Brave Enough To Be Bliss

both, but if you’re choosing the scroll through social media and missing out on human connections like these, it’s time to reassess because choosing the scroll signals depression to me. And I would encourage you to choose the human connection for even one week and see how you feel. There were times when I was at my lowest and I wanted to end the pain, but knowing I couldn’t do that to Kylee, I would then have to pull myself back up enough to function, and the way I did that was by doing something nice for someone else. I would send a card, or five, I would send a text or email, I would go to a store to buy a birthday present for someone with an upcoming birthday (buying through an app isn’t going to do the same thing, by the way), I would ask someone to meet me for happy hour or lunch, I would take a walk and force myself to smile at everyone I met, etc. You could of course do something nice for yourself, but that never worked for me at that point. It had to be for someone else , that’s what gave me the dopamine hit I needed to get out of the dark place I was in. The amazing thing is that the action right at that time when you hit send, place something in the mail, wrap a gift even if you’re going to store it for a while, get your heart pumping by taking the walk and forcing the smile, there’s the initial hit but then, even though I am careful not to expect it, quite often the receiver of those actions will smile back and sometimes say hi, respond to the text or email thanking me because it made their day, text about how much the surprise card in the mail meant to them and how they haven’t gotten anything except bills in the mail for months, etc. There are all kinds of things to do for other people that end up doing as much or more for you. To me, there is simply no better investment of time and energy than in other humans because you never know who might be hurting just as much as you are. Get out of your head and into your heart and amazing things can happen. “You never really know the true impact you have on those around you. You never know how much someone needed that smile you gave them. You never know how much your kindness turned someone’s entire life around. You never know how much someone needed that lon g hug or deep talk. So don’t wait to be kind. Don’t wait for someone else to be kind first. Don’t wait for better circumstances or for someone to change. Just be kind because you never know how much someone needs it.” Nikki Banas In 2019, I felt compelled to share a Facebook post I had seen related to depression. I rarely share posts, so I felt it must be a nudge for one of my Friends to be able to see it. And at a minimum I did kno w a friend’s daughter was really struggling and thought she might appreciate the show of support. The next morning, I received the following Facebook Messenger communication from someone I hadn’t spoken with directly for more than 20 years. Friend Ginger, as someone who has dealt with clinical depression for a long time, I appreciated your FB post. It helps bring this disease out into the open. I hope you are well, and I hope to see you this year! Ginger While I wish you wouldn’t have to suffer with it, I’m glad you felt comfortable sharing. While I have struggled, as well, there are just so many people who do and yet there’s still such a reluctance for people to admit it and get help, and for others to offer support, encouragement, and acceptance. The last thing anyone needs is judgment. Leading people my whole career I have had the privilege to know many people’s stories and they’re heartbreaking, so it gets under my skin when I see them hurting further b ecause other people don’t stop to think they may be struggling with something that isn’t visible. I became very attuned to that with Kylee’s PCS as well. No one could “Ah, kindness. What a simple way to tell another struggling soul that there is love to be found in the world.” Alison Malee This blog was inspired when I got together with four of the first employees I ever hired. We hadn’t been together for nearly 20 years, but it wasn’t the fact that I’ve aged that they noticed the most. The power of new beginnings... (gingerbliss.life)

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