My elder daughter has a field trip today. She’s been bursting with excitement about it for days. Funnily enough, she’s not particularly interested in where the class is going or what they’ll be doing. For her, the novelty and adventure come from the event being a break in her routine. It’s something different, a change of scenery.
Thinking about the build up of her energy around this minor foray into the wider world, I am struck by how much my own perspective has changed since I began my recovery from depression in earnest.
My depression not only thrived on the ordinary and mundane, but tried to convince me that even my usual activities were wholly uninteresting. It stole my sense of wonder and possibly, replacing it with lethargy and disconnection. In the full grip of depression, I wasn’t sad. I felt absolutely nothing.
For that reason, I love seeing my daughter excited for her grand day out, knowing she is embracing life. And, witnessing her reaction, I see my own joy at exploration.
As Auntie Mame said, “Life’s a banquet, and most people are simply starving.” I feel well fed.
Seriously, Jerk Brain? 