What are the things that keep you hanging in there when life deals you a bad hand?

My illusion of time.

My wife and family – always.

My animals… :)

Tomorrow is a new day and there’s always a chance that things will get better.

^hope^

Friends, my sons, my husband, flowering trees, a cup of tea, a good book, take-out Chinese, and Fluther. Oh – and @Adirondackwannabe, being short really helps, too. :-)

My kids every step of the way. They are the magic erasures of all things sour in life.

I live in the moment and make it the best that I can. I try not to worry about the past, or the future.

My boyfriend. I need nothing else.

My family always…Also thinking of others who have gone through tough times and made it…my mom and dad who lost both my brother and sister…a grandparent who had her husband walk out after their first child was born.and many others..wow, they were really strong. I think they knew that life was made up of good and bad and they prayed a lot and depended on family to help. I also think they knew it would take time, sometimes today maybe we expect things to get better fast and it just takes time…you can’t speed things up.

I still want to know what’s going to happen next.

My children, that is what i live for. without them, i am nothing.I believe everyone has a reason for being here. My children, are my reason.

My children. They are all the reason I need.

Whatever straw I can grab onto at the time. Like @wundayatta, sometimes it’s sheer curiosity. Other times, it’s for the fantastic feeling I get when I make great strides on a problem. Sometimes it’s my children or husband. At the worst of times it’s all I can do to feel any meaning from any of it. Fortunately for me, those times don’t happen around very often…....maybe 5–6 times a year, between depresssion and bipolar disorder. During those times, I can barely manage to keep this thought in my head “It will pass.”

My unconditional love for my Autistic Son and Husband.

For me it’s this – “And we know that all things work together for the good of them that love God, and are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

The knowledge that I’ve made bad choices, had things go wrong in my life and lost opportunities but I have still survived. Maybe a little mentally and emotionally bruised, but still here and fighting nonetheless.

Wanting to be there for my kids and make their lives better.

It will all work out in the end. If it hasn’t worked out yet, it’s not the end. :)

The knowledge that people dealt a far worse hand have gotten through. That, plus a plan for how to deal with whats coming up and my spectacular plan for the future helps.

Medication, and the knowledge that if things get bad enough I can always eat a bullet.

Tomorrow. It will be brand new.

@stranger_in_a_strange_land I’d rather go the bullet route than be a Bruins fan, so I guess that’s one thing on my side.

When we fall as I see my tumbling toddler daughter. We all fall down from time to time (kids and adults)...and what we can do is get up, brush dirt off our knees and walk forward. Sometimes we learn the hard way when we fall.

We are all human and we all make mistakes. Tomorrow is a brand new day.

Don’t believe in suicide so choice is get up, wash you face, have some toast, ( buy jam you really like) and do something!! I’m always curious about tomorrow. Use medication to help today if you need it.

My responsibilities to other people I’ve taken on and not wanting to hurt those who love me and care for me. Sure, there have been those times when I’ve been so far down I just wanted to go sleep and not wake up because it seemed easier than what I had to deal with or get through. Thankfully, I’ve found if I can work through one day at a time then those weird phases pass on their own and reason takes hold again.

The love and support of my family is what got me through my darkest days.

I remind myself that it won’t always be this way, especially if I keep thinking positively. Thinking positively leads to positive behaviour, which leads to better results. And knowing that someone could always use my help, so I’ll go out and help someone as best I can.

@Adirondackwannabe I like lost causes. they fit my mood and general world view. I had to give up on the Red Sox after they got too good.

@stranger_in_a_strange_land I think I must have missed that day. When was it?

Two series wins after an 86 year hiatus was too much happiness for me. It was either quit following the Sox or give up being a grouch…unthinkable.

@stranger_in_a_strange_land Grouch? Or curmudgeon?

The Sox’ Series wins finally freed me from their thrall. Now I can follow my local team.

@wundayatta The three syallable one is good also, although I like living in my trash can.~

@stranger_in_a_strange_land When I was a lad, we used to collect maple sap in a trash can.

@wundayatta I hope you scrubbed it out first~

@stranger_in_a_strange_land It was never used for anything else.

To me you can always think that no matter what happened today, tomorrow is a new day. Dont worry about things that are already done and you cant change, think about the things you can do better.

the fact that I have failed before and successfully overcome it. The fact that I tried my very best. The belief that what does not kill me will make me stronger. The loving people around me who stay even when I piss them off.

If you accept what has happened and search for the positive, you will be able to move forward in your life.”

The kids, always the kids.

Have FAITH and you’ll be fine. Things change, never stay the same.

Yep, accepting change and remembering that every time I have been in fear of some catastrophic thing happening, it either never has, or, I have handled it just fine.