What does depression feel like?

Depression comes on out of nowhere

It can open up the mind to see details you've never seen before

The sag of the clouds

The dry, haylike grass and the yearning creek

The blue tint in the green leaves of a few trees

Or depression can close your mind 

Making you drop something you forget you just picked up

Missing the smile on the stranger in front of you

Not noticing your pet looking over at you with loving animal eyes

It can bring on physical illness

Your throat hurts
You feel cold--

Or too hot--

Or cycling everywhere in between

Your head hurts

Your cheeks feel warm

Your body is

SO, SO TIRED

Or maybe you're mostly numb

Not just physically

But like nothing much matters

You have that insatiable question,

WHY?

But don't really want to answer

Depression makes you feel like a slave
To your own body
Needing to feed it
And bathe it
Everyday tasks
Sucking down your effort
That you're not even going to use
Even lying in bed avoiding everything
Feels like work

Nausea, anxiety, anger, worry

A soreness

Aching 

Deep inside your core

Fused in muscle and organ and bone

It feels like it's not going anywhere

But you've been here before

So you know it'll leave when it wants

But for now, 

You want to be alone

Even when you already are alone

It seems like you could sleep for days,

And, really,

You'd love to sleep until 

THIS IS OVER

When will it be over?

You might forget to eat

Or eat too much

You might not clean anything including yourself

Or you may go on a cleaning rampage

You might want to go for a run

But then realize you have 

NO MOTIVATION

No motivation
Not caring for much of anything

Certainly not yourself

Depression is not just passing angst

It sits cozily in your soul smiling

Like the Chesire Cat

It is like grief that has no emotional or circumstantial cause

It is clinical

Cynical

Unequivocal

But you must fight.

Because even though it may never leave, 

You will always survive.

In fact, you will thrive.

Reaction to protest at Donald Trump's Chicago rally

Bernie Sanders has a press release on his website to issue a statement concerning the recent protest at a Donald Trump rally.  It says exactly what I was thinking, and what most people will think if they have all of the facts.

I've been following the campaigns of not only Bernie Sanders, but also Donald Trump, and it truly was only a matter of time before a protest like this one occurred.  It was only a matter of time before people standing up for themselves against Trump's hate- and violence- inducing views and speech caught attention on this scale.  To Ben Carson who said that we need to be respectful of Donald Trump's right to free speech:  How dare you?  People are being thrown out of Trump's rallies for having the word "love" on their shirts... And there have been multiple cases of assault on people simply standing in silent protest at the rally.  Where was their right to free speech?  Do not make Donald Trump or his supporters out to be victims.  Not a man who says he will pay the legal fees if you "knock the hell out of [protestors]."

I try to stay out of politics as best as I can, especially as a registered Republican recently turned independent, but it's getting ridiculous.  And I refuse to sit back and not educate myself about the injustice and violence to God's people that is happening as a result of Donald Trump's tactics.  Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God" (Matt 5:9).  Violence is never the answer, but the Bernie Sanders campaign was not involved in the protest at Donald Trump's Chicago rally.  This protest was bound to happen in reaction to the awful violence and injustice occurring because of the words of Donald J. Trump.

Please educate yourselves about the horrible things happening due to the hate Trump is spreading.

Read the press release here: http://berniesanders.com/press-release/sanders-statement-donald-trump/

Thoughts from the bathtub: What important skill are we forgetting to train ourselves in?

I know I'm not the only one who does some deep brainstorming about the purposes of life while bathing.

Who's with me?

In fact, I've been practicing this from a young age: telling myself mid-shower that those girls in gym class are simply moody and might just be my friends next week; thinking about the fact that everything I've been told needs to be weighed and balanced within my own mind before accepting it as fact (wish I would've listened to my own advice at all times instead of faltering now and then with this one!)

So what was my method this time?

Bubble bath with peppermint oil and a pint of Graeter's ice cream in hand.

#igohard

My thoughts were going hard too with all the controversy I've been reading about/hearing about/watching regarding world news, presidential campaigns, halftime shows...

And sometimes my mind does this strange, "zooming out" thing-- where I feel a bit overwhelmed trying to sort information from both sides of the arguments, and trying to solidify some type of stance while soaking in our old-fashioned bathtub, or feeling the streams of the shower warm my mind.

And I start to think that maybe there are skills that humankind is not putting enough attention into-- or into which they are not putting enough importance.

One such skill is the ability to see issues or life experiences through the perspectives of others.  This skill is critical to social change, personal wellness, success in groups...

A poorly honed perspective skill leads to faltering friendships, destroyed marriages and romantic relationships, split churches, empty churches, political confusion, war, corruption, greed, racism, sexism, hate... my list could go on.

I know this skill takes a lifetime to perfect, but there are individuals around us that will live and die without ever giving this skill a single thought.  They will exist within the ideals they don't even consciously live by, and make their decisions and judgments without thinking about why they came to them.  They won't ever think about why their coworker or peer has a perspective or stance, or even why they have a particular perspective or stance.  They do not even register this skill as one to further for themself or for their goals.

Taking a second to breathe, humble oneself, and try one's best to try to understand another person's reasoning can make an incredible difference in our own lives-- as well as within our societies as a whole.  When we make a stand that this skill is important, others listen, and with more and more people working to hone their perspective skill, the more peace and justice we live amidst.

It sounds oversimplifying and idealist, but it's a start towards progress, equality, or just being able to help one more person feel heard and undivided.  Open-mindedness is not ignorant, a waste of time, or risky-- it is freeing for the host and the other party; it is an educated decision and is educating for all those who practice it; it leads to progress in society and social services, in religion and spirituality, in careers and in schools, and even in the study of medicine, mental health, and wellness programs.

Think with me here:

When a person is hired in a senior living facility, does it help to see an elderly woman as someone babbling on about the past-- lacking any reason for their perspective?  Or is it more enjoyable for both the resident and the employee for the woman to be seen as a beautiful individual full of stories, memories, and wisdom and lessons learned?; or as a being with a perspective that can help the employee understand her resident more-- no matter if it is right or wrong?

What about when a new person arrives at a church.  Does it help to incessantly urge them to another opinion for which you feel you have solid evidence, or to calmly hear out their own, acknowledging that they have reasons behind their thinking, and may even have a better social understanding than your years around the like-minded have given you?

Or how about politicians: does it help to hire someone within our government that gives long-winded, opinion-filled speeches without time for listening to those he or she may govern?  Where is their perspective skill and how do they expect to serve their people well without it?

Or what about our own friends: taking to social media and small groups their misinformed and perspective lacking dogma, jargon, spoon-fed phrases...  Having the audacity to speak about perspectives they have never studied or listened to-- perspectives of races they've never been, genders they've never lived as, peoples to which they've never spoken...

And that, my friends, is why I've learned to just take the ice cream in the bathtub with me.
  

Relationship Realities: What Cinderella Left Out

The reality of relationships is that there is no perfect relationship.  We watch the old Disney fairy tales, we read the novels (no, not the harlequins, but actual novels), and we dream of what could be.  Sadly, I think a lot of people in relationships think about "what could be."  But I think relationships are pretty obvious when it comes to what should be and shouldn't be.  Maybe my moral compass is pretty strong, but I think we all know deep down when relationships are right.  I've lied to myself before and am so thankful for the lessons learned through those moments, but I've also known a lot of people who lie to themselves in another way, as well: that their relationship isn't the beautiful piece of artwork that it truly is.  Sometimes our lack of appreciation is the actual issue.

As long as I can remember, I have wanted love in my life.  I have memories from when I was a really young girl, shrugging off the "lovey dovey" moments in movies but secretly wanting a partner in life to sweep me off my feet.  I really believe that most people have this desire within them, but not all-- which makes us wonder if it's socially or biologically original... (that's another blog entry entirely...) But let's look at that word: partner.

If I'm "swept off my feet" am I really a partner?  The fact that Cinderella was my favorite Disney princess speaks volumes of what kind of little girl I was.  It was by chance that Cinderella met this prince.  No, not even by chance-- by magic.  I hope I'm not bursting anyone's bubble by telling you that magic IS NOT REAL.

So why on earth do we think a man (or woman) is going to do it all?  Imagine me, in Cinderella garb:

Oh here I am, poor me!  I'm just sitting at home sweeping and waiting for some man to come sweep me off my feet (speaking of sweeping...)  But I don't have a fairy godmother BECAUSE THEY AREN'T FREAKING REAL and I'm not out meeting people because I'm here sweeping.  Sweep, sweep, sweep.  WEEP, WEEP, WEEP!

Reality number one:  A man ain't gonna come a'knocking at your door asking to marry you because your fairy godmother pushed you out the door with a magically altered appearance and no signs of what your true personality is.

Okay, so we already knew that wasn't true, but let's dissect that a little further.  Many times we sit around and wait for a relationship to happen, figuratively so.  It's in the front of our minds often and we dream about it happening so much that when we actually go out into the real world, we've psyched ourselves out.  I don't know about you, but when I think out a conversation or a situation over and over again, the realness of it is completely omitted and I'm awkward and foggy.  Stop waiting, start being genuine.

Reality number two: You ain't gonna find a significant other pushing yourself into that shoe.

In Cinderella, the stepsisters CRACK ME UP.  Their faces are cartoonish (well, duh...) and they are so forcefully looking for a relationship that they don't even consider what kind of man would fit their personality.

I'll never forget something the campus pastor at my university told me after a difficult break up.  I think he had heard it secondhand as well, and I've since past it on to others:  You'll find the person that fits you best while you're doing what you love.  Don't fake anything because you'll find someone that likes you for that fake personality and when you get close to one another: SURPRISE!-- You ain't got love, honey; you got confusion!  Instead, join a club or a social group that promotes what you're passionate about and you'll not only find other people that share your goals and passions, but you'll be looking after your own soul and going after your own purpose.  And what is more beautiful than a person nurturing their innate passions and purposes?  Nothing, nada.

Reality number three:  It's not a carriage ride off into the sunset after you find one another.

You'll hear it time after time after time: Relationships take work.  It's gotten so cliche that I hate this phrase.  And the term "work" doesn't do it justice.  Let's just say Relationships take learning and understanding.  I like learning; I like understanding.

I remember reading Christian romance novels in high school and looking back, they did not prepare me for relationships.  Now, mind you, I really am glad that I read them, because they were fun and clean and gave me a strong base from which to build more relationship knowledge.  However, most of the issues in these novels are more situation-based rather than psychologically-based-- and disagree with me if you want, but relationships are psychological journeys.  You gotta change from the inside, honey child.  You gotta examine your childhood and the relationships that you've used as examples internally, etc.  But in the Christian romance novels, you have issues like women who were orphaned, or a major fire, or the death of the man's first wife.  These are issues that happen to some people, sure, but they are so situational and not necessarily scenarios that help us understand what a relationship is going to be like.  Relationships are emotionally- and psychologically-driven and in order for them to work, you have to learn about one another and be patient with one another.  Be honest with what you want in life, and what kinds of dynamics you want in the relationship, because learning and understanding aren't processes that just happen.  A good relationship doesn't just happen.  Learn about the other person.  Learn about yourself.  And be patient when there is confusion along the way.

But there are actually many of those Christian romance novels now that depict independent, spunky women that aren't looking for a relationship, but, rather, going after their own survival and own interests-- so kudos on that, girlfrannnn.

There are many more Relationship Realities, but these are the ones that were on my heart first.  Maybe there will be another blog entry to continue this (if I get enough feedback-- shameless plug), but I am going to end right here.  I don't claim to be a relationship guru by any means, but I am in a relationship that I love and that causes me to continue to learn about myself and about others and how I fit in the world.  I thank God for where I am today... Cinderella ain't got nothing on me.

    

Was that pep talk for you? Or for me?-- Communication as a Means to Prevent Greed and Conflict.

I have to say-- it's getting colder and colder, and people seem to be getting greedier and greedier along with it. 

I don't have one specific, large instance where this has proved around me, but I just seem to be hearing more and more about money.  Sure, the economy is in a sad state.  Sure, jobs are scarce.  Sure, we have to get creative and employ different strategies in order to make money.

But this doesn't have to give our integrity the death sentence.

This is where I will make a claim that sounds pretty, but also has substance to it that I need you to take in and dissect.

Life is too short to spend chasing after a dollar that will screw you over in the long run anyways. Invest in something that will bring you purpose, excitement, challenges, and happiness.

Now, this statement can mean different things to different people.  For instance, "chasing after a dollar," "screw you over," "the long run," "investing," and pretty much the rest of that statement are all pieces of language that you can personalize to your own circumstance.  To me, "chasing after a dollar" means something much different than what "chasing after a dollar" would mean to an influential decision maker of a large corporation.  To me, "the long run" would mean something much different than it would to a teacher nearing retirement.  To me, "purpose, excitement, challenges, and happiness" all mean different things than they do to you.

This is why I love the ability that humans have to communicate in such broad and universal ways.  This brings me to another broad and universal statement that can concern each individual in a different way.

Good communication practices can help you in every single aspect of your life.  It can also lead to less greed and more fulfillment.

So how could conveying your message better lead to you being less greedy?  Well, of course, this can happen in different ways for different people, but let me offer one example.

Step One) Shannon has been searching for a job with no luck.  She finally decides to go after a job with no benefits, not enough money (by her current standards), but room to work her way up.  What Shannon realizes next is that she does not really know what her own ethics are or what she really wants in a job.  She begins a gradual downward spiral into work practices that she does not feel great about but that bring her enough money to pay off her loans. 

Step Two) Shannon has learned a hard lesson here, but through it has decided to make a change in her life.  She understands herself better and, in turn, now understands how to better communicate her wants and needs.  She makes less money in a more ethical position and cannot always make her loan payments (such is the post-grad life), but she feels better about her impact on those around her and through that lesson, has even begun to implement this strategy in her personal life with much success.    

Step Three) Shannon has been more blunt and individual in her job search because of her increased awareness of self and enhanced communication techniques.  She has earned a job that both supports her massive student loan payments and lets her feel ethical about what she does.  She notices that she thinks less greedily even though she has less money than she did to start off with and feels happier.

You may be thinking, Okay, Lauren.  That was... quaint... but that ain't happenin' for me, honey.

Hang in there.  It will happen.  And it is more likely to happen now if you continue to a) look after yourself, b) remain open and humble, and c) learn, learn, learn. 

Which leads me to a not so broad statement.

If you can't learn, love, and communicate effectively then you will inevitably cause harm to yourself and those around you.  

That's a bold claim, but I truly believe in its power and truth.  Toss your obsessions (like greed) that only get in the way of growing and developing.  Anything that promotes negativity or discomfort in the pursuit of your goals is not only not worth the ethical implications, but also the stress it does to your body, mind, spirit and environment. 

Just trust me-- you are going to be okay.  I believe that most of the conflict in this world (if not all) stems from fear.  Don't act out on your fear because it will cause pain in your life.  Look past your fear and trust that by making the right decision, and committing to learning, you are sowing an amazing future harvest.

But what about those that step in the way?  Well, you might not like my opinion on that.  See, because of my belief that anger stems from fear, I think better communication can at least attempt to help that.  While I am realistic and understand that conflict in the workplace and conflict in any other aspect of life is complicated and more gray than black and white, I also think that by communicating your reasoning for thinking or behaving in a certain way and helping the other person understand where you come from, you can, in many cases, solve the conflict.  Getting to the root of the problem is so important.  Why is the person stepping in your way?  And what factors in their life are behind that reasoning?  What don't they understand about your reasoning and involvement?  So many issues are caused by lack of understanding, education, and communication.

But, as I said, I understand that you cannot solve all conflicts in this matter because sometimes, they go so far into the gray zone that a longer process is going to have to take place, if any resolution will ever take place.  Sometimes it's better to just be the better person and back down, even if it means some sacrificing on your part.

In the end, what I'm telling you (and myself) is to simply continue to learn better communication strategies.  It will affect your ability to understand yourself and those around you, and (hopefully) will lead to less greed, more fulfillment- and less conflict and more rewards.

Be open.  Be loving.  Be calm.