There is my Sad Room which I find I must go now and again depending on what life throws my way. I hope not to visit it often. But when I do, I hope I can realize that in time the sadness will diminish and I can then move on to happier things

Down the hallway is my Anger Room. Here I go when people, things, or the world in general piss me off. In this room, I explore why I am angry and decide how I should handle it. Do I attack the thing that angers me or do I walk away and let God take care of it?

Next to that is my Confusion Room - the room where I sit in bewilderment and just shake my head. I find myself here often but I don't suffer too much. Often, I just shake my head, leave and enter another room.

Across from my Sad Room is my Despair and Depression Room. I try to keep it locked at all times because it is not a pleasant place to be. It is void of windows in which to see the future. There are no sounds or music to make me happy. It has no picture on its walls. I have been there in the past. I do not want to return. It is a terrible place !!!

Climbing the stairs, I come to the 2^nd floor - a more pleasant area of my mansion. The 1^st room is my Happy Room which has many windows looking unto the garden below. Here I feel the warmth of the sun and can hear the birds singing. There is even a squirrel who visits me on the tree branch just outside one of the windows. He makes me appreciate wildlife.

The next room is my Room of Hope. In this room, I think of God and My Future. It's a nice room with soft colors and new age music. It's a very good room to think of my hopes and my dreams. There is a small window here tat, when opened, allows in a gentle breeze. It is refreshing and makes me look to the future with eagerness.

The largest room here is my Room of Wonder. This room is filled with many pictures of rivers, mountains, animals and birds. The sounds here are ever-changing. Sometimes I hear the wind howling, other times a gentle rain. Most of the sounds are pleasant though at times than can be disquieting. No matter what the sounds, I find myself in awe of the things around me.

In the back of the house is my garden. It is not a room but rather, my Space of Contemplation. I take many walks here and think deeply on all things. It is very important to me to visit this garden often.

Though I cherish my solitude, you are welcome to join me now and again and share the happier rooms of my mansion.

Most of us find ourselves broken down on the highway of life at least once. Many more than once and those most unfortunate, many times.

It is not easy getting out of a depression but it need not be a lifelong imprisonment. Forcing yourself to do things that you once liked to do is difficult but it is necessary to recovery. Try to keep people around you who will take your mind of your troubles - in this situation, you need people to distract you but you must refrain from telling them what depresses you. If you have extra money, buy yourself something you normally would not buy - it will give you a bit of a lift, but do it in moderation and only to the extent that you can afford to do so.

Read on a regular basis the poem Desiderata (heck, memorize it if it will help). Also, Footsteps in the Sand. Below is a link for both of them.

And finally, settle down with a nice cop of hot chocolate, tea, or whatever you drink, and read a good book. My recommendation is Robinson Crusoe. I read it many years ago and found it to be an uplifting and inspiring book. I've got to take some time from blogging and read it again. - it is definitely a worthwhile read.

Looking forward toward your comments and e-mail.

Sakamato