Picture yourself and your life 1 year ago...how does it compare?

[BigmanPigman]

[Mme. Defarge]

1. A year ago

I had a sense of a hopeful future. Today it's a different universe.

[rzemanfl]

2. Day and night(mare). n/t

[3catwoman3]

3. My everyday life is not yet much different, but...

...my mood has gone from upbeat and optimistic to gloomy.

[ProudLib72]

4. A year ago

My wife had just lost her job and we were forced to sell our house and move. We had been living in an area without cable and had to pay big bucks for internet. At the end of last June, I broke my back for the second time and had to wear a nasty, uncomfortable brace.

Today, I can bitch and moan all I want about tRump on DU without worrying about going over my allotted time. We rent a townhome, so we don't have to worry about selling. I don't have to wear a nasty, uncomfortable back brace.

Not what you were looking for, was it?

[Victor_c3]

5. I'm actually doing much better overall

My wife was dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis and, every time we went to the doctor, the diagnosis kept getting worse. This last January she had a mastectomy and now is cancer free.

We bought a house in October of 2016 which has done wonders for me.

I've been dealing with very severe PTSD, to the point that I haven't worked since 2014. I'm doing a lot better now than I have been doing probably at any point in the last decade. My alcohol consumption is way down, I'm on 1/6th the medication that I was taking this time a year ago and I haven't been hospitalized since the end of June last year.

Politics sucks and has been a major downer, but I'm generally doing a lot better now than I was a year ago.

[Skittles]

17. wishing the best for you and Mrs. Victor_c3

sometimes I need to be reminded there are demons other than Trump

[liberal N proud]

6. I had a job and a President with integrity

But we were in one hell of a fight on DU and in the party over BS.

Today, I don't have a job, lost it about the same time Butternut got elected, talk about a double kick in the nuts. Now we have the opposite of integrity in the oval office.

I felt good about my future, the time between November and now has been depressing. I have been trying to sell a house in the rust belt and looking for a new job.

On the bright side, we might have the house sold and after 9 months, I have an interview this week. But Butternut could destroy the earth by then!

[NRaleighLiberal]

7. not going to let trump get me down - very happy life then, and now

it evolves - my second book just came out last year at this time - this year I am working on my third. both girls married and happy. still with my best friend.

I feel very very fortunate indeed and wake up with that thought every single morning - I get to do what I love, and live with who I love.

[AngryAmish]

8. Last year I thought I was retired.

Why I keep doing this shit...complete nonsense. I have tons of money. The work bores me.

I think I just like sticking it to people or the government.

[CozyMystery]

9. I am with the Resistance, 100%

A year ago, I was sure that our next president would be a Democrat, and I hoped Bernie Sanders would win. If he didn't, then I expected Hillary Clinton would be our president. Either way, I wasn't worried about the outcome. I voted for Clinton and I spent a lot of time talking to people to get them to vote for her (instead of voting 3rd party or not at all), and talking to people who spouted Fox News sound bites as arguments against her or for Trump.

I didn't think Trump would become the president -- it was way outside my comprehension that he was electable. I didn't think there would be enough right wing and/or super "Christians" to elect a Republican at all. Their policies were too cruel, their views of the population too harsh and not based on reality.

Now I think that Trump and his cohorts are intent upon destroying our country, and don't mind killing people to do it. I think many of us are potentially in danger, not only from Trumpcare, but also from damage to our environment, our place in the international community, our justice system, our finances, and more.

I live in an area that has a highly authoritarian culture and is rife with Christian Trump supporters. Facts do not sway their allegiance. How they can believe that Trump and his allies are acting like Christians is beyond me. I think somehow their pastors and Fox News have corrupted their brains and caused them to act against their own best interests.

I spent the eight years of Obama's presidency not worried about Obama's leadership at all. I think he will go down in history as being a great president.

What really bothers me is that I think (but do not Know) Trump won the election illegally, that many of the Republican member of Congress are in it up to their necks, and the traitorous Russian connection will show that. What also bothers me is that this is a conspiracy theory. For 8 years I heard many conspiracy theories about Obama and I thought the people who believed them were nuts.

Now I have a conspiracy theory of my own. It is just a theory though and I eagerly await the evidence.

I am very disappointed that this has happened to our country. I hope we can stop it and turn it around. What could happen, if things continue as they are, frightens me. I am with the Resistance, 100%.

[nolabear]

14. Welcome to DU!

[Rhiannon12866]

16. Well said, CozyMystery!

And welcome to DU! We're glad to have you with us!

[Skittles]

18. excellent post

welcome to DU, CozyMystery

[jesskirablue42]

10. am I better off? In most ways, yes.

others remain a question mark

[marlakay]

11. My home life is better

My husband had a breakdown last summer kind of a end of many years of depression and anger issues from the past. He finally hit bottom and went to counseling for 6 months.

I got a golden retriever as sort of a therapy for him, he has been begging for dog for many years.

So life is better, he is happy, we both adore our 4 month puppy.

Personally if it wasn't for my weekly meditation group and twice a month mindfulness bookclub I couldn't handle the Trump news. I started going to both groups in the fall after I finished working on Bernie campaign wasn't feeling real happy all summer between Bernie and husband falling apart plus in middle of last summer I turned 60 and basically did nothing.

And I was sick a lot stomach issues May-Aug last year. Stress.

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. Last year I had a mastectomy around this time

and I won't know until my blood tests next month this year if I am cancer free
but since I don't know today that I have cancer
then I am choosing to believe that I don't have it. Today. One day at a time.

That's my Schrödinger's cat approach to life.

Speaking of cats..last year in the spring I lost my gorgeous 15 year old pal, but by Oct. I was ready for the 2 kittens that showed up in our life.
Full circle....it is grand.

[erinlough]

13. Constant concern for democracy

And wondering how bad this will get. Last year I was hopeful.

[nolabear]

15. Except for the horror of 45 and all that worry I'm actually better.

I and half the rest of the family it seemed had illness or death or tragedies of some kind. But we're still here and we're stronger together. The election just knocked me on my emotional ass for a while but I never doubted there was hope and I believe that still.

[Skittles]

19. I have a hard time everyday believing that buffoon is actually PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

he's a fucking lunatic, a complete embarrassment

I am absolutely DISGUSTED with the people who voted for that clown - I DON'T CARE WHAT THEIR REASONS ARE

[Vinca]

20. Pretty much the same only with high blood pressure.

Seriously . . . I blame it on politics.

[JCMach1]

21. Continues to worsen

Still no FT job in academia... Currently making less.salary than I did in 1989.

FT job in academia, what's that?