Every day I try to find humor in the things around me. As we go through life there is humor all around us; all we have to do is slowdown enough to find it. I think the same holds true for trying to find the "good" in things that seem "bad" at the time.
Last weekend I was reading some of the emails sent to me from people who read Planet Kirby and there was one in particular that detailed the readers struggle to cope with depression. After reading the email I began thinking about the disease and I wondered if there was anything positive that could come from having depression. And, in true Kirby fashion, I surprised even myself.
Let me start off by saying that when you are in the throws of the disease there is nothing good that can come of it. However, when you reach the other side, you can reflect on your life and appreciate what it means to be a survivor. Here are some of the "good" things that have happened in my life as a result of having depression.
I think my marriage is stronger today than it would have been if I hadn't had the disease. While that might seem odd to most people, I read somewhere that 90% of marriages where one partner has depression end in divorce. Talk about sad and tragic. Now, Mrs. Planet Kirby had lots of reasons to leave me when I was in the depths of my depression but she stayed even though she didn't understand what was wrong with me. Her perseverance has been a blessing to our marriage.
Beyond my marriage, I have great relationships with my children and I realize now how time with them is invaluable. This same realization has also allowed me to spend more time on things that are important to me and to realize that nothing is more important than my family.
I've learned to be thankful for the things that I have and to not yearn for what I don't.
While I believe in miracles, I also believe the words found in Romans 5:3,4: "...we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope." I believe that God allowed me to suffer in order to bring me closer to Him and to allow me to see that apart from Him there is no hope.
And finally, I've learned that life is too serious to be taken seriously.
Looking back I realize that I definitely don't have it all together, and I still have episodes now and then but "I'm getting better." Thanks for your love and support. It means more to me than you'll ever know.
Be Well.
Bill
