What changed in your life this year?

[getdown]

Hopefully, you and yours are well, safe, reasonably happy.

How has the Depression and/or depression changed your life?

Any bright spots?

New ideas? New attitudes about who and what is important in your life? How you spend your time?

New ways to survive the "downturn;" share with others; build community?

Please share your ideas and discoveries.

May your new year be full of creative awakenings and joyful connections.

[PeaceNikki]

1. The people and Democrats of my great state of Wisconsin.

I was just going to put together a post on that, as a matter of fact.

[getdown]

3. fantastic

and major kudos to the great Senator Feingold!!!

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Teachers are waking up

It's been great to see.

[HockeyMom]

4. Yes, same in Florida

and it's nice to see that the PUBLIC supports them, even where the State (Republicans) don't. Also, nice to see that in a Right to Work State that UNIONS can pull together and work to defeat the agenda of the extreme right wing.

[getdown]

5. oh yes

from watching this, looks like this is where the class was is being fought

teachers are FEISTY!!!

[JustAnotherGen]

6. one loss

My father died. And I learned as a result - that this country can do the right thing ... Every on in awhile.

[getdown]

17. .

May he rest in Peace.

sounds like a good story there. good to know "that this country can do the right thing ... Every on in awhile."

[cherokeeprogressive]

7. My age. n/t

[getdown]

11. hahahahaha

[Yooperman]

8. A tough year for me...

The end of a 30 year marriage.... moved back to my home area of the U.P. of Michigan... that was good. Did more fishing this summer than I had in the previous 2 decades.

Still under employed after running out of unemployment insurance.... but I am debt free... just got into an affordable apartment with my sister. Moving forward... one day at a time.

Peace Love

YM

[getdown]

12. more fishin!

peace love, YM. keep on keepin on. Beautiful state to be in

[cowcommander]

9. Getting laid off nt

Gonna move out of CA soon, no more future for me here.

[getdown]

13. the Golden Dream

Amercian Dream, fading ....


what state looks good?

[rfranklin]

10. My business of twenty years pretty much shriveled up and died...

I am fortunate that I am at an age and situation where I don't have to start over. But I am saddened when I see small businesses and shops folding up. I am outraged at the fat cats who have pillaged and looted the economy and then tell the displaced that they should get more education or work for less or just chew on their bootstraps for sustenance.

[mainstreetonce]

14. My husband survived

serious cancer surgery that wouldn't have happened a few years ago. We sold the house that we moved out of for a good price. 2011 was much better than 2010 . I hope good news keeps going in 12.

[getdown]

16. more good news

and good health to you in 2012

[getdown]

15. WELL PUT.

glad you're okay. i have some friends being Mr. Pottered by their landlord of their business. Crazy mofo thinks he can squeeze blood from a turnip, or their parents have money cuz his daddy set him up in business.

[Mac1949]

18. Lost my business (bookseller for 45 years), lost a beloved pet to cancer,

lost a very close friend of 35 years because of her ultra-conservative ideology, and I learned that the forces trying to drag this country under never take a break and never give you one. We've got to keep our ideals and keep fighting for them no matter what we're hit with.

[getdown]

21. oh my

wow

we've got to and somehow, we find we can. survivors inspire others. thank you for sharing this.

and thanks for being a bookseller for 45 years!!

metta

[Mac1949]

24. Thank you. Places like this and people like you make it easier.

[Warpy]

19. Every winter, my alphabet soup of diseases act up

Last year, it was a hip that made it hard to walk and nearly impossible to sleep.

This year, it's my hands, making it hard to spin and work with the spun fiber.

Winter sucks.

[getdown]

23. there's a haiku in there somewhere

thanks Warpy, somehow the image of hands spinning thru pain is just beautiful and brave

[Motown_Johnny]

20. My Favorite Web Site!

[getdown]

22. ROFL

good one

[ms.smiler]

25. I filed a lawsuit against my mortgage servicer on a new issue and problem with property Titles.

I had been researching mortgage/foreclosure fraud and the knowledge I gained motivated me to find a fine attorney and file suit. The lawsuit has already succeeded in saving homes from foreclosure for other homeowners, but it is an opportunity for me to clear my property Title, obtain my Deed, relieve myself of a fraudulent mortgage and obtain damages.

The trial is presently scheduled for May of 2012 and I’m wondering what impact the suit will have for other homeowners with such invalid and fraudulent documents filed on their property Titles. I’d like to see many other homeowners relieved of their fraudulent mortgages while obtaining their Deeds and compensated for the harm done to them.

I had never sued anyone, so this is quite a change for me. It feels fabulous to be fighting the banksters and working to hold them accountable.

http://www.scribd.com/mssmiler

I read here every day, but because of my research and my lawsuit, I find myself posting more often and engaging more with other DU members and that has enriched my life.

[getdown]

26. that's great, i hope your work helps many others

more power to ya ms.smiler

[provis99]

27. I got fatter, poorer, and older.

Good times...

[getdown]

29. .

[GoCubsGo]

39. ..

[Jean V. Dubois]

28. Not much, really. Life is good.

[getdown]

30. esp

considering the alternative

[Survivoreesta]

31. I got a job I love!>

I'm working at a female psychiatrist's office. She specializes in survivors of sex abuse. Like me.

[getdown]

42. helping others

hope it helps you too

[HopeHoops]

32. Making an escape from the MRI room at the local hospital.

It worked.

[getdown]

43. sounds like a good move

[HopeHoops]

87. It at least amused/confused three security guards and about 15 other workers.

I'm a stubborn son of a bitch when I want to be.

[Solly Mack]

33. Moved back across the pond

Meh

I enjoy being alive. Can't get any brighter than that.

[getdown]

49. isn't that

a Dalai Lama quote?

"I enjoy being alive. Can't get any brighter than that."

[Solly Mack]

81. I don't know.

[getdown]

82. brilliant

[NorthCarolina]

34. Went without health insurance for the first time in my entire life. nt

[getdown]

50. lucky!

lasted that long, eh?

wonder if more and more good healthy alternatives, web resources, solutions will come out of this DEBACLE?

Unfortunately, Monsanto wants control of the food supply, herbs, gardens, anything people can grow to sustain themselves.

tHAT's sick

[Warren DeMontague]

35. Zombie apocalypse.

The dead just won't stay dead!

[getdown]

51. how can anyone vote Republican ever again?!@!!

[Warren DeMontague]

53. I guess that depends

on how you define "anyone"

[customerserviceguy]

36. Worked a full year at full time

I went from PT to FT only in August of 2010, it really does help my finances to have a full year of 40 hour union wages.

[getdown]

83. good for you

good fortune

[whistler162]

37. Let's see.....

Got laid off at the end of June after 25 years or 2 years depending on how you count the last layoff, and 26 weeks later got my last pay check(part of the package)

Sciatica flaired up on July 1st

Started volunteering at a local hospital

Got a new job(civil service), better health insurance, actually had two job offers to chose from. A salary reduction but with a car to drive the 300+ miles per week.

So a down and up year.

[getdown]

45. up and down

hope it balances out.

and the sciatica gives you a break. chronic pain is awful

health insurance !!!

[whistler162]

55. The sciatic flairs up every few years but is

better than the arthritis in the back that caused me to have three vertebrae opened up and removal of a disc.

Good health insurance at least until the next contract, depending on what the Cuomo administration tries to negotiate down.

Thanks.

[getdown]

56. don't know about the particulars

but have you tried swimming to help this or something else? health ins cover acupuncture?

[bemildred]

38. Not much I can believe in.

[getdown]

44. ah, belief

[lunamagica]

40. I'm on Dialysis now.....

My life just keeps getting harder and harder to live.

2011 was the worst year of my life. I went throuhg so much that it amazes me sometimes I'm still alive.

Every new year I have the hope that this year will be better, but each one has been worse than the previous one....so now I'm left wondering what new horrors await me...

[getdown]

41. sorry to hear that

"I went throuhg so much that it amazes me sometimes I'm still alive."

2011 has kicked a lot of folks in the ass ... sometimes that amazement is all that's left ...

I wish you a peaceful and painfree new year

[dana_b]

46. not a good year

for our family. I pray that 2012 will be better otherwise I don't know where we will end up.

I do know people that are doing better though. Some got jobs and some are getting the help they need. That is hopeful.

[getdown]

57. i hope so too

and this is what i wonder about (new) survival skills, people pushed to the wall, who recover with help and re-turn to help others.

wondering how far the rings of sharing and gratitude extend, from friends, families, neighborhoods, communities.

as many folks as say they have crowded closets, could sort out and set up clothes swaps, freecycling. This is what our one "great" nation has become. So let there by light!! some shred of dignity and integrity come out of it, as we lean on each other to SURVIVE

[MineralMan]

47. My big thrill this year was when Glenn Greenwald

called me simple-minded in a column. He was referring to a DU thread. I felt so...you know...honored that he took notice of a lowly anonymous poster on a discussion forum in that special way.

[getdown]

52. kudos!

praise in low places

[tammywammy]

48. I had a good year in all

I received a good raise at work and expect another good one next year (my annual review was excellent). We had a big event at work that went well and had a good celebratory party for it. I'm still doing well in school (I graduate with my bachelor's in May 2012). I've already received hints at a possible job move after I get my degree.

The only downside to the year was that my grandfather passed away. We knew it was coming, he had gangrene in his foot, but it was still very very sad. He was 90, and he would tell you that he had a good life. I miss him terribly though.

The year to come is full of good things. I'm graduating in May and starting a MBA program in the fall. Work is going well.

[getdown]

54. wonderful

sounds like you have supportive folks around you and good options. congratulations.

[Brickbat]

58. I lost 30 pounds.

Thirty more, and I'll be back to college weight. BAM! It was much easier than I thought it would be.

[getdown]

60. feels good eh?

how'd ya do it!!?

[Brickbat]

62. I resisted it for a long time, but I finally started counting calories and it worked.

I found an app where I could track calories on my iPhone and started exercising a lot more, and got a heart-rate monitor to find out how many calories I was burning. By counting calories, I was able to eat foods I wanted to -- just less of them. I didn't have to go low-carb or cut out ALL sugar or something. I didn't want to do it, but I'm glad I did.

[getdown]

63. Fave sport?

or program?

[Brickbat]

64. Running (or, as I call it, moving forward in a non-walking fashion) in the non-snowy months,

snow-shoeing in the snow, and ice hockey when I can.

Although, it's only been since July since I lost the 30. I haven't been out on the ice yet, and I'm looking forward to it.

[getdown]

65. ha ha sounds good

oh yeah hittin the ice thinner will be great

[Warren DeMontague]

59. Ah, NYE. A time for beginnings and endings. Alphas and

Omegas.

[getdown]

94. deep

[getdown]

61. relationships

[Lucky Luciano]

66. Got a new job in a small (28 employees) entrepreneurial venture and have my first kid on the way...

Still trying to figure out to make it so my wife and I can still enjoy the restaurants that NYC has to offer once he is born.

[getdown]

67. a la familia! lucky!

sounds great, good luck with ALL that and a baby too

[TBF]

68. Congrats on the baby -

and take the baby out with you. It is easy when they are small because you can carry him/her in a stroller or car seat. They will get used to the environment and often sleep right through it. When they get to be toddlers you'll get a babysitter and go out occasionally - and the break will be welcome. My best advice - sleep now.

[TBF]

69. Kind of a so-so year

nothing terribly bad, some health challenges but all meds working ok

I'm hopeful for 2012

[getdown]

70. good,

keep it up

that was some nice baby advice btw

[William769]

71. Democratic Underground. NT

[getdown]

73. DUly noted!!

[nadinbrzezinski]

72. Occupy

Been covering them for a couple local papers. (Yes that is my photo)

and on a personal level dad passed, RIP.

[getdown]

74. Great Shot!

Thanks for sharing photo and adding OWS

is that cropped? really well composed in frame. Need to make date go away and frame it.

RIP papa.

[nadinbrzezinski]

76. Nope, all I did was move it

from memory card in camera to computer drive.

Bear in mind I take a LOT of photos when I cover these things for the local papers. MOST suck.

I should charge my batteries again, now that I think about it.

[getdown]

77. you know

how to compose in the frame

on the fly lol

[Fire Walk With Me]

75. Obviously, #Occupy.

Happy new year to you!

[getdown]

79. yup

many happy returns

[Fire Walk With Me]

84. You too

[joshcryer]

78. I saw a revolution happen, the environment thrown under the rug, and Libertarians...

...given more platform on DU than ever in the entire history of posting here (going on a decade).

It's been a wild ride, to be sure.

And I am now 100% certain evil exists. I didn't think so before, but I do now.

[getdown]

80. not evil

emptiness

[eridani]

85. Well, THAT's funny......

I got on Medicare, and my health care costs dropped by 2/3.

[getdown]

93. hilarious!!

glad to hear it. Why not Medicare for all?

[eridani]

108. That is what I intend to devote my my remaining days to fighting for n/t

[getdown]

110. thank you!!!

don't let the bastids get ya down. they can't fight common sense 4ever

[mmonk]

86. No bright spots. I don't see any looking forward either.

[getdown]

90. I see

one in your sigline.

May your new year bring new space to breathe

[mmonk]

106. May the New Year bring you blessings.

[getdown]

107. thank you mmonk

[ThatsMyBarack]

88. I got a new fridge....

When my old one broke down in August!

[getdown]

91. cool!!

[bvar22]

89. The biggest change to our daily life in 2011

....was the addition of a new critter to our little family in The Woods.



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=268x5178

She has brought us much more than we have given her,
and her company has become a daily source of fascination and pleasure.


Socially & Politically, the collective protests of OWS has inspired some Hope that we can have Change.
Americans are NOT as dumb and complacent as I believed, and that is reassuring.

[getdown]

92. awwwwwwwww

sweet

beautiful reply, thank you
Happy 2012

yeah can't put that genie back in the bottle ...

[Odin2005]

96. AWWW! Bambi!

[sendero]

113. What a beautiful picture! n/t

[Odin2005]

95. I got a new job at a thrift store.

[getdown]

98. nice

good folks at thrift stores

[Odin2005]

102. I'm the book guy, there!

[getdown]

103. great gig!

at the one I go to most, I call the book room "dangerous" and go in there last ($$) ... they get some rilly good stuff.

just found classic Layout book with dust jacket for $2.75. Worth it! And helps the animals

[FreeJoe]

97. Very little

and that is a good thing. Life has been in a really nice groove for a while now. Great wife. Wonderful kids. Good friends. Good job. Good community. I'm happy.

[getdown]

99. all good!!

may it all continue in 2012

[tabbycat31]

100. Positives and negatives

For the worse-- I was screwed over royally by someone who I thought I loved. After spending my 20s not dating at all, I fall for this guy thinking that he liked me (he did at the time). It took me half the year to realize that he screwed me over. I'm now on the verge of asking someone else out.

My beloved Tabby had to be put to sleep at the age of almost 18. He was the one consistent in my life since 8th grade, and life without him was painful. I was on the road then and did not even get the chance to say goodbye.

For the better

I was able to see a part of the country that I never have been to and participate in democracy at its finest. I was very lucky to be able to spend the spring in Wisconsin working on a state senate recall. I contemplated going back for the Walker recall but ultimately decided I needed a work/life balance. Had they started two weeks later I would have been all over it.

[getdown]

104. sorry bout kitty

sounds like you're in a good place. Happy New Year

[MoonRiver]

101. It's been mixed.

Good = retired from what became the nightmare career of all time.
Bad = got cancer, but it is early stage and highly curable (guess that qualifies for good too!

Here's to a New Year full of health, hope and joy for All!

[getdown]

105. and right backatchaL Health Hope and Joy!

Happy New Year.

[femmocrat]

109. I am trying to focus on the bright side.

I am happy to still have a good-paying job with benefits, especially at my age. I have two adult sons who are also self-supporting (at last!) No major financial problems, thanks to careful planning, living moderately and still having that good job. I am truly thankful for those blessings.

But we had a family tragedy this year that has just been too hard to accept. It totally took all joy out of the holidays for me. I'm not sure when I will feel "normal" again. I am just praying for some peace in the New Year. Just taking it one day at a time....

[getdown]

111. wow

everything is a good place and wham

as far as i know this year has kicked everyone's ass BIGTIME one way or another ...

Focus on the bright side. Well put.

Peace

[rhiannon55]

112. My husband of 21 years

had a heart attack and died in August. He was my soulmate and best friend.

I'm glad 2011 is over.

[getdown]

115. ...

i called my old friend in a distant town today, who lost her husband "suddenly" this year of a 7 mon. illness.







peace to you and your husband.

[Brigid]

114. I moved to another town.

I like it much better here.

[getdown]

116. love it!

there's a creative solution