I have a nephew who is turning 26 today (Happy Birthday Boo-boo-butthead!). I am extremely proud of the man that he has become. He is, and always has been, wise beyond his years. He says things that make me say to myself, “WOW! Where the hell did he learn that?” Unfortunately, those same ideas of his often make his peers say, “WTF?” My nephew has a good job making decent money. He takes pride in his work and honors his commitments. He expects the same from his friends. His friends though, the ones from college, are still trying to find their own way in the world and resent my nephew’s “standards.”
My nephew often says that I am the only person who understands him. That makes me sad. I wonder if my depression makes me more sensitive to his frustration and pain. It hurts me to know that he is hurting inside and I can’t do a darn thing about it except listen.
Some of the greatest minds in history suffered from some form of mental illness. Some of our finest works of art were born from depression and psychosis. Creativity often comes from thinking “outside the box.” How much farther outside the box can you get than mental illness?
Please hug someone today.