In sporting events we often stand in awe of athletes that face adversity and yet still summon up the courage and tenacity to “finish the race”. I mean, if the final scenes of “Cool Runnings” (when the Jamaican bobsled team carries their sled over the finish line after crashing) doesn’t move you, I don’t know what will.
And then what about that famous clip of the runner Derek Redmond at the ’92 Olympics? (check it out now!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nifq3Ke2Q30) No-one would have blamed him for not finishing the race. While the winner was crossing the finish line, he was hunched over on the track holding his injured leg. But then he gets up and starts to limp his way round the track. His father comes up alongside them and together they finally cross the finish line to deafening applause. It still gives me goosebumps and. I won’t lie, I just watched it now and cried again. That’s the power of the human spirit right there.
A person suffering from depression fights against real pain and despair everyday. It isn’t physical pain, but it might as well be for the crippling effect it can have. It’s like they have fallen down face down on the track of life and they have to summon all the strength they possess to stand up and limp through the day. That takes big-ass courage.
And often they have to do it alone. Because the people that could be supporting them over the finish line, applauding their bravery, are shrugging their shoulders at their “weakness” or shaking their heads at their “failure”.
If you are a sufferer of depression, congratulate yourself for every time you have dragged yourself out of bed when it seemed impossible. Pat yourself on the back for every time you did reach out for help when locking yourself away forever seemed so much more appealing. You are a hero.
And if you know someone who suffers from depression, please don’t be the one who kicks them while they are down by labelling their strength as weakness. Be the one who cheers from the sidelines and sees their small, everyday victories for what they are – courageous triumphs of the human spirit.
Those Birds of Sadness 