Despite all that life throws your way to ruin your day...what keeps you going?

Coffee, mostly. And when necessary, coffee plus whiskey.

I don’t know, I just… pick myself up. I don’t know how I can do that, it just comes naturally. Maybe I just know that wallowing in pity does me no good and I need to use my energy for more productive things instead. I don’t know what’s wrong with you, but maybe you can tell yourself the same thing I do and see what happens.

But actually I have to admit that I’m going through some sort of mild crisis recently, now that I’m less than a year ahead of my graduation. I don’t know if I should start investing in my lifelong dream, which can be risky, or just settle down with a safer life. From what many people close to me say, I have protential and I may just keep going, but I’m not sure if it is true for other people. I’m still trying to decide.

I hope you get your things sorted out, whatever it is. Ups and downs are part of life. All you can do is making the best out of your life.

The long view. Everything passes. Even the bad times. I take comfort in the thought that, no matter how shitty things seem now, it will pass.

And… dark bittersweet chocolate.

Friends and walking.

My elderly mother is declining. I don’t have kids, so this is my first serious instance of being entirely responsible for another person. I lived with a mentally ill wife, but she had other really good and smart family and plenty of financial support.

Shite got real. Mom depends on me. I can’t fuck up. That keeps me going.

For myself, if I have a warm safe place to sleep, enough food, and an Internet connection, I will be fine. Everything on top of that is a bonus that I am grateful for and I fully enjoy.

Planning things to look forward to. Happiness in life comes in moments.

@Seek Irish coffee would indeed do the trick and did when I was drinking…searching for sober solutions to the holiday blues. I have never ever felt this numb especially during the holiday season.

Thanks @Call_Me_Jay…I am on the backside of where you are at. My mom ‘went’ this last spring…not having to get her a gift for Christmas is a sucker punch I did not expect. Really having a hard time with this….

@JLeslie So true….life is all about those moments…cherish them when they happen.

@Cruiser My condolences. Christmas, Mothers Day, her birthday…all those will be tough for a while. Tough but at the same time you feel good for the intense feelings for the departed. “I remembered you today! You would have really liked this! Thanks for everything, Mom!”

That’s how I remember Dad after 13 years.

I am particular to an aged Islay malt or a good IPA.

This may come across as arrogant, but I think that I can contribute something meaningful to mankind. I haven’t done so yet, so I’ll keep trying until I achieve that goal. Why not try to do something significant in 2017 to celebrate her memory? One of my best friends beat cancer and so every year he organizes a charity golf tournament to raise funds for the local cancer treatment center (just an example).

Jesus Christ! (Not an exclamation but the King of kings, Lord of lords, Wonderful Working Councelor, Prince of Peace, Beloved, Good Shepherd, The True Vine, the Mighty I AM, He who is, Who was, and is to come)

Optimism and bull-headedness. There have been times when I’ve just felt destroyed, but I know if I give it enough time things will turn around and I’ll feel better. So I force myself to just keep putting one foot in front of the other. My children have also kept me moving forward too. Just knowing they still need me and I have to be strong for them.

I hope you feel stronger soon @Cruiser. If I can help let me know. Sometimes a problem shared really is halved. And sometimes we just need to be able to express how we’re feeling and we can’t always do that with those we love because we don’t want them to worry.

I understand, @Cruiser

Mostly I keep going beacause there’s no other reasonable option. You go because that’s what you do. Tomorrow’s coming whether we like it or not, so might as well plan to be there.

I’m sorry you are going through this, @Cruiser, sometimes overcoming the inertia of despair, especially at the holidays can be crushing. I have found that the awareness that loved ones count on me to function can get me moving. Like an automaton, perhaps, but moving nonetheless.
Feel better, I wish you emotional peace during these cold short days.

My mom died a few months ago, so this year I’m really not in the holiday mood. I’m going through the motions because I’m a single mother of a 9 year old daughter, so I have no choice. She’s at such an enjoyable age now, easy to hang out with, helpful, funny, so I really like being with her. This holiday season, like every holiday season, there are parties that I will attend as part of my job (political) and so I have no choice but smile and be cheery. We’re going on a vacation after Christmas, not sure where yet, so that will be fun.

Time marches on so we’ll adjust. We’re missing my mom (my daughter’s grandmother) but we’ll get through it.

Whiskey, and lack of a better option.

When I’m not working, I laugh a lot,play guitar,and explore in my canoe. I used to take my canoe out 4 times a week in decent weather. Used to rush home after work, and get in the River ASAP. I absolutely LOVE paddling right before sunset. The dolphins, and sea turtles right by me. The colors of the sky. The water like a mirror ,is like paddling through liquid silver. Closest thing I know to heaven.

And lesbians. Lesbians are my rock…..Go lesbians!

Thank you everyone for your kind and helpful answers. I have decided to make a meaningful donation to the local Hospice agency that took such good care of my mom.

@Cruiser That’s lovely.

Condolences, @Cruiser. Hope you can find something to lift you up.

I write. And talk. And write and write and talk and talk. Probably to the point of being obnoxious. But it helps me to air it out. I am lucky I have a support system.

I have fish and plants to care for; I get a lot of enjoyment out of that. I watch the birds outside.

I cuddle Matt.

I’m just incredibly resilient, fucking bulletproof, it helps that i’ve always been a positive thinker & more than happy to focus on what I have while ignoring what I have not.
Being a naturally childish, fun loving bastard goes a long way too of course.