Appreciating life...

Every day at work I am face to face with some of the saddest cases in the world. I work with people who are really struggling to make sense of their lives in light of the fact that the not only have to juggle living expenses, relationships, jobs, raising children and all of the stuff we all go through, they have to do it while trying to manage a serious and persistent mental illness. And let's face it - with the stigma attached to the words "mentally ill" who wants that? It's a battle sometimes to get people to understand the concept of recovery and how it doesn't mean a cure but rather a way to understand what triggers their symptoms and what's necessary (good nutrition, no alcohol or other drugs, plenty of sleep, getting out and about) to be able to manage it appropriately.

And then sometimes I meet people who are simply bound and determined to be unhappy at all costs. Now I know this is also a symptom of their illness but it never fails to amaze me when I meet someone who chooses to see the down side of everything. Today, I met a woman who wanted to be in our program, who did just that. She could see nothing of value in her life though she talked with great love of her grown children and grandchildren. She talked about making jewelry and being creative. She talked about going out with her friends. When I would point out that all of these things were truly good things she struggled find something more negative to say about them. When I finally said, "You know, sometimes the hardest choice someone can make each day is to find one thing to smile about." She stopped and thought about that for a while and then...it happened...she smiled. She knew I was on to her!

You see, sometimes, people who have severe depression get so deep into being depressed that they cannot see the forest for the trees. Sometimes someone else has to point out that there is good all around them and that good isn't just there for them to look at but it's there because of them! Her children are great because she raised them. Her grandchildren are the off shoots of the lessons she taught her own kids. She is creative and sees things in a beautiful way and can make jewelry to reflect what she sees. She has true friends who support her because she is a good person and they see that in her. A part of her may feel she doesn't deserve all of that. That's too bad. Because regardless of her feeling that way, it  is what it is - they love her even when she cannot love herself enough. And she knows that. Hence the smile.

We all have to work sometimes at appreciating life. I know I do. I let little things fog my vision and I complain like the rest of them. But when I stop to think - I know I am lucky and I have so much good around me. And so do you.