Feeling blue? Do something! Anything!

It's not hard for depression to rear its ugly head in the lives of the self-employed.

1. My advertising's not working.
2. I don't have enough money to market properly.
3. Why are my competitors getting all the listings?
4. My car broke down and is going to cost $3,233.47 to repair.
5. How can I get more ActiveRain points?

I'm not talking clinical depression here. I'm talking about feeling blue, disheartened, gloomy. Wondering why, if life is a bowl of cherries, you feel like the pits. I'm talking about the downs in the normal life cycle of ups and downs. Even Mother and Father Nature created ups and downs: mountains and valleys, night and day, rain and sun.

Even I get depressed occasionally, but I've learned that the best way to work my way out of the depressions is to, uh, work my way out!

Get up and go! Move! Do! Act! Do something! Anything! A nice walk in the neighborhood can be very calming and relaxing. You might even meet someone new. In fact, take a pen and notepad with you. Note things about the neighborhood, about your neighbors' houses. Then, when you get home, send a little note to your neighbors:

1. Hello! I was walking past your house this morning and noticed your beautiful roses. I just wanted to compliment you on them. I'm a Realtor living at 1234 Penny Lane. If you or anyone you know can use my services, I'd appreciate you letting me know or giving them my contact information. I look forward to walking past your house again and enjoying the beautiful roses.
2. Hello! I was walking past your house this morning and noticed your new Camaro. I had a 1973 Type LT Rally Sport when I was in college. I loved it! I'm a Realtor living at 1234 Penny Lane. If you or anyone you know can use my services, I'd appreciate you letting me know or giving them my contact information. Best wishes!
3. Hello! I was walking past your house this morning and noticed the children playing in your yard. My last child just went off to college. I'm going to miss having a child full of energy living at home. I'm a Realtor living at 1234 Penny Lane. If you or anyone you know can use my services, I'd appreciate you letting me know or giving them my contact information. Enjoy your children; they grow up too fast!
4. Hello! I was walking past your house this morning and saw you leaving. I loved the beautiful green dress you had on! I'm a Realtor living at 1234 Penny Lane. If you or anyone you know can use my services, I'd appreciate you letting me know or giving them my contact information. Hope you had a great day!
5. Hello! I was walking past your house this morning and saw your child leaving with what looked like a music instrument case. I play the piano in chamber music groups around the County. I'm also a Realtor living at 1234 Penny Lane. If you or anyone you know can use my services, I'd appreciate you letting me know or giving them my contact information. Hope you had a great day!

Common depression often results when you believe that you haven't accomplished all that you can, that you haven't been all that you can be. Self doubt. It can rob you of your energy, which is why it's important to get up and do something.

If your house is a mess, pick up something — anything! — and do something with it. Put it away. Throw it away. Send it to your mother-in-law. Pick up something else and do something with it. Eventually you'll have a clean house, but before eventually gets here, you'll also have worked your way out of your depression.

Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not; it is the first lesson that ought to be learned; and however early a man's training begins, it is probably the last lesson that he learns thoroughly. — Thomas Huxley (1825-1895)