I write about these out of fascination

I write about these websites/services out of fascination, not out of mockery. They are dating sites for very specific niches.

Women Behind Bars (link):

“Women Behind Bars (WBB) is a professional service which provides personal pages, pictures and profiles for women who are incarcerated in prisons all over America…These female prisoners are looking for love, marriage, penpals, and a good solid relationship with men and women in the free world. We have had several marriages and countless relationships. WBB shows pictures of female prisoners who are looking for penpals. We feature ladies from all walks of life, Black, Hispanic, and White, women. Many of these girls, have sent their personals, with the hopes of becoming brides, but would love to just have a few pen pals.”

Providing hope and connection to women who don’t have many opportunities for such things. What great intentions.

No Longer Lonely (link):

“We are a welcoming community that understands the trials and pitfalls of managing a mental illness. Find friends or seek romantic relationships knowing that everyone on this site has some form of mental illness.”

A place where you won’t be judged. A place of understand, acceptance, and support. I can appreciate that.

Having a better internal conversation

: Would you punch yourself in the face in a street fight?

:Of course not.

:Then why are you beating yourself up with your words?

Be mindful

Be mindful of the link between present action and desired future outcome. Ask yourself: if I repeat today’s actions 365 times, will I be where I want to be in a year?

—Alastair Humphreys (he’s actually quoting Roz Savage)

There are some other great little snippets too, follow the link.

The good moments of life are rarely easy

“If I have learnt anything from all these expeditions it is that the good moments of life are rarely easy.”

—Bear Grylls of Man vs. Wild

No Excuses

Tomorrow will be better

“I view my life in a way … I’ll explain it to you, OK?” he told his small audience in Florida. “The greatest thing about tomorrow is, I will be better than I am today. And that’s how I look at my life. I will be better as a golfer, I will be better as a person, I will be better as a father, I will be a better husband, I will be better as a friend. That’s the beauty of tomorrow. There is no such thing as a setback. The lessons I learn today I will apply tomorrow, and I will be better.”

—Tiger Woods

This is exactly how I feel. When I am having a bad day I almost always say to myself, “tomorrow will be better, tomorrow I will be better.” It alwaysis.

Make Firm Decisions to Be Happier

“Torn between life choices? The experimental results suggest the worst option is usually indecision—no matter what choice people make, they are more likely to be okay with the consequences than if they stay on the fence.”

Failure is a great teacher

Failure is a great teacher. Unfortunately She gives the exam first and the instruction second.

Continuation on Thanksgiving

I have some more thoughts on my previous post. Abraham Lincoln gave that address at the height of the Civil War, the bloodiest, ugliest, most horrendous war this country has seen. It took nearly one tenth of the nation’s population. President Lincoln battled depression himself. He had an interesting (some say crazy) wife. His words are shockingly optimistic. Don’t we all have battles and wars that we are fighting? Our own private civil wars? I know that I often have my own battles to fight and dragons to slay, my own temptations to overcome and thoughts and feelings to clarify. Again, I am just so impressed and amazed at his attitude and gratitude. What an example.

Power of Surroundings.

I am amazed at the power that physical surroundings can have on me. How powerfully they affect me. Let me explain what I am talking about. Some of the darkest, worst, most intense moments in my continual struggle and battle with depression have taken place in my room, in my trailer-house, in Pullman, Washington. I was away from this place during the summer. I was in a new, fresh place with lots of daylight, wonderful friends, and a job I enjoyed. As I have moved back into the same state, same town, same trailer-house, and same room, I am amazed at the power that these same physical surroundings have on me. How easy it would be for me to slip back into those awful times and dark ways of thinking. But I don’t have to. I am in control of myself and my life.