Anyone feeling post holiday blues?

Well I'm sure this will sound preachy, but I've found that the only way I can pull myself out of feeling the blues, for whatever reason, is take stock of what I have to be grateful for.  I've had to do that many times over the last 2 1/2 years since my DH got laid off..  It happened shortly after we bought a home that was at the max of our budget and then a year later spent about $50k on a pool/spa in the backyard.  If you had told me then that it'd take about 2 years for things to turn around, I'd have cut my wrists (kidding, of course).  I was depressed and scared to death we'd lose everything, our relationship would dive and we'd end up divorced, we'd fight over who got the dogs....anyway, my mind was busy and not in a good way.  I forced myself to focus everyday on what was right in my/our life.  We weren't ill, we had food to eat, we were making the mortgage payment, etc.  Sometimes I had to work hard to quiet the inner voice that said "well, yeah, you made it this month, but what about next month?" and sometimes I just gave in and had a good, long cry but practicing gratitude definitely got me through those times.   

Great post, Cathy.  I've learned over the years that for some weird reason most of tend to focus on the worst case scenario - and it just never happens.  Things somehow  just always manage to get turned back around.
 
Joyce

After Thanksgiving when the dogs got skunked and Tasha was sick, I said, well it can't get any worse.  Of course I wasn't expecting to lose my job!!  So no matter what, it can always get worse.  bleh.  Today was a better day.  We went for a hike in the woods and no one got hurt or skunked.  I got to play with my new mitre saw and make another set of 6 weave poles, so not too bad of a day.  I kept busy and I think that helps.  I am definitely getting a cold or something though.  Man it just gets worse.  []

I'm a huge wimp when it comes to being ill, so if you're coming down with something, it may be time to just hunker down with a warm blanket and rest.  Just remember, anything you needed to do today will still be waiting for you tomorrow, or at least it is at my house [:@].  Hope you feel better.

Great post and great advice.  I do something similar.  I don't really have too many days or moments like I did that prompted me to write the post, but when I do I try to think about how so many others have it so much worse than I do, which is similar to counting the blessings I do have. 
 
Sue

Roxie, is Trixie a cat or a dog?  I didn't even put a tree up this year because of Buddy.  He is only 8mo. and I thought I was inviting trouble.  Either he would knock the ornaments off, eat the tinsel or pee on the tree!  lol  I went with a table top one and other decorations.

She's a rowdy little kitten.  LOL!  Weighing in at six pounds, Trixie thinks she owns the place (and the tree).   I've had enough, so the tree came down today, piece by piece.  She lamented as it grew smaller and smaller, but I didn't care.  There weren't many ornaments to take off the bottom part, because she had strewn them all over the floor, behind the couch, and even down the hall.  I may skip the tree next year ... [&:]

So this year I am feeling the post holiday blahs a little later. I think it is because dh and I took this whole past week to camp in the mountains in the rv...so I have been living in bliss the past week with cool temps, rain, hail, frost, and crisp walks with the pups and all the things I don't get to experience living in hot san diego...but tomorrow is our last full day and then we drive back to reality on monday.

My work has been crap the last few months..most our staff got laid off and I am not sure how I even have a job since they don't have money to pay my salary...I hope we get funding soon because I will be let go too and there is nothing out there for me...I have looked for several months now.

Most days I hate my job and I USUALLY don't feel that way so this trend is becoming very bothersome. Some days I can concentrate on a few small things while at work to brighten my day. Things like a great cup of coffee coupled with cool weather and a great cd playing while I am trying to do my work..but this has become more and more difficult to accomplish.

Overall my family and I are very fortunate and working with people with disabilities daily through my work usually helps me keep at least some perspective...right now though the thought of driving home from our peaceful vacation in a mere 38 hours and dealing with the tree and getting the house in order and going back to work on Tuesday is pretty darn depressing...such is life I guess! One thing I can look forwrd too is that this trip has begun what I believe will be an annual tradition for dh and I...so that gives us something to look foward to in future years during the hectic holiday season.

 I'm a routine person.  And, the holidays break my routine and that really causes me a lot of anxious moments. 
 
I did manage to get thru it better this year than most.  The weather wasn't too bad considering it's New England and it's December.  And, I had a lot of pet sitting so that gave me something to focus on and think about when I was at a party or somewhere that was making me stress.  I knew I would be leaving early to take care of the animals and it helped put things in perspective.  So many people commented to me, "oh, that must be annoying that you've got to take off. . .", and I'd say "yeah, but it's part of it, what are ya gonna do."  But, inside I'd be thinking "if they only knew I can't wait to get out of here!" 
 
If I can get past tomorrow I know I'll be looking forward to Valentine's Day and spring. . .and the RedSox starting soon. 
 
 

Oh yeah!!  Spring training can get me through the winter!
 
You want to hear about down for the holidays??  I think everyone knows the situation with my Mom and that Friday before Christmas she "came back to us" after being really out of it for days.   When I wished Sis a Merry Christmas, I got, yeah, right.  And I said, My gosh, its so much better than any of us expected.....her response?  We were supposed to be with DS today to share DGS first Christmas....so DS sat home alone all day.  Ummmm, DS has a wife and an 11 month old son, AND survived that ultra rapid heart beat that should have killed him.  She has STILL not "done" Christmas, because it wasn't what she wanted it to be with her children.  Sigh.
 
I guess I MUST be a tough old broad.  In the 10 years that my oldest DS has lived away from home, I've had ONE Christmas with him.  He and the finance go to her parents house on Christmas Eve and don't come home until Christmas nite.  But, he's happy and taken care of, and an ADULT, so I'm happy FOR him.  He doesn't have to be in my home to be in my heart.....