Where do you find happiness?
The Distant Past
I used to be very depressed—all the time. I used to sleep—a LOT—because it was easier to sleep than to try to deal with another day.
One day, about eight years ago, the depression broke. It was kind of like waking up from a lifelong sleep. Like I had been a zombie—alive, but not really living—just moving around and going through the motions.
When people asked me what had changed, I had to honestly tell them that I had no idea. After "living" with nearly debilitating depression for almost 40 years, it was suddenly lifted.
It's been eight years now and that "bad" depression has never returned. Of course, I have days when I feel "blue" or struggle with a momentary sadness, but for the most part, living—really living—is an absolute joy.
Sharing the Joy
I had always enjoyed writing. I was told I was good at it. But when you are depressed you don't hear anything good. You only hear the bad things—the negative things.
I kept writing, mostly because it was my job as a journalist, but I also wrote stories and poems and journaled. I have about 50 journals that I told my spouse must be destroyed should something ever happen to me! They are full of grief and pain and regret—real and imagined!
I couldn't have chosen to be joyful if I had tried. I could barely choose anything.
But I kept going, I kept writing. I do not know how.
When the depression lifted, I decided that I could never go back to "living" like that, although I was well-aware that with depression, I really wouldn't have much of a choice if it came or stayed away.
It was a slow transition for me to switch from being more than "sad all the time" to not being sad hardly ever. It was weird. It was strange. I kept waiting for the depression to return.
When it didn't, I started to "bloom" out. I began to share my story. I started doing things to help others.
I still could not tell anyone what had changed because to this day, I still do not know.
All I know is that I have to share the joy—the happiness that fills my days.
Where do I find happiness?
There is a lot in the world to be unhappy about, am I right? But happiness is not that hard to find if I look.
I have a family that loves me. I have a granddaughter who lives with my spouse and me and gives me a huge amount of joy.
One of my most recent joys came from finding Wealthy Affiliate and the amazing people who are here.
my joy comes from the training and putting together a website about something I love.
I have come to realize that those difficult roads that I was on have led me to the place that I am today. Without those experiences, I would not be who I am today.
Where do you find happiness?
So, where do you find happiness? What things make you feel good about what you are doing here on Wealthy Affiliate and with your own websites?
Do you find it in helping others? In spending time with loved ones? In spending time alone?
Feel free to share where you find happiness! And let's spread the love and joy!
Best wishes,
Karin :)
Recent Comments
26
Thanks for sharing. I find happiness being outside, reading, helping others. Being around animals.
Hi Karin
Great share
I feel joy from being alive thanks to medical technology and feel blessed to growing my online future every day
All the best for you and remember you are awesome!!
Vicki
Hi Karin you are a brave lady to share this story, thank you. I believe for so many years, depression, and mental health were never spoken about and so many suffered in silence. I am happy that it is ok to have the conversation, and I think it is helping to make people's lives better. I am so glad that you found happiness, and I know your granddaughter brings you great joy as my grandchildren bring me.
Over the years, I have suffered bouts of anxiety and for the most part I am lucky compared to others in my family. But these bouts could bring on periods of depression, but again I was lucky, I had great support and it didn't last long. But one day my doctor said I had to learn to make myself happy it was nobody's job but mine. It shocked me, he told me to go home and do one thing for myself that made me happy and everybody around me had to come second to this one thing. It seemed so weird, but I tried it. I picked up my camera and began shooting again. Funny I learned to balance my happiness and my need to help others and overall this is what has made me the happiest. The other thing that came from all this was my ability to see positive even in some of the gloomiest of situations.
Mary
I think depression disappears when you reach a certain age, I think it disappeared when I was in my late forties/early fifties. I wonder how much of it is hormones, etc. I did not discover Keto until last year but wonder whether if I had discovered this when I was younger I would have felt very differently and not suffered so much depression. I think a study should be done on young people who suffer from depression whether a keto diet would improve their lives/mood.
For me that has been the big positive of getting older, looking back I wasted so much time being depressed, I know a lot of others who feel the same. I suppose it is the old saying of "I wish I knew back then what I know now."
For me happiness is my family, my garden and my local library!
Have a great day.
in spending time with loved ones, helping others, Being a member of Wa and building relationships, doing all these things give me happiness
I find happiness in the love of my husband and his family, the respect of my 3 grown boys, and the chance to spoil and love another Shih Tzu puppy by the name of Max. He's not a replacement for our 16 year old Rocky.......he's his own "person" and an amazingly fun handful!!!!
Mybest,
Laurel
VEry inspirational Karin. Thank you for sharing. I love the way you described your experiences. I can tell you have been to a very deep place. Hope you never go back to THAT state of mind agian.
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Hi Karin, thanks for sharing your journey.
My experience has been exactly the opposite. I used to feel so good and be so happy all the time I said I wanted to live to be 120 years old.
In my late 50’s my health took a nosedive and now every day is a struggle.
I stay happy most days, maybe just out of habit! But I’m on some heavy duty medication and don’t think I could survive without it. Hooray for pharmaceuticals!
My animals bring me happiness, my art and photography, and now WA.
It’s great to be here among all you positive, creative and supportive people.
Wishing you the best my friend!
KyleAnn