Lighting Up Our Humanity

Last night we heard the tragic news that comedian and actor Robin Williams died of an apparent suicide attempt. Social media blew up about the story with everyone commenting on what was their favorite movie of his and how brilliant and smart he was. A ripple of sadness enveloped us as we all shared in this loss.

Apparently he suffered from depression - something I do not think was spotlighted for many people prior to his death. We knew he battled his demons (drugs and the like) over the years as he went through a couple of stints at rehab. But we didn't know - couldn't know - what was behind these troubled feelings of his.

The unfortunate thing is that many, many people suffer from depression and, at least once have considered suicide to a life that they feel in some way is just not worth living any longer. Because they are not public figures, most of them go unnoticed, except for the family & friends that sit in wonder, trying to piece together the signs that may or may not have been there for them to see, and possibly help avoid the impending death of their loved one. I believe that until it happens to someone very close to you, most people do not put enough weight on issues of depression. This is not merely being "sad. This is a mental illness.

To me this highlights the ever present need to learn how to calm the mind. Whether you enjoyed his comedy or not, I think that everyone can agree that Williams' mind was insanely fast & brilliant. The way he pulled from vastly different historical & socially relevant ideas in the blink of an eye on endless and tireless rants clearly showed that he was a man ruled by his brain. In some circles this quality would be widely admired, right? Yet the yoga practice supports the idea of quieting the mind and finding peace in the calm stillness - something that anyone with mental illness has a very difficult time doing.

My intention is not to use this time of loss as a time to advertise for yoga. My intention is to continue to bring mindfulness to us all. The deal is that you can never know what someone else is going through, thinking about, battling, etc. - not even if you ask them outright. You just can never know a person's whole story and struggles. Not the "nasty" clerk at the store. Not the "jerk" that cut you off in traffic. Not the "elitist" teacher that has it in for your kid. Not the "mean" aunt that is never happy. NOBODY. You just do not know what they're going through at any moment.

The judgments that we place on people - continually - come from our ego needing to define something or potentially making it to feel better about itself. But there is a better way: compassion and understanding.

Maybe the store clerk didn't make you laugh and the person who cut you off is not a member of your immediate family, but that does not make that person any less important in the world. Everyone is a human being deserving of non-jugemental compassion. EVERYONE.

So before you jump to conclusions about someone, take a moment to consider that they may be moving through some very dark energy. And instead of sending judgements and hateful words, spread some loving kindness. If someone is depressed and on the brink of committing suicide, a kind word or a smile from you could make all the difference in the world to that person.

We need to start living outside of our own limited beliefs. We need to start caring for other people like we care about our cell phones. We need to start tuning back in to humanity. When we can be that kind of people together, then maybe nobody will feel so alone. And just maybe we will all be able to find peace in being still and quieting our mind, knowing that our collective consciousness is building us up as a whole - instead of one person here or there.

I hear a lot of people talk about this new age/aquarian age of enlightenment and how some people will be left behind in the waking of consciousness. I do not subscribe to that egoist way of thinking. I believe that the only way for us to become enlightened is to rise up together. It has to start with our thoughts. And it has to start now.

Turn off the Cell Phone and Listen to Someone With Your Ears, Eyes and Soul…Peace Out.

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Interestingly, after I posted this blog, a few hours later Russell Brand posted this on his channel. We speak about the same things - he perhaps more eloquently. Check it out.

Russell Brand Trews on Robin Williams

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