Surviving or Thriving

[Moatsandcastles]

I have been wondering how many people truly feel they are thriving not surviving in their daily life? I wonder in the light of what Meghan Markle had to say in the interview broadcast yesterday whether thriving really is the norm for most people? I feel like i have been surviving for years now. It's made me feel quite sad.

Surviving. This year has been shocking. Which given previous years havent been great is really saying something. A number of relationships I'd considered to be life long have just inexplicable disintegrated this year.

Im not sure the last time i was thriving. Actually wondering if i ever was

Volcanion

I am in a similar position to you. I have gone NC with several people I presumed to be friends as well as several family members. It has been a shock to my system.

Yes exactly that. I miss the people tremendously but their behaviour has just completely changed whether i want to see them. This was meant to be the year everything was reasonably settled and so everything fell into place. Its been the complete opposite, like someone has shaken everything up and thrown it on the floor while im standing going WTF

This seems to be a theme. i have also gone NC with a close relative and reassessed my relationship with several other people.

I think MM has had an outrageously shit time in the press but how she could say that after visiting a township where people live in utter, grinding poverty. Totally clueless.

Any chance of it resolving?

Two of mine Ive said long run I'm happy to work out cos we're "faaaamily". problem is day to day i have little or no desire to make contact with them and havent missed them. The little contact i have had, i get the exact same feeling in reverse. We used to be in daily contact. I dont know how you get back a relationship if neither really wants to spend any time or even talk with the other.

The other i miss desperately. But i know is utterly finished and i should be relieved but im just not.

My world just isnt the same shape it was at the start of the year

@MoodLighting just because other people are in a worse situation doesn't mean she can't feel depressed. It's not a competition.

Does it have to be either? I feel like I’m quite happily just plodding along really, taking things as they come...

I was surviving.
And then I decided to ignore everyone else (politely) and do the things I want to do. I have invested time and energy in my hobby and the last 12 months have felt like I am living in a fairytale. I love my job, I feel secure.
The other people in my life have somehow stopped their whinging (most of the time) and there seems less onus on me to make them happy. They have even seemed happy for me and my success.
I am thriving. For however long it lasts!

Surviving only but I get what she means. She wants more for herself and I don't blame her. It's not about money or privilege. We all want to be able to have a happy life, grow as a person, learn new things and experience joy.
I have had to deal with an extraordinary amount of crap over the last three years. I have had surgery that failed and I am going to have to have it all over again and it took me eight months to recover the last time. DH has had cancer twice. I lost my job. I was attacked. My best friend died. I have had to go NC with some family members as their behaviour was beyond the pale and although it was my choice it has pushed me to the edge of a nervous breakdown. None of this would have been easier to deal with with MM's money and position. It's partly her money and position that is causing her problems.

Currently surviving. Had a miscarriage, lost a very loved pet and am completely skint in this past week.

But most weeks I feel like I'm thriving. I honestly love my home, my DS, and I love the little things. DS took his first step yesterday. I danced in my underwear this morning. I'm currently decorating DS's bedroom and I put my all into life.

A shit week doesn't have to be a shot month, year or life. It just depends on your outlook.

My God @RegretnaGreen - you have had a bloody tough time. My heart goes out to you - you sound very strong and resilient though xx

I think I go through phases. My mum died last year and I've probably survived since. A lot of my energy has gone into trying to be patient and kind enough to my two kids but I've been grieving hard and I know I haven't been a fun parent or particularly motivated at work. I've got a verbally abusive ex and it takes some energy to just ignore him a lot of the time. I plan to start thriving again in the new year...fitness plan and new hobby 😄

Surviving.

Thriving is for people who have good strong, supportive network of family and friends coupled with enough money for their needs and some wants.

I currently have enough money but know that's time limited and have no strong network. I'm happy for people who have them though.

Think MM would have had an easier time if she'd married into the Jordanian royal family. She would have experienced everything as strange and foreign and the language barrier would have made her slow down and observe. Instead she hit the UK elite as an American. Not excusing in any way how she's been treated, it's been horrific, but I do think she had no real idea that the royal family is an entirely different planet to the USA, despite speaking English. In fact about the only thing the USA and the Royal Family (and everything that goes along with them is tabloid press) share is the language.

*including tabloid press

Sinking...not surviving or thriving...

In no particular order, the love of my life turned out to be a shameless cocklodger of the highest order so he had to go, my daughter was diagnosed with various SEN, my son was diagnosed with an inherited medical condition, my mother got cancer again requiring more surgery, I had tumour surgery earlier in the year which got infected, I then found out I have a life changing bone disorder that my surgeon says will make significant changes to my life as I may need amputation...inherited, rare and untreatable, also more tumours found that need removing and anaemia on top...that adds to the 15 other medical conditions I already have...so, on sick leave and pondering my future while I can barely get out of bed.

I'd like to say surviving (thriving is a distant memory), but I'd say at the moment I'm sinking quite rapidly.

to all you survivors. Am lucky to be thriving now but have had years of just about surviving. Keep positive things can turn around.

Mostlyhappy4 Thanks. I had to go onto antidepressants for a while but I have to get well to support my DH. He looked after me when I was unable to do it myself so I need to pay him back.

It's in periods of thriving that we grow as a person and realise our worth as humans beings. This is why we all subconsciously aim for thriving and are not happy to merely survive.