Listen to me

As the voices raise up around us

Cries for help

Cries for hope

We cry in tears that cannot be heard

Tears that will not be heard

Our tears are not without

As we are not without

They must be heard within

For who hears my cry 

If not I

Who sees my tears if not me

Reflect

Reflect on the voices around us

Let them hear the cries within us

And let the cries within us

See the tears around us

Last Tweet of Philosopher Maya Angelou

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Depression is Real

Robin Williams: July 21, 1951 - August 11, 2014

Today I found that the tragic suicidal death of Robin Williams has become a platform for many people to open up and admit that they suffer depression and have (or have had) thoughts of suicide.

This is important.

I've been through depression (I use the word "been" very loosely).  There are a lot of emotions that flow through a person at that time and it can be very difficult - and evidently even impossible - to process all of the emotion at once.  I think ultimately, the more questions we are unable to answer, the deeper we sink into depression.  I also think that part of the reason why human beings are so collectively compassionate toward losing someone to suicide and depression is because sorrow is something that we all understand.  But we live in a world where so much emphasis is placed on positive energies such as, happiness, success, belonging, possession, and qualities such as smiles, courtesy and helpfulness; that when we are faced with an absence of such things, we hardly know what to do with ourselves.
Why do we pretend that emotions that occur at the other end of the spectrum do not or should not exist?
Why is it so difficult for us to relate to persons who are going through depression?
Why is it that when we are unable to harness positive energy, we say that we are weak?

Letting go of hurt is not easy. Hearts break in silence and heals only with time.  Unfortunately, sometimes we hold on for so long that the silence kills us. We sometimes fear that because the things inside of us are not common, they are ugly and have no place in the world. And when we lose, we fear that we have nothing left to lose.  But at the end of the day, it is not the receiving of love that strengthens us but rather the understanding that we are indeed capable of loving something more than we love ourselves.