Joy

 

I got a Christmas card from a friend yesterday.  He lives in Denmark, so it took quite awhile to arrive.  It was a newsletter about his life, and in it he talks about how he has shaken off the shackles of depression.  He feels better than he has in ages, according to the text which Google so kindly translated via my cell phone camera, and is eager to now discover who is really is.

Reading this was an unexpected joy!  Tears came to my eyes before I even finished the first paragraph.  As someone who has struggled with depression for as long as can be remembered, I'm beyond thrilled for my friend.  And I'm impressed that he felt comfortable enough to send this to his friends and family.  All around high marks.

Depression is a raging beast. It burns your life to the ground.  It lies.  It makes you sick.  It leaves you lonely and alienated.  In short, I hate it.  But if my friend can overcome, maybe I can too.