What do you see?

Ok, so I've been noticing a "trend" lately that seems to be befalling many of us on our board here.  Depression.  Varying stages.  Some reach out & ask for help.  Some don't.  But we all know it's there.  Then I got to thinking about Jill's post relating to daily adventures & finding a way to enhance our daily lives.  Jill, I THINK that's what your message was about, or at least that's how I interpretted it.  Anyway, in writing my response to her post, I came up with this idea.  A challenge of sorts.  One thing that's very difficult to recognize when we are in a depressed state is to SEE the good around us.  So, here's the challenge.  Choose a favorite window in your house.  Mine happens to be my living room window.  Then, for the next 5 days, sit & look out the window & take in what you see.  Then come here & share with us.  I'll start. I'm looking out my living room window.  The sun's shining, blue skies, puffy clouds.  I can tell there's a slight breeze by the way the leaves on my big tree flutter.  I just noticed that it's pretty much leafed out now & lots of pretty shades of green.  The grass needs cutting.  But it's thick & lush & I love the smell of fresh cut grass.  I also enjoy watching my hubby cut it with his favorite toy...his small farm tractor.  Gosh, he loves that thing...that was a good investment.  Ok, I see the 4-board fence that divides our yard from the front pasture.  There are pretty yellow wild flowers all over the field.  The grass is ankle high finally.  And there's Sage, soon to be MY horse, but presently still Mike's.  Today is Sage's first day home after being at the farm since last fall.  I didn't realize how much I missed having him home till now.  Gosh, he's gorgeous.  Strong, muscular, yet graceful & gentle.  I cannot look at that wonderful animal without feeling love.  As I look at him, peacefully grazing, I am remembering yesterday, watching him & Mike ride together.  Poetry in motion.  Teamwork...a perfect performance.  Grace, speed, agility, understanding of each others needs.  I can hardly wait for the first time I get to climb on his back & experience a new kind of love.  I know he will take care of me, keep me safe, do as I ask.  And I will be gentle, kind, firm, & trusting.  Soon.  He & I will have that soon.  For now, I just love looking at him.  Birds are singing & swooping around the trees, landing on the birdhouses Mike made for me that sit along the 4-board fence.  I hear a small plane overhead.  I wonder who's flying it & where they are going.  I can hear the water spilling over into my fish pond.  I LOVE the sound of water.  I see my roses are leafed up & probably have small buds on them by now.  I have 5 separate rose bushes...one from each son, one from my Swedish son, one from my hana'i daughter.  Each one precious to me.  I see the basketball pole & net & can recall watching my boys play basketball.  Matt's already outside starting to unload the trailer so I need to stop this & go help.  I can't wait to see what we discover hidden in that trailer.  Now, do you GET what I'm trying to do here?  It's so easy to just look out your window, take in what's before your eyes, & feel good.  I love you all, but I don't want to sit here anymore...lol  I wanna get out & go see if I have buds on my roses & I'm gonna go pet my horse!

The point of my message was just simply....L*I*V*E.  Many of us forget to do that because we get so wrapped up in other things (including depression and our weight).  So...you pretty much nailed it! This is a GREAT idea!   I'll have to wait until I get home as the only window here at work overlooks the road (even though I did see a rabbit earlier....).

I wanna come visit and see out your window! Right now it's dusk, but I see the neighbor boy across the street playing basketball as the light fades. I hear the cardinals at my bird feeder in the back yard. I still have the window open and feel the chill of the night air. Life is good. PS...I have roses on my 4 rose bushes!!

I love this idea. I too struggle with the depression and anxiety of day to day life. I really can’t say why, I just do. I always thought in my mind that loosing weight would chase away most of my little back clouds that have always hung around my head.... I am finding out that weight made me physically tired and unhealthy, but the mental part is another story. So here it goes.... I am looking out my bedroom window. The sun set is absolutely stunning tonight. The sky is a purplish gray with the sun a brilliant orangish peach color. My white columns on my front porch are glowing orange and look like they are on fire! The trees and mountains are a dark green gray color against the sunset. What a wonderful way to end such a gorgeous day!  Thank you for reminding me to  enjoy  what was right here in front of my eyes. I would not have even looked out too night.... too busy  with house work and the such you know... Cathy