Depression Getaway with Wendy Love

“A dog has no use for fancy cars, big homes, or designer clothes. A water logged stick will do just fine. A dog doesn't care if you're rich or poor, clever or dull, smart or dumb. Give him your heart and he'll give you his. How many people can you say that about? How many people can make you feel rare and pure and special? How many people can make you feel extraordinary?”  (That quote is from the book/movie 'Marley and Me'.) Oh, and by the way, the above picture is not of my Casey even though he looks like that. Just couldn't resist posting this one.

  Last time we talked about retreating to prepare for advancing. This would be a retreat of rest and relaxation and strengthening for the road ahead. Which one of these pictures looks like an ideal retreat for you?

Do you believe that in order to advance you must first retreat? We who live with mental illness know all about retreating. That is what we do, at least what I do, when I am at my worst. I retreat. And when I do retreat, my hope is that the enforced rest will fortify me to advance once again, when I am ready.

If that describes you, then you are strong!

Depression is not a character flaw! Do you believe that? Do you know that? Would someone with cancer ever beat themselves up mentally by saying "I am such a loser, I have cancer" or "why can't I just make this cancer go away?" Would someone with diabetes decide to quit taking insulin because taking medication makes you weak? Of course not.

This is a great new series on Netflix. It is called 'Tidying Up with Marie Kondo'. I read her book awhile ago "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up" . It's a lovely read. Now I must first confess my bias before we go any further. Organizing and sorting is a passion of mine. I love it. 

In a society that celebrates improvement, excellence, appearance, success, well, mere survival doesn't seem to be something to celebrate does it? However, one of my new favourite TV shows,  'Still Standing ' is just about that - SURVIVAL. Here are the introductory remarks to this show given by it's host, a popular Canadian comedian Jonny Harris: