The guy that put a smile on so many of our faces was depressed. The guy that caused us to break out in laughter the past 15 years was depressed. The guy who seemed to have it all, a wife, kids, fans. The guy we have all grown to love felt like there was no other option available to him but to take his own life.
It shows that you never know what another person is going through. We judge people so quickly by their actions, faces but unless you truly know them, you have no idea what actually could be happening in their lives.
Everyday, every person is fighting their own battle. It could be the person sitting on the train next you taking up a whole seat because they do not want anyone to sit next to them. They would rather stew in their own angry thoughts.
It could also be the person in front of you in the grocery line yelling at the cashier because something was rung up wrong when in reality, they are just mad because they have to count pennies to pay for groceries.
It could also be the coworker you see every single day, bounce into the office, smile on her face. That smile could be covering up years of hurt in her heart.
You never know another person's battle. You never know what the other person is going through. This is an unfortunate example of that. Robin Williams was a comedian, actor that put smiles on our faces, year after year. He could be found cracking jokes on a night time show or in of our favorite movies. In the end, his own laughter, his own smiles couldn't shut out the darkness that had consumed him.
I have been through a battle that I never thought I would get out of. A battle I felt like no one else understood when I lost my mom. I smiled big so no one would see my hurt. I smiled through the tears.
That smile covered the hurt I was feeling inside. There were days I wanted to lay in bed and never get out of it. There were days I wasn't sure if they hurt in my heart would ever go away.
It was also the days when people included me in their conversations, days people smiled at me and made me laugh, days people just tried to understand what I was going through. Those are the moments that made me get through. Made me smile for real. Made the hurt just a little bit less. It's what kept me from tumbling even further into the darkness. People might not have known the exact words to say but knew I just needed to laugh. Just needed to feel like they cared.
Just remember when you are quick to complain or yell back at a rude person. Remember that even though they may be clothed in the highest end fashion, there may be battle they are fighting inside. Remember that when someone is having a bad day, see what you can do to help them out.
Give a smile. Say hello to a stranger. Tell your family and friends how much they mean to you. Really connect with the people in your life.
Be nice. Be kind. Every one is fighting their own battle. And you never know when your simple kindness or smile will turn their day around.
RIP Robin Williams. My favorite genie, doctor, nanny and Theodore Roosevelt.
