David

Sure isn't fair that someone as good a person as you Msolga could feel old and jaded, fed up, uninspired. Because none of it is true. You give so much to others. This funk will leave you, I'm sure.

Of all the things here mentioned to be of help, I like "doing something creative." I sit down and write some things about myself that could have brought on these feelings, even saying things like "I feel like killing myself." Yeah, that for sure will make anybody laugh because there are no reasons whatever to kill oneself - so, laugh, but tell it all. When I read over this soul-searching masterpiece sometimes a poem is there, or a story.

I also take oil painting classes. My last teacher is a genius from England (scholarships, art since a child) who paints by demonstration, meaning she paints for her own art shows, pointing out to her students each step taken - planning the colors, mixing the paints, the strokes. She also tells us about her life - amazing woman and the things that have happened to her! We have to mix fast, paint fast. God, how strenuous, when we're done we are totally exhausted, and rejuvenated.

I think these things are all in our minds. This is not you, msolga. You are the most delightful lady! Tell your mind to just stop that.

And, music. I sing some ditty, like, "Hello darkness, my old friend. It's good to talk with you again," (John Denver, I think)

I also like to go to a zoo, or a pet store, as I love animals so much. They smile all the time.

I need to remember, too, that I was never promised a rose garden . . .

Don't have to be happy EVERY day.

Some days are just for coasting.

Early Wednesday morning ....

Thank you so much, everyone, for your thoughtful responses here. Thank you also for your PMs.
I just read all your posts & I will read them again, at a much more leisurely pace, as soon as I'm able to.
Many helpful, positive suggestions to consider. You folk certainly make a lot of sense! Thank you for your empathy, for sharing your personal experiences. I am so glad to be part of this community!

And now, Wednesday. I think it might be do-able.

- Olga

i go for an hour long walk every evening (weather permitting), i listen to a podcast of a radio show i like and quite often laugh out loud on the walk (i wonder what the folks watching think, as most folks with earbuds in are probably listening to music and therefore not grinning like a maniac or laughing loudly

I'm pretty convinced my down times are biochemical, so my only workaround is to reassure myself that the funk won't last for long, it never does. And I've never found anything that works all the time. But I can't see anything wrong with laughter, music, spoiling yourself, pets, physical activity, mental challenges or sex to pass the time until my body chemistry swings the other way.

And if I could I would avoid driving in peak hour traffic. I hate traffic.

I'm also a believer in some exercise - nothing too strenuous - but perhaps different. Try your walk at the beach; visit a park some distance from home.

I've also found something artistic can distract you. I love colour - so I taught myself to paint on silk, nothing fancy - really just playing with colour. I found it quite absorbing at a bad time in my life. I actually got my frames out the other day - may have another go!

I have to say i'm also revived a bit reading about places I may visit, one day - or planning some travel, even if it's unlikely to come off.

So...how's Wednesday afternoon going?

Just now I read through all the posts on this thread, from beginning to end.

Thank you, all.

You know, sometimes you already know yourself the strategies that help, but you kind of lose track of them when you're feeling really low & negative. It has been really good to have been reminded! Plus some good, fresh ideas to explore.

Things can only improve, yes?

to be or not to be

be is the answer

do something

Yes. Action. Movement!

A 6 out of ten. Not bad, hey?

Beats yesterday's 3 any day!

Certainly does!!!


We hope to nudge you higher.

You know, I get what I think are truly hormonal troughs.

One minute I am sailing along, quite happy....maybe stressed a bit and such, but perfectly happy...then, it is as though a heavy house drops on me, and I am miserable, can't cope with the tiniest thing.


Yeccccchhhhh.

Hormones.
Another aspect to factor in.
Get tricky, doesn't it?

Life, the universe and everything.

Yep!

I was kinda thinking that; like, if I 'd been posting before 1992,
almost all of my posts woud have been concerning Anti-communism.
That is now obviated & obsolete. I got what I wanted.
Similarly, I behold the incremental collapse and death of gun control,
as the freedom of the status quo ante moves progressively closer
to re-establishing itself again. When that is complete, then as
with the death of communism, I 'll have one less issue qua which
to post about. Maybe I 'll post about String Theory or M-Theory in 11 dimensions.

R those enuf ?




David

Sometimes another dimension is just a deeper silly interest in something totally different like , say , the arts or fishing . I always like to hear from people who can carry disparate positions in their quivers at the same time.

I find, for example, that when I get smug about my understanding of asp[ects of evolutionary sciences, I love to grab onto a totally 180 different concept and argue with myself.

You do have an interest in fine food, I think others 'd be interested in hearing your latest trip to Nobu or something like that. UNless you become a complete broken record about a diversionary topic, its often fun to take threads for a bit of a "walkabout" and circling around the barnyard for a bit.

I too, experienced the death of the Soviet State, (not so much the death of the inanity of hunting for communists in our back yards). Today, its become a mostly patented phrase generator of certain political leanings to wish to ferret out and exhorcize socialism and communism (mostly without understanding what the hell the topic of their search is even about). I recall sitting under m y school desk waiting for a bomb to go off and fearing the brilliant flash that sister Attila (the nun) would constantly harangue about as if the flash would immediately vaporize you. It wasnt till many years later that I discovered that the protective properties of school desks were not up to the standards for complete protection against a nuclear explosion. Thats when I started doubting anything the government told me .
When I was in my teens , I was quite angry about government in general and Mr Nixon in particular.
Later I learned to rehabilitate Nixon in my mind and think that he wasnt really so bad. He was just unable to distinguish misdemeanor from felony.
Thats when I took up my lifelong passion, Fishing. But thats another morning.

The idea about ducking and dropping under cover
was particularly to avoid flying glass. Most classrooms that
I remember had huge, broad, high windows facing outdoors.
If a nuke hit far enuf away, e.g. Nagasaki: u 'd find out about it
when u read about it in the newspapers or heard on the radio.
If it were a direct hit, then u need not do anything about it.
If it were significantly in between, then u might have to be
concerned about ducking under the trajectories of flying debris,
e.g., fragmented window glass, or get your face shredded.





David