I love the distinction between gratitude and appreciation, that was powerful for me when I discovered it myself during my intractable depression. I couldn't feel any gratitude. Trying made me feel worse. But I could still objectively identify things that were good and point them out—in my case, by drawing them and posting them online. I did so because I reasoned that it would be hard to be bitter and say everything sucks if I had a stream of art about real things that didn't suck. I was correct! It never helped me feel better while I was depressed, but it helped me become a person who noticed the good in the world and shared it with others, and that has been much more meaningful and enduring than positive feelings.
Amanda. That is incredibly powerful! Thank you for sharing so vulnerably and transparently. It is good to have artifacts in our life that we can revert back to to help us navigate life.
Being a life of THANKS LIVING! Thank you, JD, for this and all the wonderful pieces you share with the world. It’s such a comfort to know that you and your loving spirit are in this world shining brightly!
I am grateful for you and your whole family. Happy Thanksgiving.
I love the distinction between gratitude and appreciation, that was powerful for me when I discovered it myself during my intractable depression. I couldn't feel any gratitude. Trying made me feel worse. But I could still objectively identify things that were good and point them out—in my case, by drawing them and posting them online. I did so because I reasoned that it would be hard to be bitter and say everything sucks if I had a stream of art about real things that didn't suck. I was correct! It never helped me feel better while I was depressed, but it helped me become a person who noticed the good in the world and shared it with others, and that has been much more meaningful and enduring than positive feelings.
Amanda. That is incredibly powerful! Thank you for sharing so vulnerably and transparently. It is good to have artifacts in our life that we can revert back to to help us navigate life.
Being a life of THANKS LIVING! Thank you, JD, for this and all the wonderful pieces you share with the world. It’s such a comfort to know that you and your loving spirit are in this world shining brightly!
Thanks so much Sage! I’m glad sub stack made it easy for us to find one another.
Me too!