"To be true to yourself can often be a lonely and scary thing. It requires bravery to go 'where angels fear to tread.' The people who throw things at you are afraid of their own emotions and would rather play it safe by being numb and emotionally neutral."
...what a beautiful and powerful statement...I have experienced this myself. Most of my best friends, do not share my passion for the business either;however, they respect my feelings (and luckily, they do like Theater, if not the life).
This is the thing: Learn to love what life is given to you, without trying to think you've been shortchanged. Otherwise, you will become bitter and downtrodden. Though I am not a "professional" counselor, I have given some very good advice to many, who have turned their lives around because of it (and I feel very humble and blessed for this). I think your depression might be because you are staring at things in the eye, without knowing how to stare back at them and put them in their place. Depression comes from not understanding why something happens, and not being able to control what is happening to you. Once you understand something, then you can start to deal with it, and heal. HOW you take things, is a very important factor in how your life turns out...that is why there are so many stories of people beating the odds out there (you are certainly NOT the only one, trust me). Your surroundings are a bit harsher than most of us might have experienced, but hang in there...this, too shall pass.
The other thing: Be wise in WHO you choose for a friend. The best way to do this, is to "surround" yourself with people of like mind, who share your core values;they not necessarily need to agree with you about everything--that would be boring =[-- but they should be people who share those values in life which you deem most important (ie.: if you hold "not cheating" as extremely important to you, then choose those who don't cheat, either;otherwise, you will start to compromise YOUR values, and thus, your own soul. It is always better to be alone, than in bad company, as the saying goes. And who says "you" are not good company for yourself? Learn to like yourself for who you are, and you will ultimately have a friend in yourself, and enjoy your solitude.
Still, strive to be in good terms with others, without compromising your morals or values, and try to share when given the opportunity, this life with others...you are doing that on this board, already :)...have you heard "friends are people who know all about you, and still like you, anyways"...? So true. A true friend, will stick by you, even if you have your strifes, and they realize that, as you entrust them with your feelings, so too, they will be able to entrust you with theirs.
And try not to imagine things..."worrying about tommorrow, will only take power away from today" (I read this, wish "I" had come up with it
Also, I believe, deeply, that obstacles are put in our lives to give us character...sort of like "resistance" training. The more resistance we get, the better we learn to eventually discern what is important, and what should be tossed aside, without letting it destroy us ("don't sweat the small stuff"...).
Well, hope I have made a "dent" here. Continue growing in your love for theater and the arts...at least we artists are not as judgemental as others...and, we love you, too (wish they had hearts we could put in here, just like the smileys).
Take good care :)
Updated On: 6/30/08 at 05:57 AM
