Dispelling Depression

The time between Christmas and New Years is usually hard for me. I often go in to it thinking I'll be fine but depression sneaks in.  Here are 2 articles I've found that helped me today.
 
awake-my-soul-dealing-firmly-with-depression 

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2000/03/escaping-my-valley-of-sorrow#listen=audio

That Sinking Feeling

I love this thought by Elder Holland. It seems like the more technology this world blessed with to simplify my life, the more I try to squeeze into the 24 hours in my day.  

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "One of the great purposes of true love is to help each other in these times. No one ought to have to face such trials alone. We can endure almost anything if we have someone at our side who truly loves us, who is easing the burden and lightening the load. In this regard, a friend from our BYU faculty, Professor Brent Barlow, told me some years ago about Plimsoll marks.

As a youth in England, Samuel Plimsoll was fascinated with watching ships load and unload their cargoes. He soon observed that, regardless of the cargo space available, each ship had its maximum capacity. If a ship exceeded its limit, it would likely sink at sea. In 1868 Plimsoll entered Parliament and passed a merchant shipping act that, among other things, called for making calculations of how much a ship could carry. As a result, lines were drawn on the hull of each ship in England. As the cargo was loaded, the freighter would sink lower and lower into the water. When the water level on the side of the ship reached the Plimsoll mark, the ship was considered loaded to capacity, regardless of how much space remained. As a result, British deaths at sea were greatly reduced. 

Like ships, people have differing capacities at different times and even different days in their lives. In our relationships we need to establish our own Plimsoll marks and help identify them in the lives of those we love. Together we need to monitor the load levels and be helpful in shedding or at least readjusting some cargo if we see our sweetheart is sinking. Then, when the ship of love is stabilized, we can evaluate long-term what has to continue, what can be put off until another time, and what can be put off permanently. Friends, sweethearts, and spouses need to be able to monitor each other’s stress and recognize the different tides and seasons of life. We owe it to each other to declare some limits and then help jettison some things if emotional health and the strength of loving relationships are at risk. Remember, pure love “beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things,” and helps loved ones do the same."

(To read the entire talk go to https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/jeffrey-r-holland_how-do-i-love-thee/)

This is a good reminder to not run faster than I have strength.  

Mosiah 4:27 And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.   (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/4.27)

Doing what I can do

No one person can do it all...

From Elder Neal A. Maxwell, a leader in the LDS Church...I have on my office wall a wise and useful reminder by Anne Morrow Lindbergh concerning one of the realities of life. She wrote, 

"My life cannot implement in action the demands of all the people to whom my heart responds."

That's good counsel for us all, not as an excuse to forgo duty, but as a sage point about pace and the need for quality in relationships.

Kindness

Two notes written on the computer I'm using today during my lunch hour at work.

"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Dalai Lama

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest at of caring, all of which have the potential to turn life around."
The best gifts I've ever received are gifts of caring.

The Rose

This beautiful rose grows in my front yard.  The picture was taken by Kate McNicol of Kate McNicol Photography (disclaimer, she's my exceptionally talented daughter). I used this as my original cover photo because I feel like it best represents me. I was once like the bud of this rose. I flowered into a young woman, a young mother and now, like the rose, I'm feeling a little rough around the edges. The older I get the harder it seems to be able to hide them. My hair is showing that I'm entering a new time in my life. I'm trying to embrace growing nearer to my "angel-time" white hair. I am, however, still beautiful...at least my husband assures me of that. I find the imperfections of this rose comforting. We all have them and when others share their flaws with me, I know that I'm not alone and that I too can be as valued to others as these dear friends are to me.

My Blog

This blog is dedicated to sharing the treasures that I've found throughout my life. This will be a potpourri of stories, ideas and inspirational quotes.  I hope that this will be a beacon of light to anyone who is struggling with the cares of this world. I have experienced anxiety and depression at times in my life and these are the treasures that have helped me tremendously. I'm happy to share them with you.

Anxiety Wreaking Havoc - Create!

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf is a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In a speech he gave to the women of our church he encouraged us to be creative.

The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before.

Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty.

For the full article, go to https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/happiness-your-heritage?lang=eng.

I read recently that coloring is very relaxing for adults.  This is a link to some beautiful coloring pages you can print off.

http://enjoycoloring.com/for-adults/