Hi there, i'm with you on everything but the camping and the beach. I have never been or done either of those. But i love animals, music, reading, and also draw and sketch myself. Where you live sounds like heaven to me i was born and raised a country girl and i am a farmers daughter. Hope to talk you again soon. Have a good day

I have to find what I enjoy again! I have spent my adult life working, raising 2 girls and being a wife. I am a realtor now (spent 26 years in corporate america) and thoroughly enjoy it. I haven't done much of anything for enjoyment in so long that I don't know if I like them anymore! On my list of things to explore is reading novels (again), maybe taking a dance class (I never liked dancing but maybe a scripted dance would be OK), taking a class (finish my bachelors degree maybe???? ) and determining if I can keep up with the cost and maintenance of my home. Most important to me is keeping my home. In 12 months, I will have to reevaluate to see if its still the most important. Looking for good is a great way to pull one out of the doldrums! Great idea.

Count me in.

I'm glad you came up with sharing positive stories. Hi, I'm Maria. I live smack in the heart of New York City, New York, U.S.A. There was a real prestigious high school here years ago, you had to pass talent tests to get into, High School of Art & Design, I passed the tests and got in. I did really well, but depression messed things up for me. I am hoping to get back into it again. Like the woman above me wrote, I have to find my passion again, I spent many years in Corporate America also (Law Firms). I am thinking about spending more time doing the things I enjoy. It's that or my own. mental health. We have to take care of ourselves! I love country living, I have a girlfriend who grew up on a farm also, and I listen to her stories. I also love music, the arts, animals, traveling, decorating, checking out new restaurants, and lots more. Yes there IS a lot to live for!

Hello! I just joined today. Art is beautiful. I appreciate it and I think if I pursued it when I was younger, I would have continued drawing. But now I'm now I'm into poetry and writing in general. I like to meditate. I love being around nature and learning new things. I also have a secret joy in writing thank-you cards.

Maria--I can relate to you on setbacks. I am no longer diagnosed with depression, but when I was, it changed my life trajectory. I feel like I'm back on square one. However, I learned a lot from my experiences which has made me a better person because of it. The paradox of suffering.

Great people!! Thank you for all your input and its awesome to read others interests etc. More importantly we have a little global thing going on here too. How cool is that? Personally I think depression, anxiety and mental health in general is a genetic imprint as a human species. After all don't we as humans feel the same emotions but we feel them differently. In the digital age we live in it is so easy to focus on daily stresses rather than the beauty of life. I have never been to New York but i can imagine it is vibrant and full of energy. That to me is beauty in itself. I could see myself wandering aimlessly photographing everything. I have travelled most of Australia and love interior decorating. Shamelessly I'm a Pinterest addict :) Thanks for reading and enjoy your day wherever you are. I think we are off to a great start..

I was thinking of the same thing! After all, similar to what you said, we're all here because we have something in common. Yes, life is already difficult as it is, and having some mental issues or the like makes it even more tough. Thanks, for posting this message, I'm also new here and I was thinking about how to go about this. I'm 35, I left a monastery here in the Philippines about 10 months ago after staying there for 7 years. (i sucked in the formation and was eventually rejected just when I was almost near the year of perpetual profession). I never went to seek professional but I've been really depressed after that. I figured that I just need time to adjust to the outside world...refocus... Anyway, back in there I was the one making thank you cards, i remembered that when oPENeye mentioned that, I also love nature, inside the monastery it was almost like paradise..but out here I enjoy the beach and the mountains...

I also paint once in a while...started drawing with charcoal back in high school... anyway, I am so happy to read everyone's posts here. I hope you don't mind if I add you guys to my friends list. =) Hope to hear from all of you again and hope we can have a really nice support group. Bless you all!

Add me to the artist list. I have been doing it in one form or another depending on the type of media I grab first. I keep a few sketch books going and my paint gear in a bag to go. I am a realistic painter, and photo realistic in portraiture. Portraits are actually easiest for me. I spend a lot of time observing people but not always being seen.
I will also sculpt with what ever I can.... I can't just make a simple snow man, it has to be a dragon, my dog or Snoopy throwing a football.
I am in the great lakes area and a few blocks from a revived section of town with several galleries, music and events. I do manage to go to some of them, though I observe more than interact. Mostly to feel the positive vibes.

Hi Jewells1 and anyone else online,
Wow we are getting quite a gathering. That's wonderful isn't it and i see a few of us have made "friends " already. Even better.
I just wanted to clarify my original post in case some feel shut out from this conversation. It was never meant to be an artist list, I just wanted to reach out to anyone but the fact we have a few interested in art is great of course. Even people don't do art thats fine too.
Hmm the Great Lakes area? I am assuming your in the States too? Wow thats awesom Lets go global :) Have a great day/ night people where ever you are

Trace, For me it's just a way of processing my emotions. I have severe cPTSD and anxiety related affects from early in life. I isolate because I feel safer, and can do it in a crowded room. Loneliness is part of my trauma as a widow and with the loss of my core group of friends that my husband helped me with. It took so long to learn to trust, that when they all started leaving this world so close together? I am stuck in what's the use of trying when they leave in such a final way.
I know the belief that I will see them again when I leave, heck I even hope they are having a great time up there. But being left behind, not so good.
So I use art to say what I can't say. Try to use what they taught me in reaching out.

Hi Jewells1,
i understand the process of emotions via art. Art is very much hang your guts up on the wall so to speak and if you can do this well all the more reason to practice art. My art can be very dark and comes from dark places too but i find comfort in the fact that I have the ability to create something beautiful from bad experiences. I admire your courage and tenacity to express what words cannot say. Its tricky sometimes im even shocked at what i have produced but at least im not carrying that burden and always feel lighter afterwards.