# What keeps you going? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 14, 2009, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/485812 "2009-02-14T12:29:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/485812/1 "2009-02-14T12:29:51Z")
Well, what is it? Friends, family, life, love, e) other? ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/485812/2 "2009-02-14T12:42:40Z")
Music and beer. (mostly kidding.) Seriously, my fiddle is in the shop this week, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve reached for it to play a few tunes before remembering. At least four times this morning. And it’s been out for four days, you think I’d have figured it out by now! Playing helps me focus, feel better when I’m sad, feel calm when I’m upset, and helps fix pretty much every other mental or psychological problem I’m struggling with. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/485812/3 "2009-02-14T13:01:17Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Well, what is it? Friends, family, life, love, e) other? Best question/sig line combination EVER. Hope that change is possible keeps me going. The belief that if I work hard enough, I will be able to help alleviate some of the suffering in this world. Also, my husband and my cat keep me going. Another day with them is worth the worst life has to offer. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/485812/4 "2009-02-14T13:06:39Z")
I’ve been wanting to ask this question for a long time as I have depression, and I’ve always wondered whether everyone else actually enjoys life, or just tolerates it. To answer the OP, very little apart from my family. ---
**Author:** ![Sami41](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c57346/32.png) [@Sami41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sami41)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/485812/5 "2009-02-14T13:53:16Z")
Sounds silly, but the answer is Major League Baseball. It just makes sense. It’s relaxing to watch. It’s relaxing to listen to (with the exception of the idiots who call the White Sox games on WGN). The guys are hot. I get happier in the spring and sadder in the fall, not because of the weather, because of the baseball season. Everything smells better at a baseball game (even little league). It’s wonderful. Told you it sounds silly, but it works for me. Happy Pitchers and Catchers! ---
**Author:** ![carlotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/485812/6 "2009-02-14T13:55:06Z")
audio books, chocolate in many and varied presentations, movies, romance novels also, I suppose, my husband, my kids, my family, my friends ---
**Author:** ![Sublata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7cd45c/32.png) [@Sublata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublata)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/485812/7 "2009-02-14T14:00:59Z")
> [@NineToTheSky](#): > > I’ve been wanting to ask this question for a long time as I have depression, and I’ve always wondered whether everyone else actually enjoys life, or just tolerates it. To answer the OP, very little apart from my family. What kept me going during the worst of my depression was my heart. The stupid thing just wouldn’t stop beating. What keeps me going now is the knowledge that I can quit my job whenever I’m ready to. ---
**Author:** ![3acresandatruck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e79b87/32.png) [@3acresandatruck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3acresandatruck)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/485812/8 "2009-02-14T14:05:59Z")
For me, it’s lots of little things. Talking and laughing with my friend or one of my sisters or a neighbor. That first black coffee in the morning. Taking a hot shower with the breeze blowing on me through the open window. Garlic and onions. The spring peepers, especially when they make an early appearance, like this past week. Cicadas singing in the late summer. Coming out ok after a severe storm or tornado. Whew, those can be a wild ride - nothing like laying on the floor under a mattress, wondering if the house is gonna end up in the next county over! A day when I feel good after a couple weeks of problems with my hips and feet and heart. Cayenne pepper, tabasco sauce, cheap wine. The sound of my old H.O. 302 coming through the Flowmasters. I could go on like this all day. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/485812/9 "2009-02-14T14:25:14Z")
It depends upon what day it is. Long answer: A day when I feel reasonably positive, I notice all the little things (as **3acres** said) and I go about my day in a pleasant groove. Days when I feel not-so-positive, I focus on what work I’m trying to get accomplished, and/or on taking care of my responsibilities at home. Immersing myself in a difficult work project can ‘take me away’ somewhat. A bit of chocolate candy can improve a mood like that, if only temporarily. Days when I feel horrible, it’s a fight to keep going. I rely on some different mantras such as “dont be distracted by idiots”, “this too shall pass”, “one day at a time”. I remind myself of how many people depend on me, and what a big hole would be left in their lives if I weren’t around. Those days are tough, but fortunately very few. Short answer: Kids & hubby, career, & positive thinking. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/485812/10 "2009-02-14T16:35:05Z")
I’d like to say I keep going out of hope, but I don’t really have hope. Maybe I have the understanding that what is isn’t what always will be, but there’s no guarantees that what will come will be better. Maybe I just think I have to read to the end of the book. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/485812/11 "2009-02-14T17:16:35Z")
I love life. I have problems, and bad days, and things I wish were different, but… every single day has the possibility of something really cool happening, and even if it doesn’t, I always have \*something \*to look forward to. A hug from my daughter, a kiss from my guy, a snuggle with my cats, an episode of Supernatural… 😉 I have a nice home, good food and wine, music, dancing, art, books, sunny days and warm nights, and people I love who love me back. Life doesn’t suck. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/485812/12 "2009-02-14T17:17:51Z")
Mostly coffee and stubborness ---
**Author:** ![nikonikosuru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@nikonikosuru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nikonikosuru)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/485812/13 "2009-02-14T20:54:34Z")
Hope that things will get better, hope that I’ll make everyone proud, and a rash of stubbornness, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/485812/14 "2009-02-14T21:08:26Z")
Bran. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/485812/15 "2009-02-14T21:14:08Z")
Faith in Jesus Christ. ---
**Author:** ![Dignan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/485812/16 "2009-02-14T21:23:23Z")
My family keeps me going a lot. I don’t want to make things hard or cause any trouble. Life is hard enough as it is, and I know my family loves me, so I figure it’s the least I can do not to add to life’s complications. Another part of what keeps me going is because I want to see what’s going to happen. It’s like going to a party, or out with friends. It gets kind of late, and things are kind of settling down (or not), and you’re just kind of waiting around to see what’s going to happen next (now that I say that, maybe I should try to be more of a catalyst to make something happen). You don’t want to leave, because that night could be the night when something really cool happened. 9/10 it’s just a semi-forgettable night, but every once in a while something happens that you talk about for years. Or the 9 nights where nothing crazy happens build on each other, and the shared experiences turn into a kind of narrative or history between people. That type of thing is interesting to me, and I want to see what’s going to happen next. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/485812/17 "2009-02-14T22:15:27Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Well, what is it? Friends, family, life, love, e) other? At the moment: The prospect of longer daylight hours and sunshine. Youtube. Learning new skills. Films/TV. Food. > [@ITR\_champion](#): > > Faith in Jesus Christ. Must. Resist. Urge. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/485812/18 "2009-02-14T22:48:24Z")
Coffee, cigarettes, pussy, and whiskey. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/485812/19 "2009-02-14T22:53:49Z")
Newton’s First Law. ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/485812/20 "2009-02-14T22:54:39Z")
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