Daily life can be wrought with significant issues, true? Among the most difficult is mental health. Unfortunately, someone with a mental health ailment often must deal with it themself. I know such a someone.
Many of us have control over our moods; but not all ... Let’s recognize those amazing people who try to face each day “doing alright”:
Like Eric.
I have known Eric for 46 years yesterday – his birthday. Over that period Eric’s Mom and Dad have
shared some of his most joyous occasions; and some of his most upsetting
events; and in between these highs and lows Eric would tell you that he has
been doing alright. And for Eric, doing
alright shows how amazing he truly is.
You see, Eric is the strongest person I
know. I’ll give you an example. Close your eyes and return to the happiest
day of your life – feel how you felt during your most exhilarating
moments. OK, now think back to how you
felt on your saddest, darkest, most depressed day ever. Just set those mental bookmarks in your
mind’s eye. There is an unbelievably
wide and powerful range of human emotion, yes?
For most of us, we migrate from our highest
highs and our lowest lows slowly; with long, “recovery” spans of simply feeling
average in between. Unfortunately, Eric
is different; his mood swings back and forth, between euphoric highs and
debilitating lows in a matter of minutes - multiple times - every hour! Now picture your life with his type of mood
swings – as if our other challenges aren’t enough to deal with.
Rapid Cycling – that’s the technical term
for Eric and others who suffer from Bi-Polar Disorder. And Eric lives every day with this unwelcome
guest. Medical science is not much help. Bi-Polar Disorder is an affliction of the
brain; and very difficult to properly diagnose and treat. Trial and error, mostly. That means people with Bi-Polar Disorder
typically wind up dealing with this on their own.
Most can’t hold down a steady job. Eric can – and he has consistently been a “go
to” person for his company. He is a
skilled tradesman; good with customers; dependable; hard working; shows up no
matter what; a positive attitude that no job is too tough; that’s Eric. Most people with Bi-Polar Disorder can’t live
independently. Eric does – and if you met
him, you would never know the internal turmoil he is living with. He has a pleasant personality; a great smile;
a nice sense of humor; knowledgeable of current events; just like the rest of
us.
But Eric isn’t really like the rest of
us. Just getting up and facing the day;
every day; takes enormous strength. And
he offers no excuses – never has. Eric
has earned success and experienced failure.
No matter; Eric treats each day anew, the best he possibly can. And when
you greet him saying, “Hi. How you doing?”
you will almost always hear him say, “I’m doing alright”.
If Eric does alright each and every day even
though feeling these uncontrollable mood swings – should we do any less?
No, I don’t have Bi-Polar Disorder, but it
lives next door. And though I don’t have it, I can see first-hand the strength
Eric has as he lives with it. I’m very
proud to say that Eric is my son. And
one day I hope to learn the source of his amazing strength so I too can be, “doing
alright”.
GAP
When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or…
we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.
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