As a rule, I do not participate in public grief over
celebrities. The way I see it, I did not know the person. I will say a silent
prayer for anyone who is called Home, but that’s just me– death and grief are
very private for me. It always has been. I’m not good at funerals. I’m not good
in hospitals. I could go one and on…but today’s passing of Robin Williams
reminds of this moment in our history captured on video. I always remember it
because Billy Crystal is genuinely happy for his friend. You can see it when
Crystal fights his tears; you can feel it when Crystal rushes Robin Williams
after his speech; you can see Williams, overwhelmed with love and excitement
and the pure joy of sharing that moment with his friend. I like to think I take
my friendships pretty seriously. Today reminded me of my friends who have
survived rough patches in life, hard financial times, cancer, consequences of
poor choices and a lot of other things. I have survived things, too, but things
nearly as tough as others. Today reminded me to a better job of reaching out to
those people who laugh and live in denial. I respect someone’s NO, but I think
today reminds me to try a little harder with people, even when I do not have
the energy or the ganas to do it. I
am so lucky to be surrounded by so much love every single day. I am going to
share the love I have with someone who needs it – even of he or she says they
don’t. AND I KNOW: depression takes many people, not just celebrities. This is
my opinion, and I think a moment in time where people everywhere seem to be on
the same page: Help other people. Why? Because you can.
