Last week’s cartoon was about my most popular cartoon in 2014, about small arguments and how they affect big relationships. Bye bye, 2014!

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This week’s cartoon is about anxiety and how it doesn’t have to lead to depression.

Out here in Los Angeles, there are still a few houses with Christmas lights up. We don’t get the cold weather and snow (sob), but we have a lot of enthusiasm for holidays and decorations anyway.

I understand these light-likers. I start looking forward to the Christmas holidays mid-October, so that means I’m thinking about the holiday celebrations almost 3 months a year. Although I am full of anticipation, hope, and gratitude during these weeks, each day I also dread Jan 2, just around the corner. Ugh. There will be nothing to look forward to, no more surprises or visits, and life will be dull again.

Surprise! Here it is almost 2 weeks into the new year, and things don’t look bad at all. We still have cozy cold nights, and there are new projects and relationships to think about. Life is pretty normal: some bad, but more good. Next October, I’ll have to come read this, and remember what it’s really like after Christmas.

Is anxiety simply a series of false fears, then?

In any case, stay warm. Or in the case of Mr. Snowman, stay very cold.

Next up: What if no one ever calls you?