On depression as a necessary winter before spring…

Imagine if we, as a culture, could embrace, and not judge, depression.

Consider that in any life cycle there are, as in nature, seasons.

Depressive periods do not always have to be viewed as pathology.

The industrial age introduced clocks, the digital age upped 9-5 to 24/7.

We are not meant to operate outside of the natural order of things.

Riotous springs are followed by productive summers.

In fall, as our energy wanes, we’re motivated to prepare for winter and muster the energy to get things done.

In winter we accept that little grows, days are short and if we give over to the darkness and rest, we’ll recharge.

I’ve learned from the creative people around me, as well as in my own experience, that a depression is a terrible thing to waste.

With support - and fierce self-compassion - we will emerge from them.

It begins with acceptance. We need to name what we’re feeling and accept that we require support and guidance in our convalescence.

When we do, when we commit to showing up and taking baby steps every day - we can hold on to the hope of a riotously creative personal spring that will follow.

By keeping faith in that outcome while cultivating supportive company, we can rest assured that enthusiasm and abundance await once we’re ready and able to embrace life again.

To every season there is a time and a purpose…

Let’s support each other by fiercely and compassionately accepting our inevitable winters.

“Seasonal Affective Disorder” (SAD), is also predictable and seasonal; the above reflection is on coping with the experience of major depression.