and then the rain came...

It's raining today and it has was coming down steadily throughout the night.
Our forests and gardens are parched so it has come at a good time...
perhaps some of the forest fires will be extinguished and give the overworked fire fighters a well earned break.

These are onion blooms.

I planted them a few years ago and they reward me every year with a lovely show.

They have a slight onion-y scent but it is not so overpowering that you are brought to tears.

I  bring them indoors and pop them in a vase.

The fuchsia shade is vibrant and looks so pretty with the soft white buds.

Colour has a big impact on how I feel.

  I notice when the skies are grey and the rains come that my outlook and mood is affected. 

When the gloomy days arrive that I need to be proactive and focus on things that cheer my spirit.

I've been thinking about debilitating depression since hearing of the tragic death of Robin Williams.

He was such an extremely funny and gifted actor who gave so much to us over his career.

Just how low and distraught he must have been is difficult for me to imagine.

I hope that his family will come to understand and accept his demise.

I wonder how depression starts...

Is it a series of events that pile up to overwhelm one's spirit or is it a chemical imbalance in the body?

Is it too much "living in one's head" or lack of exercise or isolation?

Or is it a combination of all of the above?

If we are aware of our tendency to go to the dark side 

I wonder if we can use strategies to keep that Black Dog away...

~ Into each life a little rain must fall. ~

We all need tools and strategies to cope with the bumps on the road of life.

Given that I am not clinically depressed nor have I ever experienced a serious bout with depression 

I really have no idea how a severly depressed individual struggles to maintain a balanced equilibrium.

I know friends and a few close family members who are on medication for depression.

Finding the right medication can be tricky and it takes several weeks for the drugs to take effect.

It is a rocky road to wellness.

On a cold grey day I like to brew a pot of tea...

It is not a cure all but the delicate aroma of a good blend does have a soothing power.

If I need a cheering up I use a particularly lovely china cup and saucer.

Comfort is important so I opt for a warm cozy cashmere sweater and some woolly socks and slippers.

If the room is chilled I climb under a warm blanket or duvet.

Lighting a scented candle helps elevate my mood.

If I have a good book on the go I might pick it up and read a few chapters...

 thumbing through a stack of magazines

or watching a favourite movie.

I might pick up the phone and call a friend to chat.

Going out for a walk or trying out a new recipe work wonders.

Tackling a messy cupboard ~ reorganizing and tidying. 

Volunteering to help others less fortunate is a tonic.

What do you do when you feel sad?

Why is Joy so hard for some to find?

Is there something that we as a society can do to prevent future suicides or help alleviate depression?

Accepting that mental illness is an illness on it's own, not unlike the flu or diabetes might be a start.

In the meantime my thoughts and condolences go out to Robin William's family...

"That's the thing about depression: A human being can survive almost anything, as long as she sees the end in sight. But depression is so insidious, and it compounds daily, that it's impossible to ever see the end. The fog is like a cage without a key."

~ Elizabeth Wurtzel ~

If you need help seek it, if you notice someone else needs help offer it, 

let's never give up on ourselves or those we hold dear to our hearts.

Hostess