Here in Ireland, we have an initiative to counteract the doom and gloom surrounding this week – a whole day dedicated to good news releases. The first every Good News Friday will take place on Friday 22nd March. I think it’s a great iniative which focuses on our minds on some good news for a change. You can read more about it here:
http://beyondbreastcancer.wordpress.com/2010/01/19/start-spreading-the-news/

I BELIVE WE CAN OVERCOME ANYTHING WE SET FORTH, AND TO SAY ONE DAY IS WORSE THEN ANOTHER, IS ONLY TO LOOK ONE WAY, THE WRONG WAY !!
I HAVE LOST ALOT THIS NEW YEAR, AND HAVE HAD MANY BAD DAYS, BUT TO SAY, OK HERE IS THE WORST DAY OF THE YEAR, BEFORE IT EVEN GETS HERE, IS A SURE WAY TO HAVE A BAD DAY.
TO START TO MAKE PLANS NOW, FOR SOMTHING THAT HAS NOT EVEN OCCURED TO ME, IS SETTING ONE UP FOR FALIURE BEFORE, IT IS EVEN HERE.
I ASK WHY, WHY DO THAT, WHY BECAUSE PEOPLE ONLY REALLY WANT FAILURE.
HOW CAN MOST SURVIVE, IF EVERYONE AROUND YOU WAS NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS, NOW YOU DO BECAUSE YOU CANT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THEM, SO NOW YOU MUST LOOK AT YOURSELF, OH GOD, NOT ME.
I BELIVE IN TWO THINGS RIGHT NOW, ONE IS “ME”, I KNOW NO ONE CAN TAKE ME, I OWN IT, IT IS MINE. STAY BACK.
THE OTHER IS “MY LOVE OF A LIFETIME”, I KNOW SOMEHOW GOD WILL REUNITE US, I KNOW I HAVE ALONG WAY TO GO, BUT I ALSO KNOW I CAN, I AM, I WILL, AND I KNOW , OR AT LEAST PRETTY SURE,” MY LOVE OF A LIFE TIME” IS WATCHING, OR AT LEAST THINKING THE SAME.
SO AS TO YOUR 254TH OF JANUARY GET READY, STOP, MAKE IT THE BEST DAY, DONT WORRY ABOUT WHAT YOU CANNOT CHANGE BUT CHANGE WHAT YOU CAN, AND LEAVE THE REST, IT WILL MAKE IT THE BEST DAY OF THE YEAR, AND OH BY THE WAY MY NEW SAYING IS “OM” SWEET FREEDOM COMES .

I agree about wearing colors, Therese. I have three pairs of red shoes that undcoubtedly lift my mood every time I wear them.
Thanks for this and all your posts–it is such a comfort to read them and your advocacy is truly inspiring.

God bless you Therese. I look forward to reading your comments every day. Just wanted to say Thank You.!

Gee, thanks, dear, for giving me four days in which to dread being depressed. You’re a big help!

And whatever you do, if it’s dirty snow and ice, if the skies are gray and tomorrow the temperature’s surely supposed to drop even more, get into something warm and comfortable and get outside anyway. Move.
Or book a ticket to New Mexico.

Good Evening Theresa,
They just say on the News that this passed,Monday,January 18,2010,was the saddest day of the year.It kinda of confusing,when different people say this day and that day is …….I feel each day is what you make it !! Your mind controls your feeling !! You might feel sad one day and happy the next.
Ms.Marie.K.Lally,The Scooterlady

I can’t believe how you people are getting wrapped up in this. This is not an invitation of doom. Plan your day now, make something great happen so you’re not part of the statistics. Don’t let your emotions control the day and ruin the mood. Make plans to have a good time, eat healthy for the rest of this week, exercise to boost your mood with endorphin and serotonin levels and get Vitamin D supplements to make up for the lack of the sun. There is plenty that you can do rather than sit around being depressed and worrying about your bills. Have some fun, make things happen.

It is amazing, this story. I look at depression as a state of mind. People need to think more postive despite the negative in the world. why are we waiting for a day of depression, that is so negative, instead lets a have days of joy. Lets win the war over ourselves and stop depression from taking over our daily lives. There are just somethings you cannot do anything about and there just somethings you can do everything about. Lets stop living above our means and be wise. I truly believe that we need a MIND TRANSFORMATION. LIVE, LAUGH AND LOVE!!

It is also national Pie Day. That is something to be happy about!

It has become an undeniable fact that CHI Flat Iron is one thing that you cannot deny when you are styling your hair. As usual the selecting the best hair straightener from among so many has always been the problem. So if you are looking for some new hair styles for yourself then the first step is to get a good hair straightener for yourself.

3 years ago on the 24th I injured my neck and had to have it fused. 2 years ago I broke my leg. Last year I stayed home. I guess it isn’t my best day either!!

This explains a lot…I was married on Jan 24, 1997. Of course, I’m divorced now…lol…

That could be a good thing C! hahahaha

This is clearly in itself a uplifting story. We all tend to cling inside in the winter due to the factors you mentioned. I think reaching inside ourselves to pull ourselves up and out of the abiss of winter is the most important thing to do. Anne McGinley needs to go out this year and knock that thought right out of her mind. Spring is here everyday if you look, you will find it!

Thanks for the warning… That is my birthday and I never feel the gloom that you have decribed. I am bipolar and menapausal. I guess between the herbal teas and sunlight I do get keeps the doom away.

It will be the day that the New Orleans Saints win the game and go to the SuperBowl in Miami…. Geaux Saints….. Bless You Boys !!!! No one depressed here in New Orleans !!!!!

Just say NO.
Nothing like manifesting and encouraging despair.
Im not saying you can totally think yourself out of
depression, I know you can, but what you chose to tell yourself
can make things better or worse.
You certainly CAN think yourself into it. Its not totally being victimized. Sometimes we have to look at our part in it, and we will find it. For that part, we have control!
I dont want to think or stay sick. I will do what parts I can.
Lori

I meant to say, Im not saying you can totally think yourself our of depression, I know you CAN’T….
but you can make it better or worse.

This is my Anniversary! It’s always a good day for me.(12 years)
I am bipolar and usually down before, but the 24th brings me back out most years. For me it marks the light at the end of the tunnel that is winter. Spring is on its way!!

Therese,
Interesting article.
I wonder whether, deep in the psyche of the American conciousness, there’s also a deep wound that wells up around this time each year due to the scar of abortion. I know this might sound a bit wild-eyed, but I’m not sure how we can, as a nation, emotionally escape the death of 45 million lives. I think there might very well be a connection here.
- Matt

I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE, BECAUSE I RARELY GET DEPRESSED. I HAVE A BROTHER WITH BIPOLAR. HE WILL NOT TAKE ANY KIND OF MEDICATIONS FOR HIS CONDITION. HE CAN GET VERY MOODY, AND SOMETIMES SLEEP FOR DAYS. MAKES EVERYONE AROUND HIM, VERY MISERABLE! HE TAKES VITAMINS AND EAT A VERY HEALTHY DIET. I DO NOT WANT TO BE AROUND HIM. I PREFER TO ASSOCIATE WITH HAPPY PEOPLE. SO I STAY PRETTY MUCH TO MYSELF. NOT TOO MANY HAPPY PEOPLE, OUT THERE.

Ask a friend if they feel like catching up, playing a game, watch a movie, hold each other accountable to your New Years resolutions, etc. read below:
“When written in Chinese, the word “crisis” is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity.” – John F. Kennedy US President 1961 to 1963

Enjoy life. You have so much to live for. Do not allow a “day” get you down! Change your lifes direction a 180 degrees. Take action, & let the World know who you are without having to day a “single word!” 12

January 24th is my birthday so it is not a bad day for me. My worst day is New Year’s Eve. It’s always a reminder that another year has gone by and I feel sorry for the things I wanted to have happen that year that didn’t. I need to get off my butt and take more action to make some of those things happen! Best wishes to all of you for whom January 24 isn’t so great to find ways to help it be less painful.

thanks for the heads up!!! I will now remove the page from my calendar on Jan 24th and replace it with a page I over looked last year–April 22nd…the inspiration reads “April 22 Perfect health is my Divine right, and I claim it now”. There…Now I am equipped to make the most of my week…with no worries!!!

Well dang, guess I’ll go hide my head in the sand and not celebrate my birthday. Amazing that all these years, I thought January 24th and there abouts were perfectly good days.u2wf9b

While I can appreciate the comments trying to help, some just don’t understand depression is a disease. Having spent the last 3 weeks crying, and knowing from years of experience it’s not over yet. January 24th won’t be half way. Thank you Lord for my sunlight!

I still believe that the darkest days of the year are the worst. At least for me. I have more trouble between November and January then any other time of year-usually. Last summer I failed a class and that sent me in a downward spiral. I seem to cycle in and out three or four times a year. I am doing better today. It is not sunny. But I am trying to seek out help and read up on things to help.

Deb,
I have felt the same way.

I will be using a lot of this on Sunday when I preach. After two weeks with no sunshine people are feeling the effects…..Nicodemus was in the dark..

Well this makes sense to me. All week long I have felt overwhelmed and ineffective. My life feels like I am up to my neck in the water and I’m treading as fast as I can. I feel like I’m not a good wife, mother or teacher (that’s my job). It’s all in the crapper! I know this feeling will pass and perhaps it’s because of the 24th. At least it makes me feel better. thanks for posting it. Hopefully next week I will feel better.

I have gone through very much in my 72 years – losing everything to 2 earthquakes, 3 miserable marriages, all sorts of illnesses and operations including 3 that were like death sentences and raising 3 children on my own with a severe lack of funds…
and the loss of a baby.
I turned my life over to the Lord back in 2000, met and married a fantastic and loving man, have a beautiful home and everything I ever wanted …………….but…………..the health and successes of my 3 now grown children. Because of them I have been feeling so unhappy lately as nothing I can say to them will put them in the right direction. It is THEIR DEPRESSION and UNHAPPINESS and ADDICTIONS that have all worsened lately that has brought tears to my eyes constantly.
These are the END DAYS, and their are serious changes being brought about by Satan and if we do not accept the Lord, we will not have Salvation, and life on this earth will be more of a hell than it is right now.
Joy Ray

I absolutely hate cold, gray weather and I live in Ohio. I didn’t realize this was the most depressing day fo the year, statistically speaking. But, I sure felt it today.
I get depressed every winter. Last year after about 40 years of fighting that, I gave myself permission to be depressed in the winter and I found that it made the winter much more tolerable. I realize I’m going to have low energy this time of year and accepting that has made it OK.

This blog makes me realize the energy of words and pictures. I am grateful that you let us look in! Keep coming up with ideas.

Your wonderful subject material let me acquire a good deal, and it really is highly very good for me, thank you. Sincerely hope that you just will possess a pleasant mood each day.

Just another reason to feel depressed for me…January 24th is my birthday!