Friday, October 8, 2010

I Must Get Better

I am now the most miserable man living…To remain as I am is impossible; I must die or be better, it appears to me.  –Abraham Lincoln, January 23, 1841 (Excerpt from a letter written to a law partner in Washington, DC) 

Abraham Lincoln has long been considered one of our nation's greatest Presidents and rightly so.  However, what many people do not know about President Lincoln is that for years he battled depression, sorrow, and thoughts of suicide.  How was it possible for him to find the strength, courage, and determination to keep going until at last he achieved his goal of becoming President?  Like others who had to confront the darkness of depression, Lincoln resolved that he would not surrender.  At some point he made up his mind to stand and fight.  The rest, as they say, is history.

For you, my friend, no matter how dark the situation looks, there can be brighter days ahead.  Do not surrender to the dark forebodings that war against your soul.  Right now the thoughts of rising up, taking back control of your life, and being happy once again may appear comparable to climbing Mount Everest.  Do not try to climb the mountain today; that would be entirely unreasonable.  Instead, resolve to make a stand toward recovery.  Decide that you will not surrender, quit, or retreat.  Like President Lincoln, you cannot remain as you are; you must get better.  Though it may appear hopeless, happiness is within your grasp. 

What is one pursuit today that is within your ability?  You are reading this, so at least you are awake and probably out of bed.  Do not go crawl back under the covers.  Life is too precious to surrender to sadness and fatigue.  Get outside for a while, sit in the sunshine, take a walk, call a trusted friend, write a letter to an old friend who thinks you’ve forgotten him (or her), pull back the curtains and let the light shine in, watch a good comedy – anything to make you smile, pray for strength, treat yourself to coffee and a muffin at your favorite coffee shop, do something nice for someone with no thought of being rewarded.  The possibilities are endless.  Get up and get going – today and this moment. 
 
Don’t give in and don’t give up.  Life is worth the living. 

Keep moving, keep going forward.  Never give up.  

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