Well it's that time of month again and here we go! This month I'd like to talk about two very important things. As many of you know I am a huge advocate for those who have mental illness. There have been two things that either I've noticed or have happened recently that have made me even more so.
I'll start with the most recent loss of a great comedian and actor, who brought laughs and light to the world, Robin Williams. Many of his films I grew up with and even in college I recall a special day/night where there was a huge storm and the power went out, we were pretty much on lock down as our keycards wouldn't work without power so we had to leave our rooms open and we couldn't leave to go anywhere without being locked out. So a few of my neighbors all got together and we sat around listening and watching a Robin Williams comedy act, I forget which DVD it was but it was hilarious and we had an awesome time! I recall many of his films such as Aladdin, Dead Poet's Society, Jumanji, Jack, Hook, Mrs. Doubtfire, Happy Feet, Night at the Museum 1 and 2, August Rush, Fern Gully and more recently I got to watch Good Morning Vietnam. All of these films were inspiring and all of the characters were portrayed in such away that they were loved and inspirational or encouraging. All of these made me laugh and cry and watching them as an adult too you see things different. Thing is that a lof of us could never understand that such a seemingly happy man, who brings laughter and light could feel so lost and alone, alone enough to take his own life due to depression.
Some people would like to bring negativity to this and say it is a coward's way out, that is is selfish and an "easy" way out of a dire situation. But for most who have this illness, or for those who have simply been in a depression through hard times such as even myself, where we have thought of suicide, it is not an easy decision. It's gotta be one of the hardest things and one that is certainly a consideration. I'll be honest even myself as a child, no one would know that I nearly ran away into a forest wanting to die because of the amount of bullying at school, the abuse from mom at home and the struggles I went through emotionally trying to understand her illness and the events around me. I was only about 9 or 10 I believe, grade 4 is all I remember. If it weren't for a friend, same age as me, that stayed behind and told me that I had more to my life and to stay, such a mature state of mind, then I wouldn't be here. So I thank that friend as I have many times, to Jayden, you will always have a special place just for that and sometimes I don't think you realize just what a profound affect that had on me for that one single moment. But I will also admit that many years down the road I came across the same thought at least twice more during very hard and abusive times. If it again were not for that memory, and the reminder that I have friends and siblings and simply other people that I can influence and help through hard times then I would have done it. I felt like my life wasn't worth living. There are those, such as Williams, who though they have things to live for, go through this depression and though they may have help just go into this very, very dark place and they just can't, I repeat, can't find the way out and the light at the end of the tunnel. They just can't find the will any longer to live here on earth.
It's something that many can't understand and never will because they haven't been in that dark place. It's like, drowning. I've been there too and experienced nearly dying by drowning and it's exactly like it. Overwhelming and fearful and dark and alone, flooding of your lungs so that you can't breathe. It's terrifying but sometimes instead of fighting you feel like you have to let go and let the water take you because it would be that much simpler because you just can't fight any more.
So to all those who are saying negative things, please consider being in those shoes. Consider what you're saying and stop judging. You really don't know how difficult it is. For those who have and are struggling with depression and mental health issues, know there is help and that there is light at the end of the tunnel. You can do it, it takes enormous strength but there is no shame in reaching out and asking for help for someone to pull you out of the overwhelming waves. We need that pull and helping hand.
Nextly I'd like to talk about again another mental health issue that I feel is being encouraged! It's being brought on by social media and encouraged by further media outlets. Here we are talking about being obese or too thin etc. and that alone can be part of mental health. It's the way we think about food and our bodies. It's in our heads. At the same time though recent studies have shown that the "selfie" is a form of mental illness as is taking multiple pictures of your food.
A recent study at a restaurant that was getting poor reviews in recent years found that more time was spent taking pictures of food, selfies, waiters etc. while waiting and also more time texting or on cellphones than in years past causing poor or slower service by waiting staff. We are addicted to technology! We need to stop looking at the phone, stop looking at ourselves and pay attention! Goodness I've seen people run into poles in the street because they weren't watching where they were going! Not to mention that the selfie is narcissistic and we are constantly judging ourselves and our friends or others for that matter.
Posts on facebook and other outlets are all about pictures of yourself and others and a contest of who is better and who has the best body. The other day I was at the bus stop and listening to two young ladies who clearly had boyfriends and were on their way to the gym. They were commenting on the guys looking at other women and how these women looked and one asked "well did she at least have a nice body", the other responded " well yes, she was fit". But what does this matter? Why should it? What if the lady had been heavier or not "fit" with muscle tone? That type of body disgusted them I could tell because another young woman, like myself, came to the stop who clearly was not "fit" and they looked both of us up and down in disgust. That day, I felt pretty. I felt happy with myself and thought I looked pretty darn good for my age. I have curves etc. and yeah I've gained weight and maybe it's not healthy but I'm working on that, for me. No one else but me. Not because society says so but because I don't feel healthy all the time with this weight.
Now here's the other problem with "selfies" it's an actual disorder they say now. So why then are we now encouraging it through ads for cameras, phones and tablets? I saw a commercial the other day for a tablet, and they were encouraging it by "selfie arm" they called it. Oh but it takes awesome pictures and "selfies" the commercial says and encourages and yes you should get one because there are other people like you! Here is the commercial, which I find that you should not be encouraging such a thing. I also heard at work through yet another ad that even Rogers is encouraging the selfie with promoting phones and how the cameras work! It's a disorder and debilitating. This is actually sickening to me. We are teaching our young people to be concentrating on yourself etc. This isn't right! This causes you to judge yourself and others and this further brings on other illnesses such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders and even to go so far as bullying and violence.
We are encouraging our youth and even our current generation to do these kinds of things! Yet we have this distaste for it and are trying to encourage it otherwise in news reports and studies and then go back on it by using it as a selling point?! It's being used to make money, marketing and used to sell prescription drugs. Our next generations are going to be full up on drugs and be turned into robotic drones who don't know where they come from, don't know how to laugh or know right from wrong, perhaps even a bunch of drugged up delinquents! Kids will not be "kids" you have to discipline them, show them that there is a world out there of beautiful wondrous things that are not man made! It's not all about science and technology and themselves!
Do we really want a world like in Wall-e? Blobs of inactive people floating around on a liquid diet not even knowing the feel of sand or grass on your feet, not knowing the breath of fresh air and oxygen or sun on your skin or water splashing between your toes? Not knowing what it's like to eat a full out steak or even a carrot!? Real food?
I'm sorry but that's the way we're heading and sometimes, sometimes, I wish not to live to see it. I hope that when my nephews get to be 20 and by then I'll be in my 50's, that by then we can make the world a better place and that the world isn't like that.
So I leave you with these thoughts. Take what you do into consideration, it starts with us, it starts with all those parents even out there, our children copy us. Make the right decisions. Do you want to see a world like that? Really? Have a good month to come everyone! Again I welcome comments and suggestions! Remember living and laughing and enjoy life! Tell your loved ones you love them because you never know what might happen tomorrow and how just telling them or being there may help them even for that moment!
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