http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=34108&in_page_id=34 Today is most depressing day of the yearMonday, January 22, 2007 Drizzle in the air, chaos on the Underground, and pay-day still at least a week away - yes, today is officially the most depressing day of the year. But even as Britain mopes in misery on so-called 'Blue Monday', some are struggling to spy a few silver linings to those black clouds above. We are actually a nation of optimists, according a new study published today - but the further you live from London, the happier. Some 85 per cent of Britons expect to be happier in the future than they are now, a psychological study for Standard Life Bank found. Scots were the most optimistic, followed closely by the Irish, while those from London, the South-East and the West Midlands had the least positive outlook on life, researchers discovered. That may be of little comfort on the day scientists have declared the bleakest of the year. This was calculated by Dr Cliff Arnall, of Cardiff University, according to factors such as the Christmas glow fading, New Year resolutions being broken, credit card bills arriving and the cold and rain descending. Yet the Samaritans have today issued a list of proposals for perking up - such as downloading the 1980s New Order single Blue Monday, booking a holiday, and taking up a new hobby. Meanwhile, the RAC Foundation is urging motorists to do stretches and shoulder shakes at traffic lights today rather than gnashing teeth. It also wants motorists to allow fellow drivers into spaces while traffic is slow moving, to give someone a lift, to take breaks and consider working from home. The foundation's chief executive Edmund King said: 'Travelling smarter rather than longer is part of the answer, while putting a great song on the stereo is a proven mood-lifter' I am glad to say, that I am in a pretty good mood today. The sun is out, and Randy comes home in 4 days. Ben, however, has been hit by the day because he did NOT want to get out of bed or go to school. I walked him to school and was about to go into the building when I lost him, he started walking back home! Usually he enjoys school. He's there now, and hopefully okay.  | 
