August 13, 2014, TGIW: Unhumping Hump Day

“Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and repeat to yourself, the most comforting words of all; this, too, shall pass.” –Ann Landers

“Robin, my Robin.”

Everyone is writing and reading about the man whom likely everyone considered a friend, whether they knew him personally or not: Robin Williams.

He was so loved and will be so sorely missed not only because of the world of joy he brought to many but because of the way he chose to exit the stage of life. It saddens us to feel that someone who gave so much to us didn’t experience the joy himself.

He follows a long line of other beloved individuals who, from a distance and by the world’s standards, lived lives that others would die for.

And yet everyone faces their demons. In the end, though they come in many shapes, sizes, colors and speaking different languages, all demons are equal because they can each diminish our time on the stage…or take us out of the scene entirely.

Robin gave us everything to laugh for. In his final, dramatic, Oscar-winner act, can he give us everything to live for?

Where have our own demons said we might as well give up on a plan, a dream, a tomorrow?  Where might our own “voices in the head” be squelching our unique expression on the stage? Where have we become paralyzed by making judgments about ourselves vs. making a difference for others?

In times when the demons come a knocking and want to move in, putting our focus on what can we give, share, or do for others might might fill up the house so there’s no room for them.

Got no vacancy?

 “You must make a decision that you are going to move on. It wont happen automatically. You will have to rise up and say, ‘I don’t care how hard this is, I don’t care how disappointed I am, I’m not going to let this get the best of me. I’m moving on with my life.” –Joel Osteen