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Tuesday
Aug122014

O Me! O Life!

Farewell Robin Williams. 

Oh me! Oh life! of the questions of these recurring,
Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish,
Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)
Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d,
Of the poor results of all, of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me,
Of the empty and useless years of the rest, with the rest me intertwined,
The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life?

                                       Answer.
That you are here—that life exists and identity,
That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.

 

-Walt Whitman
Leaves of Grass (1892)

 

 

Reader Comments (16)

Depression and substance abuse are real biological illnesses. No money or popularity in the world can beat disease.

Empathy and awareness people. Mental illness is all around us. People afflicted need attention and love. Not ambivalence and avoidance.

R.I.P. Robin
August 12, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterKixchix
If you break a finger and didn't do anything about it, people would think that you're stupid and reckless. But if there is something wrong inside your brain and you're depressed or otherwise, people say 'toughen up' or dismiss it entirely.

As Kixchix said, the brain is a (hugely complex) biological organ and things can, and do, go wrong. If something is wrong, go to the doctor or at very least, talk to someone.
August 12, 2014 | Unregistered Commenterbryon
Depression and drug abuse is a horrible thing. People tend to think it's easy to deal with or not a big deal at all. But we have lost so many people to it. Whether it be your loved ones or favorite actors, comedians, and musicians. This is sad. People need to take that issue a little more seriously. R.I.P Robin.
August 12, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterDj
Not only depression but all mental illness is real and cannot be helped nor cured. It can, however, be made easier to deal with, with the correct medication.
August 12, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterBkallday
This hits close to home for yours truly.Not ashamed to say I've suffered from both,and it's fucking horrible (excuse the language). It's especially hard when you're a guy because you're raised to "suck it up". So you "suck it up" however you can,and it's usually by numbing everything with booze & whatever you're choice of substance may be (mine was pain pills for my knee,which had undergone 8 operations in 2 years). Lost my job of 21 years because of my knee,and it spiraled into what I've just explained.Eating pain pills like tic tacs and thinking it ain't worth staying around,that your life sucks and your a loser,etc. Please,get help if you're in a dark place.Its there,it works,and it's nothing to be ashamed of.
August 13, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterGary
I just want to echo everyone's sentiments here. No one truly knows the demons others are dealing with. Depression is not just "feeling sad". And to Gary, I wish you well.
August 13, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterEddieLongHair
Thank you all for your comments on here. While I don't personally know any of you, I enjoy reading your thoughts and watching your disagreements about a genre of music that many people don't get. If only one person reads these comments and seeks help because of them, the world will be a better place. My life has been touched (rather forcefully) by the suicides of some close family members. Sometimes, there are no warning signs. The number for the national suicide prevention hotline is 1-800-273-8255. If anyone, or anyone you know, is considering suicide, please call. Help is available.
August 13, 2014 | Unregistered Commenteroper8n
God Bless To All! Great insights and feelings here.

Robin Williams was right up there with all the incredible comic geniuses of all time...

Chaplin, Keaton, Caesar, Sellers, Gleason, Rickles, Cosby, Carney, Winters, Brooks, Carlin, Wilson, Pryor, Belushi, Kaufman, Carey, Please recommend others who are icons of comedy up where Williams belongs.

Gary, I feel you and perspective is your comments here are quite often some of the funniest most insightful and real of all. You are an inspiration and realize that in moments of introspection.

GARY... YOU ROCK, MY METAL BROTHER!

p.s. I, too, lost loved ones in my immediate family to taking their own lives. Understanding and compassion not only for others but ourselves is what needs to be in constant stream of consciousness throughout ones day, every day.
August 14, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterMetalboy!
Sad about his passing. Grateful a site like this exists where, for if but a moment, people can put other things aside and show--in this day and age, on the Internet of all places--empathy and compassion.

Nuff sed.
August 14, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterHim
What a horrible trajedy! Iam very sad about Mr Williams passing. Mrs Doubtfire was 1 of Rippers favorite movies and part 2 was almost complete and now will never see light of day. :( This reminds me alot of the day the great John Ritter was taken from us! God Bless the 2 greatest comedic geniuses! The Good lord must be cracking up in Heaven!
August 14, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterJack T. Ripper
What a horrible trajedy! Iam very sad about Mr Williams passing. Mrs Doubtfire was 1 of Rippers favorite movies and part 2 was almost complete and now will never see light of day. :( This reminds me alot of the day the great John Ritter was taken from us! God Bless the 2 greatest comedic geniuses! The Good lord must be cracking up in Heaven!
August 14, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterJack T. Ripper
Thanks to one and all!!! Things will always work out if you give it time, no matter how hopeless it seems at the time.And of course it did for me.(6 years w/o pills and have a great job) You guys and ladies on here rock in the truest sense of the word. \m/
August 14, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterGary
You, too, Gary!

God Bless, Williams. One of The Greatest Comic Geniuses of Our Time!

Out of tragedy comes goodness -- finally focus will come to help those in achieving a higher level of understanding about Depression and Parkinsons, etc.
August 15, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterMetalboy!
Just read the below on Yahoo about Nikki Sixx' response to Gene Simmons' very insensitive comments about depression and suicide. This is the best thing I have ever heard come out of Sixx' mouth.

Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx chastised Simmons on his Sixx Sense radio show. "It's pretty moronic because [Simmons] thinks everybody listens to him, that he is the God of Thunder. He will tell you he is the greatest man on earth, and to be honest with you, I like Gene. But in this situation, I don't like Gene. I don’t like Gene's words," Sixx said. "There is a 20-year-old kid out there who is a Kiss fan and reads this and goes, 'You know what? He's right. I should just kill myself.'"

Sixx added, "For people who are depressed, there is a way out. There are many, many ways out. And I don't want people to listen to an interview from a rock star, who's telling you the only way out is out.

And I too am touched by someone's current battle with depression and suicidal thoughts. What is very difficult is trying to get someone to accept help, when they refuse. That is my battle right now.

All the best to you Gary. God bless you and your family.
August 15, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterRita
Rita, so well said. Godspeed in your quest to get through to whoever it is you need to get through to.

I've have experienced 3 immediate family members' battles with depression... 2 made it, 1 didn't. All I can say is, never give up. The key is to remind them of their accomplishments and contributions to society, as well as how much more they have to live for.

Someone recently gave me advice that seems to work, as we all get too in our heads sometimes about what really amounts to just stuff. You can either let yourself become a victim of it, allowing it to bring you to your knees, or deal with it and more or less, let it roll off of you.

My friend's advice was simple...

1) Let it go.
2) Get out of the way.
3) Just be.

I guess there's a few ways to interpret that, but I applied it as I translated it and it's working like a charm.

And God Bless Nikki Sixx. So well spoken on this topic, as I sense he's been there. Sixx's wordsmithing in this regard matches his lyrical talents when he's on. Obviously, not so, for $immons. My LOVE/HATE gap with this guy widens with every move and thing he says of late. What a overblown narcissist this guy continues to be.

There are people in the rearview mirror, Gene. Quit backing up and rolling over the bodies! $immons must be afraid they're going to pass him in the fast lane, which, most do, it seems, when it comes to self awareness, mutual respect and integrity -- qualities he, undoubtedly, lacks.
August 17, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterMetalboy!
Spot on Metalboy! Thanks for the advice.

And you're right about Gene. Sometimes I like what he's got to say. Other times, I just shake my head. These comments of his were just about the worst. He got a lot of flack and issued a canned apology because of it. But it is obviously just damage control. Probably too little, too late.
August 17, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterRita

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