Week 17: Scare Quotes

[sorchawench]

The legend goes, there was once a king with a vast kingdom. He had everything he could ever need and his wealth grew daily. One day feeling bored he called upon his men and challenged them to bring him something that would make him sad when he was happy and happy when he was sad.

Days went by and his men failed to find any such item. Getting desperate, they went around the kingdom for help.

An old man, who was a wood carver offered him help. He carved something into a piece of wood and gave it to one of the king's men.

The king was then presented with the item he had asked for. When he opened the packaging he saw the words "This too shall pass" carved into the wood. Such powerful words that the king was left speechless.

~*~

4 little words. I feel like writing them on my wall right now. Or wait, actually on my ceiling.....that way I can look up at them when I'm in bed during a 'drop'. I love these words as they are important not only in bad times, but also in good times. We seem to so easily forget to live in the moment, to enjoy what we have. The world keeps spinning. It doesn't care if you've just been rejected by a hot girl. It doesn't care that your best friend got cancer or that you lost your parents. It simply keeps spinning.

Depression is nothing to dismiss lightly. It is an insidious, sneaky disease that takes you by surprise and slams you to the ground. Even with the best support system in place, sometimes it still wins.

If someone around you suffers from this disease, don't belittle the issue. They face very real challenges every day, just to survive. Stand with that person and give them your love, even when they seem to shove you away. That's the disease talking, not your loved one.

And if you suffer from depression, never, ever give up. No matter how dark your day is, tell yourself that the light will return because it will. We who suffer tend to dwell on the whys of the disease. In the end, it doesn't matter why it happens, we won't be any happier for the knowing....but it is about the struggle and the lessons learned.

If you're reading this, lying in bed with the most beautiful person you know right next to you, kiss them. Why? Because this too shall pass. At the same time, if, like me you are sitting alone in bed venting to the world who may or may not be listening, this too shall pass. The darkest night must at some point become day, just as the brightest day must turn to night.

I hope to remember these words when I'm with the ones I love. Nothing is forever, but the memories you create will keep you warm on the coldest night and keep you smiling on your worst day. If I remember this, I will live every moment with them to the fullest. At the same time, I must always remember this time. In the future if I ever feel sad that I was not able to make myself attend an outing, I must remember that there was a time when I couldn't lift my head from the pillow.

So live in the moment as that moment shall pass too!

~*~

Albert: You don't understand.
Chris Nielsen: It's not about understanding... it's about *not* giving up!

What Dreams May Come

Comments

[theun4givables.livejournal.com]

It really is about not giving up. There have been many times where I've wanted to, but I never allowed myself to. I can't, for my child's sake.

But there are so many who need us, day in and day out, that we often wouldn't think of. I don't think I could leave them behind, even when in my darkest moments. And I know that I didn't, the past two summers where the urge hit the hardest.

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

I am sorry that you had to experience that.

[theun4givables.livejournal.com]

It's alright; part of it was my previous living environment and the amount of emotional control a certain individual still had over my life. Now that I'm free of that, I haven't had as much of a hard time with the summer like I've had in the recent past.

I have a feeling that while the road'll still be hard for me to navigate for the next few years, but that I've (hopefully) hit my lowest point. :)

[eternal-ot.livejournal.com]

"The world keeps spinning."...yeah it does..sadly..I like the message you passed on..a nice tribute..*Hugs*

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

Thank you. As a sufferer of Depression, Robin's passing hit me particularly hard. This was perhaps, my way of railing against the dying of the light.

[eternal-ot.livejournal.com]

Aww...*hugs* Tc.

[halfshellvenus.livejournal.com]

It will pass-- the good AND the bad, like a wheel that keeps turning. If the bad goes on too long, I hope people seek professional help, and are picky enough to demand improvement. It usually IS possible, with the right meds.

When the good is happening... try to revel in it, and those around you. You sustain each other.

Robin Williams' passing saddens me so much, not just because someone who made so many other people laugh couldn't hang onto that feeling himself, but also because suicide just devastates the people you leave behind. I know that most people who get that far are beyong thinking outside their own misery, but each time someone remembers how much pain that choice will cause, it may keep them from doing it, at least that time.

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

That's one thing I've been stressing to my readers this week....that treatment is possible....a cure, sadly no. But with the right treatment, you CAN have a life.

[n3m3sis43.livejournal.com]

The ring story is one of my favorite... parables? Is it a parable? I don't know, but I recognized it as soon as you mentioned the king's challenge, because that's how it's told in Jewish lore. I've considered getting a ring like that because it made such an impression on me.

Depression is so insidious. Everything is good, everything is good, everything is--BAM! That's what gets me the most.

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

I had no idea that that story was a (let's go ahead and call it a parable) in Jewish lore. The more you know.... ;-)

[kajel.livejournal.com]

I like how you used those four words here. Nicely done.

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[mistearyusdiva2.livejournal.com]

I am sorry you had to go through those tough moments. Sometimes we think of ending it not because we cant fight or because we are selfish ..... mostly its done to stop the pain ... if only we realise that what actually happens is that the pain just passes from us to those we leave behind ..... A lovely tribute in the light of the mixed reactions to the tragedy.

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

Luckily, I haven't felt that badly in a long time.

[labelleizzy.livejournal.com]

this too shall pass. One of the best lessons I ever learned in college, from a friend, not even from a class. Yeah.

Well used to launch your story.

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

Thank you!