A belated Happy New Year to you all. I'm happy to be talking to you again on this blog. It was nice to read all the comments you sent in about having a cold. Luckily, I am feeling well at the moment. I don't have a cold and I hope I can stay healthy! It's not very nice being ill at this time of year.
And if you are feeling a little unhappy then today is not the day to try and feel better. In Britain, 22nd January has officially been named the most depressing day of the year. It has even been given a name - "Blue Monday". Blue is sometimes used in English to mean sad or miserable. You might say - I'm feeling a bit blue, or I've got the blues. You might have the January blues - you feel sad because it's January and the joy of celebrating Christmas is over. Photo: 1998 EyeWire, Inc.
So why is this day supposed to be so bad? Well researchers who have looked into this say one reason is the weather. In January it is cold, it get's dark at around 4 o'clock and it is generally a very grey month. 2008 is no exception - it's no different. This January it has been raining for the past week, so it's very grey and wet outside. Here is a picture from some of the flooding (when water covers an area that is usually dry) that has happened in the south of England just this weekend.
Another reason is money. A lot of people in the UK get paid from their jobs at the end of the month, so by this time in January they are really struggling, or having difficulties with their money just before pay day. British people traditionally spend a lot of money in December on presents and parties for Christmas, and it is around this time that people start to receive their credit card bills. They get depressed about their Christmas debts, the money they owe to other people.
A third reason is connected to New Year's resolutions. These are kind of promises that people make to do something now a new year has started. So it might be that you say you are going to lose weight, or maybe stop smoking. These are often difficult things to decide to do and it is around this time, a few weeks into the new year, that people give up - they stop trying. This can also make people sad.
So the weather is bad, people have no money and they have failed to keep their New Year's resolutions to themselves. Obviously not everyone feels sad - but maybe you can help the ones who do.
I'd like to know what you do to make yourself happy and cheer yourself up when you are sad. Send us your suggestions and we will try them out here at BBC Learning English. We can see if your ideas do make us feel happier. Do you agree that this time of year is depressing?
I look forward to hearing from you. I'm sending you all happy thoughts!
sponsor:
We are one of biggest manufacturer specialize in producing all kinds of decorative charger plate:charger plates,gold charger plate,silver charger plate,glass plate and stained glass.
Are you wondering where you can buy it: Rolex Replica, replica watches,watch replica, Well we probably can't help you find it for free, but we can show you the following places to buy it online. All replica watch are brand new, 1-Year Warranty!
You Can buy wood door and steel door direct from china door factory now
Snapping at someone who offers well-intentioned advice diminishes us more than it does the other person. Why not simply be grateful?
