A sad farewell...

I had planned to write today, but it's been difficult to get my mind off the loss of one of America's most beloved funny men, Robin Williams. It's hard for me to remember a time when he wasn't a part of our lives. My house didn't have cable growing up, so our exposure to mainstream entertainment was minimal, but I remember fondly spending evenings at my grandmother's house in front of the TV watching such classics as Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley and of course, Mork and Mindy. My exposure to comedy was limited to more mature entertainers like Jack Benny, George Burns, and Uncle Miltie. Robin Williams and his youthful brand of funny was something I could relate to and embrace.

Through the years I've enjoyed the wit and humor of this talented entertainer and it saddens me beyond words to learn that he's gone.

Often when one passes far too soon, as Robin has, we see an outpouring of love towards the family, with fond remembrances of the person who has passed. It's encouraging to see, with Robin's death, an outpouring of love towards all of humankind-compassionate messages of encouragement, support and solidarity for individuals who battle depression on a daily basis; so while Robin's death is a terrible, tragic loss, perhaps from it we'll learn to be more understanding and compassionate towards those who struggle daily with an invisible condition many of us cannot comprehend.

I think it's hard for many to reconcile Robin's battle with depression and his public persona, but I think fellow comedian, Josh Sundquist, best summed it up.

"How could someone so funny commit suicide?

But that's the thing about comedy. It frequently grows out of deep personal pain.

To the audience, comedy appears to be a sign of internal joy, overflowing happiness that bubbles over into jokes.

But for the comic, it’s often simply a way to deal with the pain. An outward expression of inner demons." -Josh Sundquist, August 11, 2014

Depression is an invisible illness, often shrouded in secrecy. We don't want to talk about it and many who live with it hide it well. Because of this, many people who have not personally experienced depression have difficulty recognizing it as a real disorder. I think Robin's death has been a much needed wake-up call to us all, shining a light on a subject many people don't understand.

By not validating someone's depression and by treating it like something that can be turned on and off at will exacerbates the situation. Seemingly innocuous comments are hurtful and can often send someone dealing with depression into a tailspin, so please, use your words carefully and be considerate to others. A compassionate gesture can save a life. Be nice, everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about...

Rest easy, Robin. You’ll be sorely missed.