I believe in owning the fucking hard stuff. Not only because it may inspire others but because we need to honor our struggles and pain as well as our victories.

IT’S DAMN HARD.

Don’t gloss over it. Don’t deny it. Own every moment of life-threatening agony, every second of mind-numbing fear, every feeling of defeat and exhaustion.

Only then can you celebrate the successes, small and large. Only then can you say I DID THIS. Only then can you scream FUCK YOU DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY.

And, sometimes, when you hit the road bumps and life begins to overwhelm you, you can sink into the arms of depression and say, ‘Hold me for a moment. Let me rest here without expectation or explanation.’

That’s when you own her — depression. You own her, she doesn’t own you. You can use her for a moment of respite. You are in control.

Tally, I recently went through a difficult time. I felt myself sinking into a sea of depression and anxiety. Then, I thought, ‘No. I’ve got this.’

I needed rest. I needed to be separated from the world. I made a conscious decision to grant myself an afternoon of depression and invited her to visit for a while. I sunk into her arms in a dark room. I cried and wailed and slept. Then, I thanked her and sent her away. She had a purpose. I used her as she used me for so many years.

It’s unlikely you or I will ever completely evict depression but we can lay ground rules. We are the landlords and she is the tenant.

Find peace in the shadows. Joy grows like mushrooms — hidden in the dark.

Always here if you want to talk:

dennettrm@gmail.com