Among many things that Anais Nin said was, “The writer’s responsibility is to increase, develop our senses, expand our vision, heighten our awareness and enrich our articulateness.” Without any doubt, that’s why I write so much about Addiction and Depression: I believe it’s my responsibility to expand people’s awareness about the mechanics of Addiction and Depression.
The more we can collectively understand about how these diseases really work, then perhaps we can do more to disrupt their destructive force. While I do work with clients one on one, it’s just as important to me to work on a systemic-macro level. That is, if I can provide enough information to as many people as is possible, then perhaps their literacy and articulateness about Addiction and Depression will increase to the point of changing attitude and opinions about those who struggle with those heinous scourges.
But, I can’t do it alone: I need soldiers who are also willing to take digest the information I provide and then either challenge it or accept it. Either way, I ask that people do not ignore the fact that there is work to be done. The less we do as a collective community, the more people will come to the black point of finality to which both Addiction and Depression lead.
So, to challenge everyone: The next time you hear about someone suffering (or dying) due to Addiction or to Depression, try to see them as someone stricken with a terminal illness. Try not to think of them as weak-willed people who could’ve stopped their slide into dark death by making a simple decision or praying a simple prayer. Deciding and praying are important, but if a frog decides to jump to another lily pad, until he actually jumps, he has done nothing.
I want to heighten your awareness about Addiction and Depression. I hope that you take the information I share and rip it to shreds in your own terms. And then I hope you act to make changes, in the best way you can…
