Depression Understood Forums

I Choice...

to live by choice, not by chance;
to make changes, not excuses;
to be motivated, not manipulated;
to be useful, not used;
to excel, not compete.
I choose self-esteem, not self-pity.
I choose to listen to my inner voice,
not the random opinions of others.

Warmie

A very wise thought! Thanks, (((( Warmie ))))!
Actually this reminds me of something that I was thinking about earlier today, while I was in work.
I find that I'm more and more mindful of the need to strike a balance between alternatives/extremes, like in this " Thought For The Day ".
Eg. I want to be " connected ", to have friends, to be and feel part of my society, my country, etc...But, on the other hand, I'm conscious of the fact that a lot of what I'm told isn't the truth, I'm conscious of the need to keep questionioning " Authority "...
I want to be useful, contributing, giving a fair day's work for a fair day's pay...But, I'm becoming increasingly aware that a lot of employers simply see their staff as " cannon fodder "...to be paid as little as possible for as much work as possible...
I'm working hard at untangling what changes I need to make, what responsibility I need to take for past mistakes...While at the same time, not " beating myself up " for events and decisions that are genuinely beyond my control. ( I do sometimes have to keep reminding myself that I am NOT " General Manager of the Universe "!

(((((((((((((((((( Tacking )))))))))))))))))

Proud of you, that you see many things in life as they truly are, you don't back away from them and in the end you are doing the best you can for yourself.

That truly is 'half the battle'. I believe that although some people may seem harsh or even self-centered, you try to put yourself in their place.

Don't give in to the challenges that life brings you, stand firm and know you have many friends here that listen and care.

Warmie

Thanks so much for the " vote of confidence ", (((( Warmie ))))!
What you talk about in your first paragraph is exactly what I am working at being and doing. I'm not the bravest or most confident of men, or " a natural rebel", so I do find things to be an uphill struggle sometimes, particularly when I feel/wonder if I could/should be doing better than I am. So it really does help me that my friends, both here on this site and elsewhere, have such confidence in me, and that they are willing to listen, and that they do care. ( I work with a very wise and supportive lady called Michelle who often picks me up with her encouragement. As she told me once: " Truth is the harder work ". In a way, perhaps she's like a Welsh valleys equivalent of you, (((( Warmie ))))? )
So, by the Grace of God, I am going to follow your very good advice!
(((( Warmie )))) (((( All ))))!

((((((((((((((( Tacking ))))))))))))))))

What a sweet compliment you gave to me. Thank you so much.

Michelle sounds like a very wise and caring friend. And she is right. If you can face the truth, you can face anything.

Warmie