Well the holidays are rolling around and not far behind is the Bah Humbug feelings and sometimes worse.

If you are feeling the crunch that life just generally sucks reach out and let some one know. People do care and you are not alone. Mingle is a community and this can be a place to start.

Won't kid anyone that the road from where you are at to where you want to be some times can be pretty rocky but it is a journey and there are maps and friends to guide you.

Some will be sweet and empathetic and other can kind of crunch your pity pot and point and laugh until you pick yourself up by your boot straps.

Below is a list of help that anyone; young, old, rich, poor smart or downright stupid can turn to without getting your chops busted. There are many others but these are some of my first go to places when someone asks me for help. Everyone has hard times and good times. Get help when you need it give it back when you are not in need. Even when you are in need sometimes it gives you energy and hope to help others.

1-800-273-8255 The National Suicide Hotline
Weather you are in crisis or just uneasy this is the way to learn about the fourth leading cause of death and how to prevent using a permanent answer to a short term problem. They can also help resolve BIG problems with real help. Put this number in your directory you will need it in your lifetime.

DIAL 211;
from any phone that can connect you to ATT. This is a comprehensive resource line staffed by confidential resource people that can give you names, address, phone numbers, and web addresses nationwide. Have a pen and paper when you call. While if you are reading this you already have a basic knowledge of the internet but if you have no clue what to look up take a stroll through the Blue Pages of your phone book. Most government and resource agencies are listed there also.

CALL A COP
The local police non-emergency number. 911 is really limited to acute immediate emergencies but the non emergency number can often refer you to useful resources even in the smallest communities. It may be hard to trust the police because they have to be pretty stern in most of their dealings but it still almost always pays to ask people who have dedicated their lives to protecting and defending to look out for you. Often when people want to help they make their help available to people referred through police departments. If you have ever felt nobody helps you it is because you have to make yourself seen. If you are struggling as any special population especially let your local beat cop know you would like a heads up when special help is available. You will be pleasantly surprised how much them knowing your needs can help you and the ones you love.

NAMI
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill is open 24/7/365 to help both the mentally ill and the people that love them or just have to live in the world with them. There FREE information is easy to understand and up to date. You don't have to be stone crazy for these folks to improve the quality of your life. Their help and information is confidential if you

The Employment Office
You need a job or want a better job show up and get on their boards for resources. They will be represented at almost every job fair and if you want training, a job, a better job, or even resolve certain job problems they can often help. AND IT IS FREE. This is especially important to first time job seekers, older (45+), and protected workers. If you don't know if you are a protected worker google it.

Special Student Services
Any publicly funded school, community college, or university is required by law to have a Special Student Services office. If you or your dependent have a disability, are homeless, are older, or have a language barrier this is the first place to start if you want the multitude of services available to full and part time students. It is an excellent place to find employment where you live, housing, limited health care, exercise, socialization, and of course education. They also have high quality child care or can refer you to it. Many student privileges can be extended to dependent children in the company of a student. A little known fact is their job boards are required to be open to anyone who lives in the district weather students or not.

Independent Living Centers
While the American's With Disabilities Act has been around a long time and anyone who is disabled should know how this law protects them what is not always known is it also punched up the funding so that Peer Staffed Centers have been established in every major metropolitan center and all states and USA territories. These are comprehensive free services that help people with every kind of disability develop skills and resources to maximize the quality and independence of their life. It is a great venue to make friends and network. They often share special publications and being on their mail and email lists mean you hear about things in a timely manor to most take advantage of real help.

The National Council of Churches
While churches some times makes people think of Christians it is also a resource for other faiths to find Temples, Mosques, and alternative faith venues. Faith can be a big factor in coping with life and even if you have been out of practice or maybe just want to consider the options the National Council can help you connect. Faith based communities have and always will be the hands and feet of many resources using a faith venue is a gift not an obligation to practice.

Senior Centers
An exploding population of seniors means that almost all communities have some kind of program to dispense services to anyone 55 and older. If it is recreation, employment, health services, tax help, housing, transportation, or socialization your Senior Center is the first stop to link up and most of their services are free and fun. If you are under 55 chances are you are related to someone who is and eventually going to get there so it is a good place to not only find help but plan for a better retirement.

Habitat for Humanity
If your housing options are not all they can be this is a great place to start. Most Habitat programs have what are called Restores and this is basically stuff you can get to make where you live better in many ways. It has long been my first option for appliances and the skills you learn volunteering are priceless. Now many have furniture and offer referrals for various housing options. What is really great is being affiliated with Habitat is a great opportunity to meet the nicest people in your area from super stars to just quality people who will treat you as one of the team. This is a sure fire cure for loneliness and if you know a married person in Habitat the chances are they met through Habitat and or an affiliate organization.

I start getting depressed this time of year clear through Christmas. It's because all my kids are grown and have their own lives and I miss all the stuff that goes on this time of year.

I stopped getting depressed once I stopped celebrating Christmas. Now, I just get annoyed as rush hour traffic gets three times as bad as it gets closer to Christmas. Under the financial obligations of Christmas buying people get nasty and get mad at me because I refuse to say Merry Christmas and say Happy Holidays instead.

for me,Christmas (it is Christmas,not the Holidays dang it!) is the most relaxing time of year.me and my brother both get into the Christmas spirit as soon as Halloween is over

My friends don't even think about Christmas until after Remembrance Day or Veterans's day as they want to pay their respects to the Veterans first.

Yea being away from my kids tends to make me feel the blues more at holiday time.

I am trying to make new traditions.

I wish more of the Churches and Hotels would host Singles events so people could enjoy a reasonable price social option. Used to be there was dances, card tourneys, and buffets that were not horribly expensive.