Life is Short and we are Gone in the Blink of an Eye

“The story of life is quicker than the blink of an eye, the story of love is hello, goodbye.”

~ Jimi Hendrix ~

Life is Short and we are Gone in the Blink of an Eye

This morning the world lost a beautiful soul and I am more than finished saying goodbye to people I love. I have long wondered why she seemed to understand me so well when others did not. Although she was good at hiding it, I believe now that her soul was just as troubled as mine. It may sound selfish but I am not ready to deal with this at all. In less than a year I have lost two women who were vital to my existence.  I feel very much like the guy on the Don’t Break the Ice game with people slowly tapping away at the ice I stand on and that ice is getting shaky.

I have so many fond memories of Sister Nancy and will miss her always. One of my favorite pictures of us is her wearing her habit and me as a young boy. She told me once that she was so happy that she began to cry and I reached over and wiped her tear away. I wish I could have protected her from suffering any pain in her lifetime. She never once judged or questioned what I was doing and supported and loved me unconditionally. 

The fact that she was a Nun meant that she always had an image to live up to and the fact that she was a Sister in the Roman Catholic Church I’m sure made that image more difficult to uphold. She was a fun, loving, caring person who gave of herself and got little back in return.

If you love someone let them know because life is short and we are gone in the blink of an eye.

What does depression feel like you ask?

"It's often difficult for those who are lucky enough to have never experienced what true depression is to imagine a life of complete hopelessness, emptiness and fear."

~Susan Polis Schutz~

What does depression feel like you ask? 

Some think it is being sad, in a bad mood, or grumpy. That’s cute, but don’t fool yourself it is so much more. People want to know what caused it, why are you not happy? Well, there is not always an answer to those questions or explanations to the feelings. 

In my case anxiety seems to be one of the major things that fuel depression for me. For me, once depression sets in I feel isolated, tired, alone, heavy, and dark. The best way to describe it is being in quicksand in a dark, dismal place and no one sees you. People walk by but I feel invisible. 

There are days when I feel a little better and I can smile or even laugh, and without warning, it drags me under again. Because anxiety is a trigger even good stress can set things off at times. I absorb energy that is around me so it is critical not to be around negative people or situations.    

Darkness is a powerful force which quietly baits you at times, whereas other times it grabs you by the ankles and pulls you in against your will. What we have to be vigilant about is using the dark place as a safe place to hide, which can happen when you go numb. Just be careful not to take up residence there.

Think about the conversations you have had with people regarding injuries or medical things. Have you had conversations about colonoscopy, catheters or other not pleasant topics? Watch a ball game and you will see a dozen commercials for erectile dysfunction. Now, tell someone you have been having some issues and you are thinking of making an appointment with a counselor and you might with you said you had ED instead, which is completely wrong.  

Starting Saturday May 7th my friend Julio will begin a run across Wisconsin to raise awareness of mental health and Defeat the Stigma that is tied to it. Follow and support him at https://track.gs/7MvFCr. 

Most of all, check on your friends and family and get help if you need it.