You Don’t Have To Settle For Second Best!

I watched the news and gasped like so many others at the sudden passing away of the ‘King of Comedy’ – Robin Williams. Only those who have walked in a person’s shoes knows what road they are traversing. Depression, which had also plagued this much loved actor, takes on many faces. Sometimes it is quite visible and people notice the psychotic or neurotic behaviour. But often times it is masked by an opposite manifestation of what seems to happy living.

Charlie Chaplin was a great clown. His masked face masked the pain he felt within his soul. In an earlier article, I shared about the masks we wear. Some wear their masks much better than others and when we hear of their demise, we are shocked.

Today, more than any time in history, depression and mental illness have reached endemic proportions. Particularly in first world countries, our modern, fast-paced lifestyle makes us more prone to this ailment. They say, ‘No man is an island’ and that is literally true. Advances in technological communication is threatening physical human interaction. People are so hooked on social media to the detriment of real face to face contact. Ask yourselves, ‘Are we becoming so busy that we are short-changing ourselves of time spent with the ones we love the most?’

There are many lonely people amongst us and we often fail to see that. We know that loneliness is a major contributor to depression. There is no amount of gadgets can take the place of human intimacy and love. Depression is not an overnight occurrence; it develops over time, like a fog on a mountain pass.

Fighting the demons within our mind is no easy. Many people have tried various methods and have sought help from various sources but not everyone wins their battle over depression. When you see your loved ones take their lives prematurely, you are never the same again. That deep void they leave behind cuts deeper than a butcher’s cleaver.

I know how hard it is to fight those raging thoughts that inflict your mind. I’ve been in that pit myself. No amount of music or comedy movies can soothe that mind when you try to sleep. Those demons come out in full force and their mission is to drive you to suicide. Where is our hope?

Nobody knows you better than you know yourself. But when you yourself don’t understand what is going on inside of you – that is really scary! King David went through a lot of conflict in his life, both external and internal. He wrote in Psalms 143:7-8 (NKJV), “Answer me speedily, O Lord; My spirit fails! Do not hide Your face from me, Lest I be like those who go down into the pit. Cause me to hear Your loving kindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.”(My emphasis). There is hope! ◊

Linda Pearl