What did santa NOT get you?

My main present was 6 more paid driving lessons, although I was hoping santa might of brought my hl2, and a palm wifi card, but I got loads of other useless and pointless stuff :smile:

About 5 selection box's of choc, erw...

At least you didn't get underwears and socks.

But I already bought myself HL2 for Christmas. When you really want something for Christmas, you gotta buy it yourself.

6 pairs of socks, actually :smile: , amoungst thousands of cans of deorrent, body wash, hair wash, genital wash, soap, hair wash, the list is quite endless. :razz: Got only ?17 in money.

I should stop bitching, there are people out there sleeping rough, dying, and having a generally unhappy christmas. I've been around my family all day, and i've got awsome prezzies in the past.

Although, half life 2 would of been nice. :biggrin:

I got a load of wierd useless crap, like yet another pen knife (I already have a 1 1/2 inch thick Swiss!). At least I got a cool guitar port though.

My sister got about three times more presents than me and she's
actually in a bad mood because she didn't get anything huge. :rolleyes:

When someone doesn't appreciate the things that she/he has, they're missing out on life itself.

Happiness is a state of mind that depends only on one's perspective. A man (or woman) can be totally content even though there is a dearth of material goods. On the flip side, a person can be miserable even if he/she is the richest person on Earth.

Happiness is always there, you just need to have the right mindset to attain it.

I see what your coming at, but tbh I think its kinda wrong in some ways. I'm not unhappy with what I got because its cheap or anything, in fact one of my favorite presents (don't know why) is a small LED keyring that can light up my whole room. Its just easy to see what presents have been researched before being bought. I already have about 8 pen knives!

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting satchmo</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>When someone doesn't appreciate the things that she/he has, they're missing out on life itself.

Happiness is a state of mind that depends only on one's perspective. A man (or woman) can be totally content even though there is a dearth of material goods. On the flip side, a person can be miserable even if he/she is the richest person on Earth.

Happiness is always there, you just need to have the right mindset to attain it.

</DIV></DIV>
Aside from the fact that what you're saying is almost totally irrelevant to the thread, you're wrong. Happiness is not always there; at times of my life when I've been anxious/depressed, someone giving me a useless saying like 'take things one day at a time' or 'happiness is just waiting to be found' never did me any good because I could never really believe it; they were simply saying words, having no idea what I really thought and felt like. You're right - it is all about perspective; when you're sad - not just unhappy, but truly in a funk of sadness - you lose all conception of what happiness feels like. When you're deliriously happy, you lose all conception of sadness. It's simply impossible to try and instantly bridge that gap with a saying; mood fluctuates naturally.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Cassius</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>
Aside from the fact that what you're saying is almost totally irrelevant to the thread, you're wrong. Happiness is not always there; at times of my life when I've been anxious/depressed, someone giving me a useless saying like 'take things one day at a time' or 'happiness is just waiting to be found' never did me any good because I could never really believe it; they were simply saying words, having no idea what I really thought and felt like. You're right - it is all about perspective; when you're sad - not just unhappy, but truly in a funk of sadness - you lose all conception of what happiness feels like. When you're deliriously happy, you lose all conception of sadness. It's simply impossible to try and instantly bridge that gap with a saying; mood fluctuates naturally.

</DIV></DIV>

i can honestly say, that i doubt very many of you had a childhood like mine. i can also honestly say that people whom are weak minded often blame their short comings off on anything BUT where the problem lies.. which is to say, THEY are at fault.

my childhood contained almost everything you can imagine as far as "abuse" defines. and i rarely if ever allow it to effect my adult views.

this may, or may not be relevant to what Cassius said, but speaking as a survivor of a horrid childhood... being sad, miserable, or just plain feeling sorry for one self is NOT as bad as it can get. consider yourself very lucky you don't have to put up with the issues i had to.

life indeed is "what YOU make of it"
/ rambling.

I don't think so. Happiness is not made, it occurs. We react emotionally to every situation we find ourselves in, and trying to force a good feeling out of a bad place has never, in the long or short term, ever done me any good. React honestly to what you perceive.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Cassius</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>I don't think so. Happiness is not made, it occurs. We react emotionally to every situation we find ourselves in, and trying to force a good feeling out of a bad place has never, in the long or short term, ever done me any good. React honestly to what you perceive.</DIV></DIV>

well, i'm sorry you feel that way cass, but i am not the one to convince you otherwise. i would never wish you harm, but the only way you will ever see is when/if something worse occurs. there are "living hells" and "living nightmare's" i promise. and people survive them just fine. sadly some don't. the ones who don't, pass on the tradition of abuse, creating the next generation of sad children.
my dearest hope, is that you only have your current troubles. if you get none worse, you will be just fine.

It's simply impossible to try and instantly bridge that gap with a saying

Amen to Orpheus. I never intend to change one's mood from a thread posting. I am just pointing out how happiness can be attained. I didn't say it's easy. But there are times when the only thing that you can still hold on to is hope and a bright perspective, you better make your best effort to grab it and never let go.

Anyone can beat himself up for something that's insignificant, that's not difficult to do. Unfortunately, it's much more difficult to look at things from the brighter side when the going gets tough. Life is cruel and uncaring, and circumstances are almost always beyond our control. The only weapon we have against adversity is how we perceive the world and our attitude.

Anyone seen "Life is Beautiful"? It illustrates my point perfectly. Even in the horror of a Nazi concentration camp, a father can shield his son from the nightmare by changing the perspective on things. Yes, I know it's just a movie, but it demonstrates the triumph of the human spirit against all odds.

I understand how depression can be overwhelming at times, and if it's a true clinical depression, one loses his/her perspective (by definition, that's how clinical depression works). Nothing seems possible, and life becomes meaningless. However, everything outside of a true clinical depression can be conquered by a change in perspective. I didn't say it's easy, but I believe it's feasible.

Having worked on the oncology ward at a Children's Hospital, I've seen inspiration and courage budding from the most barren fields. If one loses sight of hope and the positive attitude, then all is truly lost.

Maybe I'm a optimist, but perchance that's what keeps me going. What's wrong with that if I have this type of fuel that drives me?

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting satchmo</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Maybe I'm a optimist, but perchance that's what keeps me going. What's wrong with that if I have this type of fuel that drives me?</DIV></DIV>

far be it for me to present a false disposition. i am not an optimist, at least not the Webster definition of the word. i believe life stinks, but i also believe that if you omit that portion and concentrate on whats left, you will be alright. i know i said this before, but it still is true for me. the youth around the pit, they live in a circle and constantly worry about whats on the OUTSIDE of it. they always complain or bellyache, or otherwise look at the darkest portions of life, because its outside their little circles. me, i look inward, my circle expands and contracts from time to time, but i still stay inside it. sometimes i think the circle has exceeded my ability to cope but i prevail, cause i have to.

kids today, at least the ones whom really don't know what "rough" or "tough" genuinely means.. as i said, i would never wish harm upon them, but imagine, you are 5, and the person whom you are supposed to trust is beating you with their fists. your last thought before you slip into unconsciouses "why"

i would have given anything to have most of todays childhood "problems"..

anywho's today is a day of happy, this topic has turned a funny direction. not one i am hesitant to continue, cause i can deal with it. but i also feel that it may be hard for some as well.
life is what you make of it guys, i swear. i still ask "why" sometimes, but i just draw my circle in till i can cope again.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting satchmo</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>At least you didn't get underwears and socks.</DIV></DIV>

I actually had a good Christmas for once. There was a point in the middle of opening presents when I started wondering if I was the pairs of boxers would stop coming from out under the tree. The reason why I had a good Christmas because there was actually less arguing than normal. I also god some usefull things and a copy of WoW. :biggrin:

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting satchmo</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>
I understand how depression can be overwhelming at times, and if it's a true clinical depression, one loses his/her perspective (by definition, that's how clinical depression works). Nothing seems possible, and life becomes meaningless. However, everything outside of a true clinical depression can be conquered by a change in perspective. I didn't say it's easy, but I believe it's feasible.

</DIV></DIV>

That's the thing: it isn't. Depression, as I have experienced it (both clinical and 'not-clinical,' at different times of my life), is not something that any degree of perspective can change. A hopeful perspective can be true, it can be correct - if you tell yourself that you will be happy again, of course you'd be right - it can't help you. It alleviates nothing, because depression is not like a child's crying fit; it doesn't have to be based on anything apparent, real, or concrete, and it is certainly not based on anything petty or anything that can be 'thought away.'
One of the few things of true value I have learned from my experiences: feelings are like places. A happy person can remember feeling sadness and extend every sympathy towards someone who is truly sad, but neither can truly understand how the other feels. They are utterly foreign to each other. Telling someone of happiness communicates this: absolutely nothing. I apologize for being angry, but don't tell me about good perspective, about hope and positivity, because I have seen the lives of people very close to me go to places that you or I could never understand with a lifetime of idle observation and a million phrases or maxims about living a meaningful and fulfilled life.

Ignoring what everyone else has written, I would like to say Santa didn't give me a button to turn off these damn laggy bastard snarks.

Ignoring what everyone else has written, I would like to say
Santa didn't give me a button to turn off these damn laggy bastard
snarks.

hmm.. what snarks? Don't tell me there are snark falling all over your screens but not mine :sad:

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Cash Car Star</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Ignoring what everyone else has written, I would like to say Santa didn't give me a button to turn off these damn laggy bastard snarks.</DIV></DIV>
i hear tell that a substandard browser called firef*thwacks ensue*

Cash Car Star said:
Ignoring what everyone else has written, I would
like to say Santa didn't give me a button to turn off these damn laggy
bastard snarks.

i hear tell that a substandard browser called firef*thwacks ensue*

seems like the snarkflakes are only working in IE :'( and for some reason the smiley panel to the right has vanished :'(

*ahem*orph,I'dsayIE'sthesubstandardone*ahem* :wink:

/curses IE

Personally, I think the joy of Christmas lies in what you give other people. I'm pretty happy with the gifts that I got, but it's much more fun to give than to get.

On the "happiness" topic... I'm of pretty much the same opinion as Satchmo, but then, my childhood was perfect. Most people don't believe me when I say that, but it's absolutely true. I've never known depression, or even probably true sadness. I have felt great pain on behalf of friends who are going through really tough times, but I never experienced anything like it myself.

I asked for a proper bussiness suit and instead got a free ticket to go
buy a sports jacket. Not what I wanted but it'll suffice for now.

Santa didn't bring me money, power, or good looks so it looks like I won't be getting any girls in 2005.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Yak_Fighter</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Santa didn't bring me money, power, or good looks so it looks like I won't be getting any girls in 2005.

</DIV></DIV>
every time i read your sig, i giggle. maybe you weren't joking, in which case i will stop giggling next time i read it. :biggrin:

:razz: I got my sig from something I overheard in HL2. I had two resistance fighters with me and got them to start talking. The man said the first line and the woman said the next...

Every Christmas I get heaps of cash in those damn envelopes that can't be opened without tearing them to pieces. No matter how many times I ask for a letter opener for Christmas, I never get one.

I know that chubby chump DIDN'T get me HL2.

Off to Best Buy!

hhmmmmm..................... I got mostly money and a voucher for NEXT,
along with some dvd's and a couple of games, so I went out and got
myself some new 5.1 speakers and an MP3 player [creative muvo2 :biggrin: ],
although most of you won't want to know, I also bought some Friends
DVD's :wink:

My best present, was prolly from my GF, she got me 2 tickets to go on the london eye :biggrin:

Mobile phone (x3 o2 phone), digi cam (5 m pixels) , dvd's , boxers, shaver, prince of persia 2 game, goldeneye rogue agent (both ps2)

plus money and chocolates from mates and deodorant from a mate

I got clothes galore. My birthday is freaking December 20th, so I
get crap for both because noone has money to get me presents, its all
xmas stuff. I got one X-Box game. My dad used the excuse
that all my "computer upgrades" (a $40 gfx card and a 356 MB RAM)
really cost him. I got Half-Life 2 for my birthday, though.
I wanted X-Box live too...but...sadly