Sad, sad thoughts...again. I am at the "beginning of the end" of yet another relationship. I was married for 12 years to my ex. Now, coming up on 10 years with my "significant other", it is like history is repeating itself.
Then I wonder, is it me. I try very hard to be what everyone needs, but they could care less about things I might need. When I try to discuss things, I am the only one discussing. So, most evenings, it is me and my sad, sad thoughts.

I get out my GIANT box of photo's. I can lose myself in them. Though sometimes seeing how fast the kids are growing is tough, it's nice to see how far they've come. Photo's of Mom & Dad, sisters, brother all remind me that I am part of something no matter what goes on in my life.
Also, music helps when I get down. Depending on the situation, I have a playlist for everything!!

It depends on what I am down about. If it is something I can control, I try to solve the problem. I sometimes beat myself up about things I could have done better, but then I realize if I could have done them better I would have-and I move on lesson learned.

I get down alot about my sons' disabilities, not for me, but for the struggles they will have to face in their life. I will, as I have since they were born, do everything in my power to give them the best life they can have. I do worry alot about them.

The only other thing that can get me in a real funky mood is thinking about people I've lost. Either through death,  friends that drifted our of my life, or even my ex-husband. Nothing can be done, but it's still rough sometimes.

Acceptance. I don't know if that's a value, but it was instilled in myself & my siblings(5 kids total).
My Mum & Dad always respected the person, regardless of choices they made.
In high school my sisters and I were wild. Mum & Dad rolled with it. When both my youngest sister and brother "came out", they could care less. My Mum still says if you are happy, that is all I need.
Being a devout Catholic, I believe it is her faith that gives her the grace to deal with things as she does. Never judges any of us, even in our religious choices. I am Unitarian Universalist, one sister is a Quaker, one sister goes to Buddhist meetings, and the other two have no religious affiliation at all.
I hope I can emmulate her in raising my kids. In this society, I think there is alot of talk about accepting people, but we really need to live it.

My kids-I try very hard to be what they see me as. That has made me work harder, dig deeper and live better that I could ever have inspired myself to do.

http://www.thedashmovie.com/

When I was in high school I wanted to be an artist. I am a floral designer now, so I am in my happy place!!
I also would love (don't laugh) to be a librarian. I love books, not just what they contain, but books. I know I can read pretty much anything online. But books, I can see, touch, even smell. It is a tactile experience that I love. (must admit, audio books are nice too)
Maybe when the arthritis gets too bad to do flowers, I will retire to working in a library.
Who knows-time will tell.........

Sponteneity!!
We are all on schedules; wake up, go to work, go here-go there. It is ridiculous!
In my life, to actually pick up and go do something isn't possible. I had to "schedule" time to go tho the Greek food festival tomorrow-and it's my day off!!!!!!
I think so much time is wasted on scheduling every little thing in life,that we forget to live.

I don't want to miss a thing when I travel
I love to drive, so anywhere we go, I am behind the wheel. 
I try very hard to observe all that I see. There is so much that we miss everyday. So much to see.
When we go to the ocean (countdown 3 weeks!!) I love passing through the mountains, the turnpike tunnels, the farms in Lancaster, and all the windmills!! We just don't see it everyday and it should be savoured, in my opinion anyway.
Then to finally get to the ocean, the end of thecontinent, I know it sounds wacky, but it just so humbling to me. I am so tiny, in the big scheme of things, but here at the lands edge, I feel the power of it all.
Kids think I'm crazy... could be right : )

My Mother and Dad when I was young. They taught me to follow my feelings, even if no one around me felt the same and to stand up for what I believed always.
Now that I am older, I am learning more from my kids than I could imagine. I always try to do better because of what I see in them, and what they see in me.