Are you up or down?

[OllieMartin]

I've seen quite a few people with some 'down' stories to tell and some pretty tough times they're going through, but I've also seen some people who seem to be having a pretty good time of life at the moment.

I've always felt that we're just boats bobbing on an ocean; sometimes we're ontop of a wave, the next minute were at the bottom of a trough. There's no way to stay in the troughs and and no way to stay on the crests and we certainly don't have much control over it.

I've been in a trough recently, which culminated in my vent. But after a pretty successful friday night out and some time with some of my best friends I'm back on a crest.

Sad thing is, if my theory is right, i'm destined for another trough. Let's see how long we can surf this one

How's everyone else's sailing experience?

[Flummery]

I tend to be an up person by nature so I can't claim any credit for it. However, I tend to feel that life hasn't really tested me conpared to what some people have to go through. Maybe I'm just a cheerful soul because I haven't realised how ghastly life really is!

[Brengirl]

Just for the record I've been at sea for many a year. Have had a few troubled waters and sometimes been becalmed. Most of the time it has been fair weather sailing but will admit that I remember all the times fondly.

[Hans Mum]

i'm always a glass half full person (metaphorically & reality) at the end of the day you have to have bad times to appreciate the good times. i know that seems a bit trite when you read some of the posts & the real c**p people are going through, but I have been there and come through the other side

[HayleyB]

I get Sea Sick

[scarey55]

I tend to agree with Flummery, I am mostly an on top of the wave person. I know that one day it will come and bite me on the bum and I'll have to eat my words but for now... fingers crossed. This doesn't mean that I don't feel for those who are worse off than me and I am truly grateful for what I have.

As my OH put it on the introduction to our blog:

There are those who believe that the glass is half full. These are the optimists. There are those who believe that the glass is half empty. These are the pessimists. We are neither.
Keith was made redundant towards the end of 2005 and, believing our glass was just too big, we sold up and moved to central France looking for a smaller glass ...

[Jax]

Life is a never ending spectrum of up and down and some peoples downs are harder than some people yes but they all feel equally as bad when we are in them but gosh when we are up we are up. Just like the nursery rhyme hehe. Im generally an up person but when i do go down its not usually for long just a rough choppy sea to contend with but gotta make the most of it

[HeyWayne]

I'm captain of the good ship Pessimistic Optimism with my lieutenants Yin and Yang plotting the course for the land of Zen.

[OverWyreGrower]

I try to be an 'up' person, despite our family currently going through a very horrible period.

I try and be the voice of optimism and common sense, when everyone is down in the doldrums. It doesn't always work, but I try!

I'm always thankful for what I've got, and the last 3 years have made me into a much less materialistic person, and happy with my lot (although a £45million lottery win wouldn't go amiss!)

Goodness, don't I sound like a complete PollyAnna!!

[Alison]

Also, some people get down over what seems to others to be something very minor (although obviously not to them) and other people amaze me by their resilience. I know I'm lucky, I have friends and family around me whom I love and whom love me, I have my health and that means a lot but I believe that much of my contentness comes down from being satisified with what I've got, life's not always fair but sometimes it's better just to rub yourself down and get one with things rather than analysing why it's happened to you and just make yourself more miserable by dwelling on it. We all moan from time to time but if you're doing it all the time then you may be like the boy who called wolf and realise that you've used up all your friend's sympathy.

[jackie j]

I am generaly an ' up ' person, I have been through troubled waters, yes life could be better, but I am happy with my lot. I have five healthy children (4 grown up now ) and a healthy grandson. I have lost both my parents, dad would be nearly 100 and mum would be 97. I have also lost a sister who went way before her time. I am lucky enough to only work one day a week, I am doing something else but in my own time and no boss. My OH has a good job with good money. In the past we have really been down at the bottom but once you are there the only way is up.
Be positive.

[Brengirl]

I'm captain of the good ship Pessimistic Optimism with my lieutenants Yin and Yang plotting the course for the land of Zen.

You ain't no dude boy whether you grow veg or not.

[Incy]

Like lots of people my life has been full of up's and downs and I'm a firm believer that you don't get dealt a hand you can't deal with.
This doesn't mean that some of the terrible things people have to go through are any less terrible, it simply highlights what strong courageous people they are in managing to carry on despite the set backs.
Frankly having seen some of the trials of others on here, I feel very lucky with my lot.
Having been issued with my notice of redundancy I could be feeling sorry for myself just now and am pleasantly surprised to find that I am really fine with the whole situation and not in the least depressed by it. What will be, will be and we'll muddle through.
So to all of you in a trough, good luck with your climb back to the crest of a wave and feel free to continue to use the grapevine's broad collective shoulders to help you on your way.

[Tomatoking]

Two years ago I met my soulmate, changed my lifestyle and country. I am now totally content after years of feeling in a slight limbo with my life.
It takes courage to move on, but my life with Mrs TK and her two girls, (horses) and a springer spaniel couldn't be better!
Life in France is not always as rosy as it seems, as you still have to pay all the bills, but with a nice Bordeaux at £1.50 bottle, and a woman who would put some cooks on master chef to shame and is sexier than Nigella Lawson, well some days I feel like I have died and gone to heaven.
Mr TK

[OllieMartin]

Keith was made redundant towards the end of 2005 and, believing our glass was just too big, we sold up and moved to central France looking for a smaller glass ...

The best way to realize the pleasure of feeling rich is to live in a smaller house than your means would entitle you to have. - Edward Clarke


Don't get me wrong, I'm a very positive person. I've still got plenty going on that I could be down about. But being down is so boring.
Thanks to you grapes, my recent 'trough' was very swiftly turned around.

I'm both a glass half full AND a glass half empty person. It's half full if you're filling it, and half empty if you're drinking it!