Anti-Depressant, Video Form

(Thank you for sharing this, N.)

The Compassion of Strangers

Some months ago, in the midst of a deep depression, I watched the movie "The Slender Thread" (1965). It tells the true story of a Seattle woman who attempted suicide and was kept alive solely due to the compassion of strangers. As I watched, I wept to realize that, no matter who I am or what I have done, there will always be those who care what happens to me, who want me to live. In the movie, people all over the city were scrambling to save this woman's life. They knew nothing of her except that she was a fellow human being in despair, and that was enough for them to race to her rescue. I became acutely aware that my life is precious to many, simply because I am their fellow human being.

I was reminded of that lesson this morning as I read this very touching post by a blogger named Bryan. Prepare to be moved.

(Thank you to this photographer for the hands touching.)

"Depression: Out of the Shadows"

I stumbled upon this program on PBS yesterday and I found it to be excellent. Today I have discovered that it is available to watch in segments online. Thank you PBS! Thank you to all of those who care and are reaching out to help. Click here to go to the video page for "Depression: Out of the Shadows". The NAMI article about the program (which is the page from which I got the picture above) is here.

On Being

One of the great comments I gleaned from my time at Alanon was this one: "You are made to be a human being, not a human doing." Great truth for one who feels she is never doing enough. How I appreciated this post today at Mind, Soul, and Body. It reminded me again that what I am becoming is the true measure of my progress. I can day by day become more like my beloved Savior under any conditions, even when I am not doing what most everybody else is doing. Even if I am a little "tetched," as they say.

On that note, I also watched again the movie "Miss Potter" yesterday. I love that story. I love that she was, well, pixilated, yet so endearing. The movie is a love story, but the love story which most moved me was that of Beatrix Potter's love of the land. I long for the life that she lived in the end, among the glorious beauties of nature, not devoid of loved ones, but with much of solitude and time for her art. I hope that is what awaits me, if not here, then in the next world. That is my idea of heaven.

Thank you to this site for the image of my favorite scene from the movie.