Because May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, I’d like to dedicate this post to my fellow crazies. I’m right there with you.
Let’s not forget to laugh. We can survive another May day with a little positive thinking. There is a quote that helps me get through my darkest hours, when I can remember it…
An optometrist laughs to forget;
This doesn’t seem right.
a possum is physically incapable of laughter.
Okay, as inspiring as that is, that quote is not relevant to the subject at hand. I searched my files and found the quote I was thinking of.
“An optimist laughs to forget;
~Tom Bodett
a pessimist forgets to laugh.”
Seven Deadly Dwarfs
The following is not intended to inspire philosophical thought, or thought, or inspiration. It’s just another day when I wonder why aliens won’t abducted me.
There is a person in my life who enjoys testing my knowledge with verbal pop quizzes. The goal is to be able to say, “gotcha, you’re not so smart, mom.” Yesterday, without warning, my adult son asked me to name the seven deadly sins. After checking the sky for my ride, I blinked and answered: envy, sloth… an imaginary “times-up!” buzzer went off. No thinking, mom. He pantomimed the rest like charades. I listed them all: envy, gluttony, greed, lust, pride, rage, and sloth. (Fun.)
My adult daughter, who witnessed the interaction from across the room, threw another quiz my way. Note, she has a medical marijuana card for debilitating migraines. Her challenge was to name the Seven Dwarfs. After Dopey, I had nothing. Her question begged a Google search (why? idk): Bashful, Dopey, Doc, Happy, Grumpy, Sleepy, and Sneezy.
Because I tend to overthink everything, I decided these two lists of seven must somehow match up. I was determined to find a way. Grumpy is obviously rage. Sleepy must be sloth. Happy could be gluttony. When we got to “Sneezy” my son scoffed, “they don’t line up, mom.” And just like that, he was gone.
What is the meaning of my existence? What is the purpose of procreation? And again, why won’t aliens abduct me? That said, I’m so happy my M.C. Hammer (time) pants from the 90s, are back in style.
Okay, back to the subject at hand. Approximately one in four adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. I’m not ashamed to say I struggle with anxiety and depression. If there is a stigma that goes along with my confession, I don’t care. I know I’m in good company.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/mental-health-disorder-statistics
A lot from Lydia 
The mentally ill are light years ahead of everybody else.
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