It's New Year's Eve...Feeling sorry for yourself?

[Raven]

I sure do. It's the 3rd anniversary of my dad's death and somehow, I'm sadder now than when he died. The world is a mess. 2003 wasn't a great year for me personally. 2003 was a lousy year for our country. BUT:

- I'm not sitting in the rubble of my home in Iran above beloved ones who are buried, dead and never to be found.

- I'm not a soldier in Iraq just trying to stay alive and out of harm's way and missing my family.

- I'm not the mother, father, sister, brother of a missing child whose fate is unknown and may never be known.

- I don't have a terminal illness.

- I am not living somewhere in the midst of a bloody civil war.

- I have the vote.

- I have a voice.

I can help myself.
I can help others.

I CAN CHANGE THE WAY THINGS WORK HERE.

As sad as this particular night is for me, I thank God for the beauty that surrounds me: for a child who loves me and is doing OK: for the promise of a future which may look pretty grim with the Bush clan... but with all of our efforts and our voices and our grit, this will change.

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL HERE! DON"T LOOSE THE FAITH. BELIEVE AND LOVE AND HAVE HOPE. :hi:

[everythingsxen]

1. Some good sentiments there Raven!

:yourock:

[Raven]

2. Thanks everythingsxen.

But you didn't say you agreed and I hate that cross & bones! :-)

[everythingsxen]

6. Well..

I agree. :D

Sorry about the skull an bones matey... but I be the skerge o the high seas! Yarr!

Do ye hear me RIAA? Yarr!! I be stealin yer music as we speak! Yarr! :D

I couldn't find a better avatar honestly. I am a sucker for skull designs. Soooo pretty..... :crazy:

If they had some kickass looking demon or somethin, I'd probly use that. Hrrm... maybe I will change it in honor of 2004 though...

[AlienGirl]

14. Oh, leave yer skull

A demon would be too much of a cliche, and they don't have anything that better expresses your...ahm..."piratey" nature.

Yeah.

Pirates.


Tucker

[everythingsxen]

17. Bwahahahahaahahahaha!

Mmmmm piracy. Yarr. ;-)

[nostamj]

3. it would be dishonest to deny it

2003 turned out to be the worst year in memory.

i thought the writer's block and the strife it caused with my long-time writing partner (20+ years) was bad...

and the health issues...

and then, out of the fucking blue, on my 10th anniversary with my current job, I have no future there....

so, while I try to hold some excitement about creating my own business and emphasizing my creative abilities (within a graphics/web/writing template) rather than the drone work that has characterized much of the last decade...

it's still scary. my security blanket and net will be GONE in the next month...

[Raven]

7. I'm sorry Nostamj

it sounds like 2003 sucked but create your own business...I did 12 years ago and it was the very best thing I ever did. Nothing like depending on yourself rather that some asshole boss who doesn't know shit! Trust yourself, your instincts and your skills.

[nostamj]

11. "my own business" is in progress

my online store is 'up' in a test mode (see "mugs for liberals" link in my sig)

the website is coming together and i've had a few 'nibbles' for work after the (faux) holidays.

my work being in Bev's BLACK BOX VOTING is a nice credit.

i think i'll pull it off.

<insert LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD theme here>

I THINK I CAN
I THINK I CAN

(thanks Raven!)

[Lisa0825]

4. Yeah, I have to remember to count my blessings too.

NYE is melancholy for me this year. This time last year, I was in Mexico City with my then boyfriend, and I had what were probably as of yet, the best 10 days of my life. We broke up a few month back, and just remembering how happy I was a year ago makes me long to feel that way again. I was invited to go out tonight, but I don't feel up to it. Especially at midnight, when everyone will be kissing their S.O., and I'll be thinking about mine.

But I know I have a lot to be thankful for. I just have to keep reminding myself.

[Raven]

9. Lisa,

there is just nothing that can make what you are feeling go away. As I say, the memories of this time of year are the most difficult when they involve people we love. There is someone out there who is better for you, I know there is!

[KC21304]

5. Thanks, Raven for a wonderful message.

:hi: Not feeling sorry for myself, but I have the same apprehensions as you regarding 2004. Here's hoping with a lot of work we can give this country a better future than the Bush clan has in store for us. Have a great New Year.

[VelmaD]

8. I can't complain too much about 2003...

Yes it was bad. There was a world of trouble and woe and on top of the "real world" being in a state of wholesale higgledy-piggledy, my personal life and work life were both a mess for most of the year.

But it shook me out of my complacency and made me care more and work harder to change things than I had been. Getting more involved led me to some wonderful people - many on this board, yourself and your lovely son included. :-)

I'm going to sit tonight with a glass of wine and a candle and contemplate this year - try to make it all make sense. And then try to figure out what I want from the coming year. Thank you for the reminder that no matter what bad things happened this year, it could have been worse. And that there is still light and love and hope if we all have faith and work hard.

I'm sorry for the loss of your father Raven. :hug:

[Raven]

12. Thanks Velma.

You have the right idea! A glass of wine; what can be better this year; what we can change. All good thoughts when day breaks tomorrow!

[VelmaD]

13. The universe has been trying to talk to me...

for a while now. It's been telling me I need to make big changes in my life. Get out of a job I hate. Really truly finally move on from the breakup and see if I can't stumble onto love again. Move away from the place where I've become so complacent and start fresh. I just have to sit and listen and take the message to heart and do it.

I don't know where I'm gonna go yet. I'm scared to death and it's terrifying and exhilerating at the same time. But if I don't move and make changes soon I'm afraid I never will and I'll be stuck in this same rut for the rest of my life.

New Year's is always a good time to psyche yourself up and make that change.

Anybody who knows where there's a job to be had for a hopefully soon-to-be ex-auditor who wants to get back to her roots in social work and community organizing - gimme a holler. :-)

[supernova]

10. Rock on Raven!

:yourock:

Yes we are safe and we can make a difference.

For the first time since 1996, I'm going out for New Year's. A get together at a friend's house. Looking forward to it actually as I'm not known as much of a partier.

But 2004 could be my (our Dems!) year! :party:

[MaineDem]

15. Happy New Year, Raven

I understand the sorrow at the anniversary of your father's passing. My father's been gone 17 years (seems like it was yesterday) and I'd give anything to have him around to talk with. He'd be through the roof over the present administration. I got my political inclinations from him and I'm so thankful for that.

2003 has to be the worst year for our country in my entire 52 year life. But it's the year I discovered DU so I have that to be grateful for. I've been able to gain an insight into the minds of some great people through their posts.

I'm not feeling sorry for myself but I do feel sorry for the USA and the people of the world whom we have hurt. I mourn our military dead and the civilians lost during this illegal occupation of Iraq.

I pledge to do whatever I can to make the US an ally of the peace-loving people of the world. I'll do that by making sure we have regime change in Washington. It's the least I can do.

Happy 2004 to you, Raven. It's people like you who make DU the wonderful place it is.

[foreigncorrespondent]

16. It is already 2004 here...

...and New Years eve was a bad one for me.

My partner had to rush her mother to hospital yesterday with a very serious illness. Now my future mother-in-law, is in ICU.

I am 8,000 miles away from my partner, and unable to be with her at this time.

Last night even after quite a few drinks, I still had a very sleepless night, and when I would sleep, I would have the worst dreams of my life.

2004 is going to be a better year, damn it! My partner and I are going to see a lot more of each other, rather than the 28 days a year together, we have had for the last two years.

The Dems are going to kick ass in November. And the wanker-in-chief will be out on his ass.

[Skittles]

18. THANKS RAVEN

for putting things into perspective. I get letters from soldiers in Iraq who do the same thing. I'm wishing you and Will a very happy new year! :*

[Raven]

19. Thanks Skittles

and a happy and hopeful New Year to you too! :-)