“A Happiness key: Maintain something to be enthusiastic about. Small/frequent goals = Dopamine hits that propel success.” -- Steve Maraboli I challenged myself today to pick up markers and draw something. After seeing Julie Fei-Fan Balzer working her 100 Day Face Challenge, I figured I might try drawing a face. Here it is. Face #1. Not … Continue reading So this is what it feels like. (Also known as a boost of dopamine).
"Oh Mister Sun, Sun, Mister Golden Sun, please shine down on me!" I have no idea who wrote that song, but I do know Raffi sings it because we listen to it with regularity here in our home. In the past I couldn't deal most days with Raffi. (My mother was a preschool teacher and sang … Continue reading Finally. Sun!
"Others imply that they know what it is like to be depressed because they have gone through a divorce, lost a job, or broken up with someone. But these experiences carry with them feelings. Depression, instead, is flat, hollow, and unendurable...you are irritable and paranoid and humorless and lifeless and critical and demanding and no … Continue reading Blindsided
The anxiety. The anxiety. The anxiety. The anxiety. I'm not going to lie. It's hard. It gets to me almost like clockwork anymore. I chart my moods and it's almost the same days on a cycle. At least I can anticipate when it's coming. I wish I had some uplifting news for today. I wish … Continue reading Making It
"Take a shower, wash off the day. Drink a glass of water. Make the room dark. Lie down and close your eyes. Notice the silence. Notice your heart. Still beating. Still fighting. You made it, after all. You made it, another day. And you can make it one more. You’re doing just fine.” -- Charlotte … Continue reading Fighter Friday
"Happiness is the new energy created by mixing things we love: art, objects, prints, nature, collections!" -- Wendy Wurtburger Bentley I stumbled upon this little quote today in the book by Rebecca Atwood -- Living With Pattern: Color, Texture, and Print at Home. I don't know about you, but I don't have the gift of … Continue reading Tiny Happinesses
"Sometimes, reaching out and taking someone's hand is the beginning of a journey. At other times, it is allowing another to take yours." -- Vera Nazarian Share a smile. Share a hug. Share a moment. Share your story. As people with Bipolar, it's difficult to share sometimes. Sharing requires putting yourself out there to … Continue reading Share Saturday
The sun always shines above the clouds. -- Paul F. Davis Does it? Goodness I hope so. It's finally gotten to me. Where I live, the sun hasn't been out for over a week. So in an effort to remember what that gorgeous, yellow, glowing, white-hot, intense ball of energy looks like, I'm posting some … Continue reading Recognize This?
I read somewhere once that depression and mania can damage memory. But I don't remember where I read it. There are quite a lot of articles about this found through Google -- here's one if interested -- and it's kind of depressing on it's own. Google "memory loss from Bipolar" sometime and have fun reading. … Continue reading Genetic Soup
I lost a twenty dollar bill today. It was the finale to my day of pure numbness. No matter how much I tried to concentrate on any little thing, it seemed impossible. I was also struggling with anxiety and agitation. (It always amazes me that when in a depressed mood, one can experience anxiety. Isn’t … Continue reading Self Care
The Bipolar Spirit 