No Rain On My Parade

Count your blessings every day.  If you're reading this then you have internet access and most likely a home.  There are millions of people who don't have that.

Remember there is good in this world, it's not all bad.  Focus on the positive, because focussing only on the bad will only make you feel worse.

Learn to take a compliment.  Not everyone is actually making fun of you.

Accept support from those who care.  Part of human nature, a good part, is to help others, so when others try to help you; it's okay to accept that help.

Give something back.  Karma = do good things and good things will happen.  I can't afford to run the heaters that are installed in my house and someone running a charity shop gave me a cheaper to run heater and refused to accept payment for it.  (proof of there being wonderful people out there)  I insisted on them at least taking something for the collection box, so someone else who's worse off can benefit from it too.  Karma.

Be kind to others and don't throw their kindness back in their face.

Yes, I know there are a lot of bad things out there; but have some faith in the human race.

Look for the good in things around you and you will feel better about yourself and life.

I know it's not always easy, I used to have depression, and I relapsed at the start of this year over trouble with my neighbours as some of you may remember.  But guess what?  Those neighbours are still there, and we're speaking again as though January never happened.  Back in January I was like a prisoner in my own home and now I have a much more positive outlook in life.  Yes, I've had help; I had counselling and I've been on a course to help me gain a more positive outlook - which made me actually feel taller.

The point is; looking at only the bad things makes you feel down.  Feeling down leads to depression and only seeing the bad.  It's this endless cycle that gets progressively worse and the only one, the only person, who can break that cycle is yourself.

Even if it's only a little thing to begin with, start looking at the good.

I used to be camera shy.  Have you seen how many photos of myself I've uploaded this year?  That was a growth in confidence that led to that.  And my confidence is still growing because, with my more positive outlook in life, I see the continued support I have out there.

So, now I'm gonna take a moment now to add a special thanks to the friends on here who have helped me the most.

and most recently, also helping me feel better about myself and life general,

Thanks for being my friends and actually interacting with me.