BETTER DAY

I think you will all agree that my last article was depressing.  Life, especially in the Covid universe, can be very depressing. In past articles, I have outlined the various treatments for depression, including medications, counseling, exercises such as creating a  Blessings List, physical exercise, meditation, etc.  In my last article, I was very upfront about not wanting to take any more medicines.  

First, let me tell you that, when you’re drowning in shit, it’s not uncommon to find yourself in the midst of a “cascade” making it hard to dig out.  In older individuals, it was not uncommon to see one problem lead to another (cascade) and so on and so on.  Yesterday, I learned that I have a melanoma on my chest wall and will need surgery.  What next?  I don’t know!  I know what to do and I started yesterday.  Boy, did I get lucky.  My doc gave me a referral and I did a Google search and scheduled an appointment.  The doc saw me yesterday and he was great with high “care level” and “listening” scores.

Of interest is that I scheduled an appointment with the wrong doc (their office names are very similar) and he turned out to be the right doc for me.  In the course of 24 hours, I’ve consulted my dermatology professor from residency, my general surgeon in Barrington and Dr Nowicky and have a plan.  I’ve added Dr. Nowicky to my “Blessings List” and lucking into an appointment with him has lifted my spirits.

Further lifting me out of the gutter is Chanukah.  I love the act of giving and over the last 2 weeks I have had the pleasure of shopping for my grandchildren and seeing the joy in their eyes as they open their gifts.  RJ is 6 and lives in Georgia. He is a very active and gifted kid who gives great hugs, loves building Legos with his Zadie (me) and has learned to facetime with Renee and me.  Before I left Georgia, I got a heavy dose of love from RJ.

Hudson is 9 months old and they say he looks like me.  Hudson’s eyes lock onto me and melts my heart.  His giggles and hus laughter makes me smile (not an easy feat) and laugh.  Like RJ, he gives me a heavy dose of love and, between the two of them, my depression is fading.

My 3-year-old granddaughter, Mackenzie, goes hot and cold.  Right now, she is into to Renee, often giving me a perfunctory hug and kiss, then running off with her Bubby.  Watching her open presents last night did the trick.  The sheer joy she experienced when seeing her new baby doll, her Cocomelon doll, and Troll infused me with strength and happiness.

That brings me to the moral of the story:  one’s Blessings List, counting your blessings, often works.  That’s not to say that medication and counseling aren’t important adjuncts when properly used, but it points out that there are other options.  Sometimes, when you are depressed, you are blinded by your sorrow and can’t see your blessings.  Have you noticed that I share my feelings with you?  Sharing your feelings with others grants them the right to help you.  In this case, many of my readers and all of my family were quick to offer support and guided me back to my blessings list and recovery.

There are those of you who like to worry. Don’t worry about me!  My melanoma will be taken care of and, even though there are more bumps in the road to come, I have family, friends, former patients and readers to get me through.  Thank you for always being there.

Here’s your joke and music for the day.

What did the banana tell the vibrator?

You’re the one shaking?! I’m about to get eaten!