This'll cheer me up - eventually

[woolymonkey]

"research suggests that 44 is the age at which we are most vulnerable to depression."

I'm 43 until March.  If I can make it through the year after that, things can only get better.  Right?

Comments

[teenybuffalo.livejournal.com]

Right. {{{Wooly}}}

That's oddly cheering. Although our mileage may vary. Personally, I think last year was the year I was most susceptible to depression, and it's all downhill from here. Or uphill. Whichever indicates improvement. Frankly neither term sounds that promising. Anyhow, send up a flag when the 44-ness starts, so I can send you cheerful-making stuff. (I was going to say "cute kitten videos", but what cheers *me* up fast is zombie movies and action violence. How about you?:-)

[woolymonkey.livejournal.com]

What works best for me is black humour, snarkiness, and either grim realism but with laffs or pure silly escapism. The Lives of Others, P G Wodehouse, Terry Pratchett, Gilbert Grape, Pirates, The Fast Show... But it has to be good. Nothing is more depressing than funny stuff that doesn't make me laugh.

[justawench.livejournal.com]

Wow, so I can look forward to being *more* depressed someday? Yay.

Just hang in there! Pretty pirates have got to help - maybe they should study that. ;)

[woolymonkey.livejournal.com]

Yeah, pretty pirates are always a help.
Nice pic :) :) :)

[smtfhw.livejournal.com]

My "research" carried out by watching my friends over the years, says that number should read 34...

[woolymonkey.livejournal.com]

Suspect your methods are every bit as scientific as theirs.

[smtfhw.livejournal.com]

Without a doubt... How was the pie, by the way? And more importantly, what was the filling?

[woolymonkey.livejournal.com]

Steak and mushroom - at least, that's what it said on the packet.

Tuesdays are orchestra, choir, and food that can heat itself up on timer while we're out. These were from M&S and really rather good. (With purple sprouting broccoli from the market.)

[hippediva.livejournal.com]

I think research is full of it. Just remember this: after 40, you can officially qualify as Middle-Aged. Which means you can tell everyone to take a flying leap. Wait until you hit 50! That's even more fun! Then you're officially an 'Old Bat' and can get away with nearly anything. *giggle*

Seriously, hang in there. Getting older ain't for the faint-hearted. *G*

[woolymonkey.livejournal.com]

One thing I do like about getting older is that the uglier I get, the easier it is to be funny.

44

[(Anonymous)]

Hmm...Isn't 44 Great Thought's answer to the problem of Life, the Universe and Everything in the Hitchhiker's Guide?

I read the article with considerable scepticism, but I don't want to destroy hope and it is true that peaks for suicide and attempted suicide, although different, and different in men and women, are all earlier in life than 45, especially if one ignores a smaller peak in old age (No need to think of that yet!). Then depression is, fortunately, not quite the same thing.

The author has something in saying that it is a time when many people start to accept that "they are not going to be Napoleon or Montaigne", but there can be either comforting irony or deep gloom in the Ent's little rhyme which you may remember, roughly:

"I am
A thing that moves on a predestined groove
Not a car, not a bus, but a tram"

Jung was very interested in the ones that felt gloomy and dissatisfied,rather than resigned, in other words depressed, at that stage of life. For him it was suggestive of an unfulfilled and unconscious creative potential demanding to be expressed, so there was hope of much developement and thriving in such people after middle age (which is now, I suppose the magic 44. )

Well I am not sure that this is likely to be successful in cheering you up. perhaps the best thing to do would be to try to give you a good birthday at the beginning of such a fateful year. See you tomorrow and think what might give a good start -and don't get stressed if you have no idea, I'll then think up some thing...

Love

Nanamonkey

Re: 44

[woolymonkey.livejournal.com]

There was a young man who said "damn",
It seems to me that I am,
compelled to move,
in a predestined groove,
I'm not even a bus, I'm a tram.

[(Anonymous)]

there is something fateful about number 44. I was born in 44 so I SHOULD KNOW BEST.I'll soon be 64 and I've reached the stage where I'm pulling my hair out by the handful! it keeps growing again though, and standng on my head keeps it healthy and thick.
But I'm sure you were born under a lucky star.I can vouch for it. I REMEMBER THE DAY VERY WELL. so all you have to look forward to is loads of good luck and happiness... Don't forget to stand on your head all the same...We went to the museum yesterday to see a very interesting gorilla exhibition... much more impressive than little wooly monkeys. We had the pleasant surprise to see some corn snakes as well... real beauties! I'd love finding one in my garden...love and happy forthcoming birthday... Antoinette

[woolymonkey.livejournal.com]

Wow! Not only you can post comments on LJ, but you can do it STANDING ON YOUR HEAD. I'm impressed.

Gorillas? Can they swing through the branches using their tails? Hmm?