I am having a tough week. Well more like a tough couple of weeks. It puts things into perspective because there was a time when this had to do with Mom’s MS and today my tough time has nothing to do with Mom’s MS. I suppose there is a silver lining in this. I wish I could take a break from “finding the silver lining” but that’s life.
I was talking to Dad yesterday and said I just feel hopeless. I feel like I have hoped and been optimistic and I am worn out. He gave me some good advice. He said don’t consider hope to be something you have to do forever. Just focus on the next hour and say, for the next hour I am going to be hopeful. When that hour is up you can go back to being down or can try another hour. Take it a minute at a time, an hour at a time, a day at a time and work up to feeling hopeful all the time.
I have to admit it is sort of working. Right now I am in increments of minutes. I’ve made it to about 5/10 today before I have my negativity resurface. It’s not much, but it’s a start.
How do you stay hopeful/optimistic when life seems to be leading you any way except positively? Have you ever tried to incorporate changes into your life on a smaller level to combat being overwhelmed? What is a positive escape when you need a “life break”? This is your weekly reminder- Dancing With The Stars is tonight! Let’s go Team Lachey- get out the reality tv vote tonight so he can live to see another week of dancing!
MS recess 
Sorry you are having such a rough time of it lately. But your dad gave you good advice. Just take it a little at a time, and see where that takes you. My escape has always been the beach. For me it just puts things in perspective. I go there in the Winter, Summer….doesn’t matter the weather. Or I just put my iPod on and drive. I’ll drive for hours…..Let’s me escape.
So hope you have something you can do that gives you hope and makes you forget about life for a while!!
And you’re right…..go Team Lachey!! 🙂
I like to drive too…it’s funny you mention that because when I as driving home to visit my parents this past weekend the drive was a very relaxing component of it. I didn’t talk to anyone on the phone, it was just me in the car and I put on my music and chilled. It does help to escape. Thanks for your comments of support- they mean so much!
I was so excited Team Lachey lived to see another week tonight! My new 2 hour takeover of the television…Husband isn’t too thrilled it gets in the way of Monday night football sending him to another room to watch tv 🙂
Life is definitely tough at times. I find what helps me the most is counting my blessings – literally counting my blessings. Just start writing down all the things in your life you are grateful for. For example, not having a terminal illness, not living in a poverty-stricken country, having a family who loves you, things you have to look forward to, all you’ve accomplished, etc..etc.. Sometimes unless I actually take the time to really think long and hard about all the goodness in my life, it is so easy to lose sight of our blessings. I know you have a lot going on and that too can cause the blues, maybe even depression. I am glad you have your Dad to talk to – see, another blessing! 😉
You are right. When things feel like they aren’t going right it is hard to remember to look at all the blessings in your life that are positive. And sometimes it takes going straight back to the basics with the different blessings in your life and starting from there. Thanks for this reminder!