tickletickletickletickletickletickletickletickletickletickletickle!!!
Ahhhhhgitchiegitchiegitchiegitchiegitchiegitchiegitchiegitchie!!!
Well, it works on my neice.
Um, ok.
You’re good enough,
you’re smart enough,
and doggonit, people like you!
</Stuart Smalley moment> 
Don’t know what’s wrong, but I hope things get better!
No worries, Karol! Your OP is bound to reappear someday . . .
<bark bark bark>
What’s that, Lassie? bodypoet’s op has fallen down a well?
<Bark Bark Bark>
It’s stopped at the crossing and a train’s coming?
<BARK BARK BARK>
It’s trapped in the mineshaft? I don’t get it, Lassie, what’s wrong?
<BARK G*DDAMN BARK! WEAR A CONDOM, TIMMY!>
Good Lord. What on earth happened to my nice, long, tearful OP??? No wonder no one wanted to cheer me up right away…
Basically: Husband. Marriage counseling. Lack of effort and/or improvement. Small children. Self-worth issues. Copious weeping. sigh Thoughts of giving up, followed by adamant refusal to do so. sigh again.
It will get better, won’t it? I’m usually the eternal optimist, but today I’m just worn out emotionally, and not coping well.
But you guys definitely brought a smile to my face. Thank you.
Should I elaborate all over again, or did I cover it fairly well?
~k
<Bark growl ruff>
tail wags, lick face sluuurrrrp
bite Timmy
:pets Lassie:
:hugs Karol:
Now, now. Some days are just tougher than others. Is there something nice you could do for yourself? Chocolate, a bubble bath, something?
If you feel like dropping me a line with your home address, I’ll mail you something silly. Would that help? (Bar of soap for sampling and critiquing included in every package.)
It really will get better. I swear.
::lick lick lick::
::runs half-naked through thread::
::Pant pant pant::
’punha, I don’t know about Karol, but that sure cheered me up. Thanks!
hmmmmm, I’m not too good at cheering people up, but I just bought my kid a big bag of Lindt truffles - I can steal them back and give them to you! She’s young - she’ll get over it!
Hang in there, sweetie - do the best that you can and don’t make yourself crazy over things you can’t control. Then go to a pet store and play with the puppies. But for the sake of your sanity, don’t look at 'pun in his semi-nekkidity - you’ll just encourage him then who knows where that will lead?!?
Chin up, lil’ soldier.
::playfully socks jaw::
I agree that you should do something nice for yourself; maybe curl up with your favorite book, and a pet for company, perhaps? Then eat the chocolate and enjoy your bubble bath.
As for cheering you up, I don’t know what to say. But think of funny things, and maybe that’ll do the trick! 
(at least for a little while, maybe)
F_X
:Procrastinates:
:Puns:
:Pounces:
:Purrs:
:Plays with smilies:
:Does her best imitation of a cat since the other P words seemed to suggest it:
Come to think of it, I think that’s a different smiley.
Yes, it gets better, it’s just that sometimes in between it gets damn hard. It also is worth it in the long run, and you will believe that, even if you’re not up to it now.
In the meantime here’s a bit of absurdity,
:Starts to run through thread, but slips on banana peel which fell out of one of the hang out threads:
:Lands on 'punha:
Down boy!
CJ
First off, just in case nobody’s said it and you need to hear it, you are perfectly entitled to fee the way you do. Your feelings are understandable. They make sense. Shit happens, you feel bad. That part’s okay.
Secondly, yes, things get better. The only certain things in life are death, taxes and change. So things will get better, or you’ll learn to rock and roll with the ups and downs better, or you’ll drink so much you won’t care (not a serious suggestion).
Take stock of the basics. Life, health, roof over your head, clothes on your back, not starving, not in a war zone, limbs functioning, a child you love. It ain’t heaven, but it’s more than some people have. So you have some blessings.
Now, you need some time out. Warm bath, early night, chocolate… fix the formula to suit yourself. Piece of paper. Down one side, list of things you wanna fix. On the other side, things you can do about the things you wanna fix. Take simple steps. Make simple plans. Put them into practice, and believe in yourself each day as someone who is taking the little steps you can to go from not-so-good to quite-a-lot-better.
You’re stronger than you realise, and smarter too. You can move mountains. But sometimes you’ll need help, so go get it. Needing help is okay too. It’s allowed.
I don’t know if we can cheer you up here on the Boards. But you can cheer yourself up. Spend some time in happy childhood memories. Play songs you like. See people you like. Give yourself treats. Give yourself breaks and rests.
If anyone complains, just let them know you’re taking a 10 minute rest from being perfect. And smile when you say it. you never signed up for the job of ‘being perfect 24 hours a day’. It’s okay to make mistakes, and overlook some stuff, and leave some things to tomorrow. You’re a person, not a machine. A little bit of ‘not quite perfect’ is okay.
The only rule is: never stop believing in yourself. You are utterly unique and special, more so than any famous painting or precious work of art. Only you can be you, and only you can have the fulfilment in life that is yours for the making.
Do you ever entertain suspicions that maybe people don’t like you? Well, if you’re a bad person who goes round jabbing pencils into people’s eyes, it’s probably true. Otherwise, trust me, it’s all in the eye of the beholder (that’s you). I’ll bet some people think you’re great, a small number just don’t like you much, and the rest are kinda in the mioddle. That’s life. Go hang out with the ones that like you. That’s what the rest of us do. You can’t be brilliant for everyone, so don’t try.
Of course, friends can be annoying at times. A bit funny, a bit unreliable or unresponsive. But they’re still your friends, and they are there for you. If you’re down because people don’t reach out to you, well, hey!, do the reaching yourself! There’s no rule against making the first step. Pick up that phone. Say that hello. Talking to someone is the best therapy in the world, but friends are better than therapists, and cheaper, and will share their chocolate with you.
The greatest symphonies and paintings in the world came from a human mind. You’ve got one too! Use it. Love yourself, trust yourself, to take stock of where you are and make plans for where you’re going. Enjoy the sense of power, of self-determination, of deciding your own tomorrow and not letting other people jerk your strings around.
Good luck, and don’t forget to smile, and cry, and smile again. The rest of us are doing it all the time. We’re all the walking wounded these days, and you sure as hell are not alone. But the light at the end of the tunnel isn’t always an express train coming the other way!
Peace, respect and love.
You all are very sweet and supportive. Thank you.
As predicted, I feel a little better today. Basically, my husband and I have been in marriage counseling for almost 2 years. Some things have gotten much better. Other things, I have come to the conclusion that they may never get better, and I have to decide if I can live with those problems or not. I’m exhausted emtionally from dealing with all of this.
FWIW, Mrbodypoet and I talked yesterday, and he made reference to trying to make some changes in his life and our relationship. So I guess we’ll hang in there and keep working and hope for the best.
I also bought myself a new shirt and some ice cream. Sometimes you have to take drastic measures.
Thanks again,
~karol
Maybe you can Canadian Sue to post some of her jokes here. They’ve been making me smile lately.
Sex.
[sub]ChiReader is not responsible for any liquid spewed onto monitors, keyboards or other electronic devices as a result of this post. Guzzle at your own risk. Yadduh yadduh.[/sub]
In your dreams, lad, in your dreams!
Then again . . .