Where's my script?

Like many people, I have a to-do list. The chores I need to complete and the errands to run, like dropping off the load of dry cleaning that sits in the corner of my room, or the pile of donations that have a semi-permanent spot in the trunk of my car.

But the to-do list where I often forget to check off is to tell those around them that I love them.  

I was reminded of this last night, as I watched a movie, where the plot is about how the character lives his life as though it is a sitcom.  He separates from his partner, only to reunite and marry when one of them is diagnosed with cancer.

Tears ran down my face; not for the Hollywood actors, or the script, but for the reminder that we cannot wait until it's too late to remember that our life is not scripted.  People will come and go, and we take for granted that our life's sitcom will be renewed for the next season.

Social Media Mirror

Recently, I had a gathering of friends at my house.  Amidst the laughter and the sharing of stories, pictures were taken and shared.

Later, I held my finger above the post button on my social media account, ready to share a reflection of a positive experience. At the last minute, I hit delete instead of publish.  I realized that posting would lead to checking for subsequent "likes", instead of continuing to relish the positive feelings that came from the party. 

The posting wouldn't capture the most important part of the evening; the support I receive from an amazing group of women, who have been with me through the good, the bad and the ugly.  Women who I can call on, at any time of day or night, to share my accomplishments, or to find a shoulder to cry on.

This blog has been an ongoing goal for many years, and has finally come to fruition. Writing has always been an outlet for me, and whether I have one reader or ten-thousand, may they know they are not alone. There are many blogs about mental illness, and each one reaches a different subset of people.  I have learned, whatever the challenges one faces, that it is important to know that I am not alone in my journey.

I have an active diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety.  (I am also pursuing a diagnosis of ADHD.)

Mental illness is a virtual melting pot of diagnoses, and it is an ongoing process.  It is important to remember that every individual experiences mental health challenges differently, and it is not one size fits all.  

This blog captures my experience and is no way meant to be a reflection of mental illness as a whole.