"Man is a creature of hope and invention, both of which belie the idea that things cannot be changed." ~ Tom Clancy
Feeling letdown? That's okay. The blues are a shade of the spectrum of life's passionate colors.
"Life is complicated," observed screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan. "And life has sadness, and some of the funniest things come out of our most dire circumstances."
Post-Christmas bills, weight gain, an overflowing in-box, and the return to the daily grind can be outright depressing.
But take heart..."Tears are often a gift from God, and sadness is a healthy emotion," explained author Alan Loy McGinnis.
Experts advise us to ease back into our normal routine. Pace yourself. Relax and be gentle with yourself. Tell your loved ones what you need.That's much better than a grumpy face or a sad heart.
And as the coming New Year brings the spirit of self-assessment and resolution, go easy. Set realistic goals and a concrete strategy to meet them.
"One of the first signs of being depressed is that you lose interest in things," observed actor Nicolas Cage. "That's why I think it is important to stay passionate."
Stay hopeful... and (of course) passionate!