Most depressing day of the Year?

I don't think so!

Apparently, Monday, January 21, has been officially declared the gloomiest day of the year.

Psychologist Cliff Arnall, an expert in depression, has used a mathematical formula to pinpoint today as Blue Monday. He says it is the day when six factors come together to leave us at our most miserable. They are:

1. the dank and gloomy weather;
   
2. Christmas debt;
   
3. a feeling of monotony after the Christmas cheer has faded;
   
4. broken New Year's resolutions;
   
5. low levels of motivation;
   
6. and a desperate feeling that you need to take action to improve your drab existence.

So, as it's my birthday and that gives me the right to speak as I feel for 24 hours, here are my solutions to the above problems:

1. the dank and gloomy weather; - Hey, it's January. the weather is always miserable in January - always has been and always will be. Get used to it! Buy a warm coat, boots and an umbrella and get out and enjoy it!
2. Christmas debt; Well, there is an obvious answer to this...if you haven't got it, don't spend it. Stop letting yourself become trapped by pre-christmas advertising that says you must have this and must have that. You don't. And don't submit to blackmail by your children who will accuse you of being a bad mother or father for not providing them with the latest gadget or craze. Tell them instead to go start their own craze using string and an empty baked bean tin.
   
3. a feeling of monotony after the Christmas cheer has faded; OK, I'm helped by having a birthday a few weeks after Christmas but it's easy enough to plan to do something so that you have something to look forward to..I don't know, a day out on a windswept beach or a splash in all those puddles!
   
4. broken New Year's resolutions; That's easy. Don't make any then you won't be disappointed if you fail. Aim to make slow, longer-lasting changes instead.
   
5. low levels of motivation; You know what? We all have those all through the year. It happens. Deal with it like the rest of us do.
   
6. and a desperate feeling that you need to take action to improve your drab existence. Then take action! Don't wallow in your misery. Damn well do something to improve your drab existence and stop blaming everyone else for your sad life. No-one but you can improve it.

There endeth today's rant!