I hope you find your missing link real soon, Velvet

Ditto.  Yes!  Sorry I missed saying welcome back to you Pirate

So true. A few years ago I thought I'd never be happy again. Now....my life couldn't be better....IMO....and for me that's all that counts. 

I have a feeling that on a whole, only happy people will post in here Velvet....I think it takes a brave person to admit that they're not   

I'm mostly happy. I have a good job that I love..... I have my son who I'm really proud of and who makes me laugh loads...... I have family and friends....and of course I have you lot ......... 

...... but yeah, the icing on the cake would still be nice  

I've very very good at ignoring the things that have the potential to make me unhappy. That works well for the things I have no control over...but maybe not so well for the things I could change (Ditty told me I live in a bubble )

I empathise fully though Velvet. I think I know where you're coming from (even if I don't know how you got there ), and I hope things get better, I really do.  

My happiness fluctuates depending on the day of the month mind .....today this thread made me a bit weepy .....tomorrow I will probably be here aggressively asking if you are calling me fat.   

Chin up matey Here....borrow my bubble for a bit... 

my mother always acused me of being relentlessly happy.

she never said this with a happy face tho...

Appreciated Ducky 

Chins up...maybe I'm just a misery guts 

I'm definitely black.

Wot Yogi said . You deserve to be happy Velvet , have a cuddle 

Nah. I refuse to believe that  

Talking about it might help though and this thread is a good start. You may not have much of a choice now. There's nothing like this place for rallying round.  

Velvet - I will admit that we've not always got along but I don't like to see anyone unhappy. There's a big world outside this forum and it's easy to judge people on what they post here alone. I do hope things get better for you and the fact you've posted about it here might just be a first step to getting better 

Cags - rest assured there is no problem.

Apparently people are happy  

Lovely post Cagney  Totally agree 

Think I would disagree with a Glaswegian  

Shocker....in forumland 

Seriously though. I do think that forums and social networking in general give people an outlet to air the grievances that they wouldn't do face to face with people. Face it head on.....deal with the consequences....and try to move on. It's good to talk on here but this isn't real in the sense that it impacts your life. You can get all the advice in the world but it's what happens within your own 4 walls that count. 

No disrespect.

But that isn't exactly how it is.

As someone who's escaped from two psychiatric wards.

Warwick and Hairmeyers.

Ever been on the run?

Naw coz you wouldnae win....iver 

Nope!

But I bin on the piss ! 

No, I'm not happy. Quick fixes like tonight Germany winning are a breath of air, but no more than that.

From life?

Yes. Didn't do me any good though. Still had to face up to reality once I came back. 

Think I'm on the piss?

When I escaped from Warwick I ran through corn right into a home refurb and picked up the hammer.

Lovely couple though  

Thank you cologne.

The first person to admit life isn't a bunch of flowers  

I wish I could go on the piss  

8 weeks and I'm gonna get sooooooo pished it'll take me about a month to recover 

Nobody is totally happy. Jen said it, Ells said it, I said it. It's a fine balance. For all the bad there is always good. Even if it means the only thing you are grateful for is waking up in the morning. 

None taken. 

My post earlier was just my own ramblings about my feelings in general towards forums etc. 

its not a question of admitting life isn't always a bunch of flowers.

it's more about expectations..

Why don't you admit it then?  

Don't think anyone in this world would say life was a bunch of flowers Velvet...but there are those that are happy with there lot....knowing life could be so much worse! 

I'd like to sniff the scent though.

If you expect the worst then you can't be disappointed? 

I'm always a "glass half full" person. It could be worse but then it could be so much better and the only person who can make it better is me. Positive mental attitude.  <----it's taken me a while to think that

that i ahve low expectations and am therefore happy?

i can admit that.

not of myself but of others, ive come across  quite a few ppl who expect  some one else to  make their life better for them.

that will mostly lead to unhappiness.

So wrong end of the stick.

Does anyone understand the basic premise?

Be thankful for what you have.....and have had. Not taking away from what you might have lost but looking foward to what is ahead. Tears, heartache, loss.....it hurts at the time but you can't just give up 

i  think i was fortunate to be born as i am.

a happy disposition, and not given to dark moods or depression, which i think must be a terrible affliction, so that makes me happy too.

not that others are afflicted, but that i am not.

apaprently not me...

Obviously not. I said it before that I just don't get you. That's not being nasty now but if you want advice then don't be cryptic about the problem. You don't need to go into detail but we can't offer advice if we don't know what's wrong 

Happiness isn't born out of expectations or lack thereof  

I'd imagine it's inherent.

i think its both.

You were JB. You are you. You're happy to be you. Happy is NOT a crime. I know a few people who just whinge for the sake of whinging when in reality there are so many people who would cut off their right arm to swap places. 

We've all had unhappy times though and I think that's what shapes us. Nobody can get through it alone though and I hope VD has someone he can confide in 

Ducky.....you are the most positive person I know on here imcho...if that makes you 'in a bubble' (sorry Ditts!) then so be it....you only live once/glass half full and all a that

PS the prize for the other really positive and 'happy' person on here is Cosi....I like being  around people like that