Generally and specifically, things that have helped.

• Supportive friends, lovers, and family
• Taking time & making an effort to understand mental illness, mood disorders, and codependency
• Seeing a counselor regularly.
• Hugs
• Smiles
• Reassuring words
• My mom & auntie, for interrupting
• Postsecret
• Ludovico Einaudi's 'Primavera'
• Playing the piano
• Reading
• Talking about it. Keeping it from being taboo.
• Seeking help
• Books & information online/at the library
• Netflix~ Avatar: The Last Airbender, Once Upon A Time, & other shows that were uplifting during very difficult times (the throws of both major depressive episodes).
• Luna; my fluffy, feisty, temperamental cat.. who has a soft side just for me (: Playing with her, taking care of her, spending time with her in general.
• Knitting, crafty hands-on things
• Sarah-conversating/movie-talk & care/initiative; crisis-center (counselors), hospital (nurses, doctors, patients/friends); Kiley
• Sleepovers, movie nights/rituals with Kiley
• KILEY'S COOKING. Southern mama love.
• Kiley's humor that has been wackily correlated with mine since our partner-in-crime friendship started in the 4th grade. This is the longest-standing non-blood related friendship I have had. Many memories, milestones, and haphazard/last minute pull-throughs we have shared together! Most of all though, I think we've shared laughs (: These have especially helped me through the dark times.
• Shiloh; Kiley's loving, snuggly, mellow, wise, quiet cat. She is all knowing. She knowwwws. And she comforts and accepts me ^___^
• Fozzie; Ziza's always happy, bright-eyed, dolphin-faced pup. He skips around and makes me feel special and loved. He's an optimistic crusader of exuberance.
• Relatively new & spontaneously joyous friendship with Ziza. Our many talks and conversations, times spent together.. discussing the profundity of life, our thoughts, and relationships. Her constant, by-my-side (even when I'm a dick) effort to pull me up and help me believe in myself.
• Spending time in new places! Traveling! Getting out of the physical bubble I've been stuck in for periods of time.
• Blogging
• Reading other people's blogs, getting a glimpse into their lives, connecting with them, and feeling a sense of community in people who are in this thing called life together.
• Writing/Journaling
• Art-Journaling
• Painting
• Tea
• Being outside! Being in nature!
• Exercising
• Warm showers and bubble baths; taking care of mi cuerpo. Indulging myself in small luxuries and making myself feel like a queen.
• GRATITUDE. This has been a big one. Taking the time to reflect and be grateful for the things I do have. Celebrating every positive occurrence, improvement, feeling, thought, person in my life. Spending time acknowledging and dwelling on these things inspires me to live a life of giving back. Because of these things...small or large, life is beautiful. I have hope and believe in the good of this world.