Be a friend.

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.