So LinkedIn started telling me that I people are congratulation me on my Work Anniversary; 18 years. That's Nice! The thing is, I never see these people face to face. Technology has a way of isolating people and they are not even aware that they are trapped.
I have my demons and one of them is depression. I have lived with it for years. I survived more than a decade of self-medication. I survived a prolonged period of other behaviours that did not involve narcotic mood-altering substances but other forms of acting out to modify my moods. And then I realized that depression was not a fatal illness - as long as one did not decide to takes one's own life. --- and in case you missed that point I will say it again. As Long As You Do Not Kill Yourself, Depression Will Not Kill YOU! It might hurt - it might hurt so deep down inside you that you may not be able to find hope or the will to go on, but if you ride it out you will come out the other side and you will feel better again. I have a Step-By-Step-Action-Plan that started with "Wake Up" and ended with "say Thank You" and Go To Sleep" ... and on an 11 by 17 piece of lined yellow notepad paper had everything that needed to be done in order to live one day. And there were days that I could not complete all of those tasks but I always started at the top and ended with the last three "Prayer & Meditation" being the other.
I have a hole in my soul that hurts from time to time, but I know how to survive. I am stronger than my brain has believed .... from time to time. And just for today, that is good enough.
If you haven't been told lately, I love you. You matter to somebody. Now think about who those people might be, pick up the telephone and call one of them. The Need To Hear Your Voice ... and if possible, meet them for coffee ... They Need A Hug From YOU! Believe Me ... Today is the best day to do that.