I'm sure most of you will remember the sad and gloomy donkey, Eeyore, from Winnie The Pooh.
He was known for his pessimistic and depressed nature and an almost comically dry attitude towards life and love.
These are a few typical Eeyore lines that sum up his mood most of the time:
"The sky has finally fallen, always knew it would."
"Don't worry about me, go ahead and enjoy yourself, I'll stay here and be miserable."
"Could be worse, not sure how, be it could be."
When I was a kid and read Winne The Pooh I always had a soft spot for Eeyore. I felt sorry for him, he seemed sad and lonely and left out of most of the fun.
But I also recognised that Pooh, Piglet and Tigger loved him despite his gloomy nature - I think that's what Christopher Robin was trying to teach us with this character.
Eeyore is a reflection of many characteristics those of us with depression have struggled with. Yet his friends love him regardless and don't expect him to change.
"Promise me you'll always remember: you're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think."
Sometimes as a person in the real world, finding people like Pooh who accept and love you as you are can be difficult. Our lives are so busy and all consuming we don't often find the time to be patient.
I came out the other side of my depression a long time ago but I still have low and lonely days. There's nothing I can do apart from accept them and try and practice self love instead of self sabotage whilst riding it out.
I had one of these days on Friday, I felt isolated and alone. I wasn't, I had family around me and friends a phone call a way but for some reason when you're in the throws of these dark moments you can't reach out.
Unless someone comes along, hugs you tight and says, "I know you're not okay", it's likely you'd never even admit you weren't.
I felt a bit like Eeyore and I remembered that although I could empathise with his sadness and loneliness, I could also relate to having people who stand by you regardless.
So I chose to focus on the fact that although I felt alone, I wasn't.
And I remembered that although Eeyore was sad most of the time, it was through his sadness that he was sensitive. As I've said before, feeling everything deeply is a double edged sword and one that tends to hurt the bearer more than those around him.
Eeyore was sad, but he was also deep and profound and caring:
"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them."
"A little consideration, a little thought for others makes all the difference."
"It never hurts to keep looking for sunshine."
I don't miss these days, but it does remind me of how far I've come and how I've somehow managed to harness my sensitivity into a light instead of a darkness, but I'm not perfect and my happiness isn't fool proof so I'll have the odd Eeyore day and that's okay.
Love,
Daisy xx
( @daisyd )