Perhaps a change of scenery would help.... personally, my excuse is that I have been sick... and also I am a bit down bc my lil bro just had a bday... I didn't feel like calling him bc he's a drug addict, but I felt bad bc I usu spend it with him...and it made me feel sort of sad and bad. Okay, good story. Getting out of my usual surroundings does help me feel hopeful about things, though.. has a way of reminding me that there are so many avenues we can choose and ways to find bits of brightness in life. : )

True that. You have a valid point. However, if the sadness runs deeper than the seasonal or indoor blues, it might not do enough to simply step outside. The company we keep or lack is often a factor.

And, yes, sickness can sure bring a happy person down fast. The lethargic nature of it all.

As for your brother, I know the feeling. The guilt of ignoring or turning away family. You are not supportive of his choice...but you can't feel good about celebrating what you would want him to do for you yourself. It's a vexing situation. You have concerns that he might do something in your presence that will bother you. Like me being anti-smoking and then having to do something with someone in a smoking section or with someone who unfortunately smokes. It's a hard decision. Sympathy and manners insist we be nice and go along...but just as important should maybe be our own feelings. Not to be selfish, but we have a right to not like something and not partake. But, how do we separate? How do we have our family but not ingest their bad habits, too?

Well, for me, it's the pain of what the substance has done to his life. I'm not judging his choices, I'm mourning the loss of the life I know he could have. There is no danger of ingesting his bad habits. But I understand what you are saying about smoking. I never want ppl to feel like I am judging them, but I also don't want to compromise my principals for someone else's comfort...

Exactly. Not compromising...yet not judging? Often, substance users--whether drinkers or smokers--see any commentary of dislike as "judging". Pretty soon, you can't say anything without feeling tense. And, then they are too tense and need more substance.

So, you feel he is suffering from it and it makes you upset.

What I mean by ingesting is not just the temptation or pressure to join in...but the absorbtion of side effects. Smokers give off second-hand smoke...which we unfortunately may breathe. And, drinkers put us at risk of other things like physical hazards or violent outbursts which don't come from their hearts...but the dark depths of the subconscious "hate center".

I notice it as well brother rabbit... i never thought much about it having anything to do with me being a rabbit... but at this point I would not count anything out.

hmmmm Good point My dear Stormy, Ya know how I feel....Dammit Maybe I ought to have been born a Lion(Not sure they have a Lion sign though) Oh well least I have the Mane ROAR!.

[Daydreaming about her hair...] Hmm, what? Oh. Well, western astrology has Leo the lion. In Chinese astrology, it's the tiger. But, think twice about tigers...they can be very restless and intolerable...gets a rabbit's fur in a dander. I know how you feel?:P I feel a Buble song coming on...

*Sighs*

I've felt it to, this community wide depression here at t.ville.
My life is picking up in other ways lately so this week it has been easier to get back on the blogging wagon but I can feel the motivation waning already.
Still, I do wish there was something that could be done to lift the fog :(

I wish this thing to pass. It is a bit disturbing that everyone is feeling so bad. I don't even know what my life is about some days.