Too many people assume that Depression is something people can pull themselves out of if they are “strong ENOUGH” - just last night on Absolute radio http://www.absoluteradio.co.uk/ I heard a caller say people prone to Depression had a “weak mindset.” It IS easy to make assumptions like this and it’s difficult to understand things you haven’t experienced, but be as aware as you can! :) http://www.depressionalliance.org/help-and-information/what-is-depression.php
Don’t get me wrong, I can see why people find this quote reassuring (the saying below taken from Friedrich Nietzsche’s writings). Sure, a lesson learned will usually better you. And granted difficult experiences can make you feel wise and wordly but erm, STRONGER? So you’re saying that whatever I do which doesn’t immediately result in my death WILL strengthen me - fantastic! Forget all that recommended healthy lifestyle crap then, I’ll eat what I like and do nothing (after all, the heart attack that could ensue years down the line will only build me up if it doesn’t break me). I’ll create lots of problems for myself, knowing that I’m ultimately doing myself a favour. Sustaining as many injuries as possible seems a good idea. The harder I work to make this life shitty, the sooner I’ll be totally invincible.
Pushing it, yes. But forgetting its application to physical health, I STILL don’t see how this is a mantra to live by. Some people are very unfortunate in life while others have an easier time, but we all have struggles however big or small. Someone hardened by a troubled life is no stronger than someone given an easier time, the first has just been dealt a harsher lot - since when has the human race had a stronger/weaker divide anyway? We’re all human, we’re ALL WEAK - it comes with the territory. I’m not belittling people who suffer lots, it’s just we’re all basically the same and we all need love just the same. Understanding your mistakes and trying your hardest to be a better person after an ordeal is the truest strength - and that has nothing to do with being tough.
“That which does not kill us makes us stronger”
First off, although I intially felt this was disrespectful to say (referring to the quote below) it ultimately makes sense - laughing at a tragic situation is a perfectly normal reaction, an admirable one. I’ve been genuinely impressed by the ingenuity of some jokes about the singer, my favourite being the Elton John/”Candle under the spoon” crack. It IS tasteless, but hey, any people enjoying themselves in her memory seem pretty cool to me.
And to suggestions that leaving empty bottles by her grave was offensive - what’s wrong with it? Sure, drink was one of her vices - or “demons” in the press - but that weakness connected her with so many people and to label that gesture as an insult to her memory is ridiculous when it was such a huge part of her life.
I’ve also heard it said frequently since her death that her talent was wasted, that she squandered her gift - what rubbish! She worked so hard and achieved the one thing most artists can only dream of; she channelled her pain into her artform in such a way that people felt they shared that experience, and could relate it completely to their own. More than that, she did so with the perfect balance of soul, attitude and musical talent that gives her music the potential to be relevant for a long time to come. There should be continued celebration of her momentus achievements, not the constant nag in peoples’ minds of what COULD have been had she lived longer.
“I can’t be the only one sending congratulations to Amy Winehouse for making it through her first week of sobriety”
Last week’s news announced the results of an NHS survey into alcohol and drug use among British teenagers http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14323667
It wasn’t the statistics I found interesting but how they were obtained – anonymously. It’s not as if anonymous surveys are anything remarkable of course, but in this PARTICULAR case one can find great amusement in how different the results would be had the poll been conducted in a classroom, hands flying up. This prompts the question: why should you drink to be considered a normal teenager?
Because let’s face it, your response to “let’s get smashed Saturday” is of great importance. An answer on your part supposedly lays out your entire personality. An enthusiastic reaction (genuine or not), and you’re the type of person who knows how to have a good time. And come on ladies and gentlemen, who here doesn’t want everyone thinking they’re FUN enough to spend a night drinking? Even if it means waking up in a stranger’s bath come Sunday with inventive graffiti scrawled ALL over you in permanent marker AGAIN, it’s so worth it for the fun of the thing.
Reverse that response and you’re uptight and a spoilsport - far too SERIOUS to be a teenager. I mean, it’s what teenagers do. You’ve NEVER been drunk?!
But forget heavy drinking and think of the pastime in any small form; are you someone who will drink to be seen in a good light, to give off a friendly first impression, or do you stick to your guns and decline whatever mix is being passed round on the basis that you don’t ACTUALLY like alcohol much? It tastes kind of crap in your opinion. Moreover you don’t like the way your lovely shy friend starts dancing on tables and shouting at strangers after a few glasses of that, and you’re getting a bit sick of comforting your other hysterical mate who’s been sobbing in the corner for the best part of an hour.
So is it cool to drink? Well, in the sense of cool meaning easygoing and a bit reckless then yes. But if you define “cool” as going against the grain – rebelling - then absolutely not. After all, EVERYONE must be drinking at weekends and you’re a bit weird if you admittedly don’t. IN FACT, if you’re a teetotal teen then you’re breaking the rules of how to drink like a teenager. YOU’RE non-conformist, you’re not following the crowd. And luckily for you, you probably have some memory of what happened last Saturday.
