…of ideas on my part, but rather, a lack of space and emotional energy for all of the things I’d like to make real. I think he is right. I will make the necessary space.” I feel like my sadness has stolen away my creativity and all of the things I used to enjoy. I think you are right and brave to make space. Thank you so much for waking up something in me, I feel a spark for the first time in a long, long while.”

Dear, dear new friend—

You make me believe in the strange power of the internet.  Sadness is a creeping sickness.  It lives underneath everything, like dust swept under a carpet.  It makes things lumpy and wrong.  We cough and sneeze and don’t know why.  Sadness has been proven to make people physically ill.  Depression causes physical as well as emotional struggle.  It is the worst sap of creative energy.  I come up against this constantly, especially when wanting to make things.

I think I may’ve found an antidote for the ones like us.  Sadness won’t leave, even if you want it to.  So live in it.  Feel the worst depths.  Then speak them.  The biggest hurt can become the connective tissue for healing when spoken.  Words, images, music, whatever you make, is a scar of survival.  It can seem impossible to produce anything when sadness overwhelms you, but that is why finding what makes you want to move forward again is so important.  Take in as many talismans of strength and beauty as you can.  You are what you eat.

Cheers :)