I, along with so many others were shocked and deeply saddened hearing of the death of Robin Williams. He was such a big part of my childhood in films including Jumanji, Aladdin, and Mrs Doubtfire and was influential well into my adulthood. His films are funny but also heartwarming and poignant. He seemed to be such a big personality, and it struck me how many people spoke of his generosity of spirit. But for me, as someone who has never met Mr. Williams, I will always remember the legacy of humor that he gave the world. He was hilarious, quick witted, and saw the world in a way all his own. What a great legacy to leave making so many people laugh. I love his movies as well as his standup and he has made me laugh till I’ve cried and my stomach ached. As well as being a genius comedian he’s done some brilliant work in more serious films and one of his lines from Good Will Hunting has really stuck with me. “You’ll have bad times, but it’ll always wake you up to the good stuff you weren’t paying attention to.” I’ve been thinking about this a lot in my own life. Reminding myself that even through the dark times and hard days, that there is beauty and laughter and joy if you just look around. Comedy is defined as the funny or amusing part of something, and we can all find comedy around us in ourselves, others and the absurdity of the world. I acknowledge that there is a lot of terrible things going on in the world) which I won’t comment on specifically as that isn’t the aim or point of what I want to comment on). But we all need a break from the terrible, to come up for air before we drown in the sorrow and misery going on here and abroad. We need a break from our grief individual and collectively. So give yourself permission to laugh and have a good time, look around for the comedy in the world, learn a joke and share it, and share a SMILE. You never know how far a simple smile can go in brightening someone’s day (including your own). And in tribute of the greatness of Robin Williams I’m going to go watch some of his comedy and have a laugh on him. Never forget to look for the good stuff you weren’t paying attention to.
There are so many people out there struggling with depression and mental health issues. This is not weakness but a medical issue and many people out there care about you! If you are someone you know is struggling or in crisis PLEASE reach out for help. Both the National Alliance on Mental Illness 800-950- NAMI and The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) are wonderful resources.