As someone that gets depression, and has experienced it personally, I figured I'd go ahead and ramble for a little bit, and maybe someone out there will be inspired by it, or feel like for a second, all the bad in their life isn't quite so bad anymore. So, here it goes. 

When I think about depression, it reminds me of an ocean. It totally overtakes you in every way imaginable. You have moments where you reach the surface and get some relief, and can breathe again, but eventually, the ocean just swallows you back up, until your next breath of fresh air. You just stay underwater, hoping and praying that someone or something comes along and pulls you out of the water. It's hard to see help when you're in the darkness of the water, and when you come up for air, all you see around you is more water. It feels hopeless to think that one day, one day you will actually want to wake up and get out of bed and see your family or friends, or go back to work. It feels like the hope of enjoying a holiday is totally out of reach. But, you've just got to put things in perspective. You see, you're underwater. You're surrounded by the ocean. Your friends and family and coworkers can't see you either. You're out there drowning. The only way they're going to know that you need help, is to cry out. When you finally get your moment of relief, yell at the top of your lungs that you're in need of help before you slip back down beneath the waves. Call your neighbor, your friend, your coworker, your family, anyone that will listen. Talk to anyone. But actually talk to them. Tell them that you're in need of some serious help, and you need their assistance in getting that help. Explain what's been going on in your life, or explain how it feels that nothing has been going on in your life, but for goodness sake, please, just tell somebody. And this is the perfect setting to do it. Tell people who can offer their support. Tell people that understand what it's like to go through depression. Tell people that understand that depression isn't something that just disappears. You're gonna have good days, and you're going to have bad days. But when you finally come up for air, when you actually do have a good day, find out what caused that, and hold on to it for dear life. You grab that life float and you never let go. You throw yourself into that hobby, that friendship, that relationship, whatever it is in your life that actually got you to feel happy, and actually managed to get you to smile again, submerge yourself in that, rather than be submerged beneath the water. Realize that you really are tougher than you thought. Because you're still here. Even after everything you've been through, you're sitting right there, still breathing. That's proof enough that you're strong. So don't give up. Don't let your depression overtake you. Don't go down without a fight. Take a stand. But don't take a stand by yourself. I will be the first to tell you that your depression will probably not go away. You're going to have days that it comes back and takes control of you again. But hold on to the hope that better days are around the corner. Understand that sooner or later, something good will come along. Something positive will come. Something will come along and motivate you to fight back against your depression. And when it does, hold on for dear life, and don't you ever let go. Just remember, if you've survived for this long, you've come way too far to quit now. 

I 100% believe that you've got this. I hope you enjoy your day, and that you have a wonderful adventure to make you enjoy life again.