I love this little conversation between Pooh and Piglet. It speaks volumes on so many levels. It speaks to both the depressed and the friends of those who may be struggling.
It truly breaks my heart when I hear of a person who remains in depression, or due to that depression, a person who has committed suicide, and in the current cultural push of awareness, we hear so many blogs, posts and notices that we should check on our friends, we should reach out, and we should be there for those suffering. Yes, I wholeheartedly agree, and I believe the awareness should be alive and well. However, what I see happening in this push, and what I wish would also be pushed at the same heightened state, is those who are struggling desperately need to speak up just as much as friends need to be aware!
I love what Pooh says to Piglet, he had a difficult day, but he didn’t really want to talk about it. Too often, it seems the focus of awareness is so pivoted on those left behind, but if we say anything directed toward the one who remained silent, then, we are relegated as being insensitive, cold and even cruel in our approach.
Yet, if I could intervene with this blame (and justification) game, I wish I could. Speaking truth into someone’s life, especially, someone who is in trouble and may even become dangerous to themselves or someone else, is not being cruel and heartless. Sometimes, it can be a lifesaver!
If I am standing in the street, and a Mack truck is flying down the road, and I am just too sad, too depressed or even too blind to see it, please, someone scream, yell, or run over to me and yank me out of that street!! Because sometimes, the best thing for a person is not a coddling and pampering but a spoken word of truth that helps to bring them back to reality.
the grizzle grist mill 