THE BLOG

It happens every year. At the stroke of midnight on December 31 when the calendar turns the page from one year to the next, something amazing happens. In the lives of people everywhere, hope is reborn. Even though nothing but the calendar actually changes in that microsecond between 11:59:59 and 12:00:00 midnight, the thought of opportunity for a new beginning gives hope that, just possibly, life will get better. I suspect that mindset is especially the case this year as people anticipate that moment when the calendar no longer reads 2020, but 2021. For some, maybe many, the thought of seeing 2020 in their rearview mirror brings a sense of great consolation.

One of the most beloved of all Christmas carols is What Child Is This?  William Dix wrote the words to the song while lying in bed wondering if he would live.  The 29 year old Dix had contracted a near fatal illness that put him in bed for months.  As the illness lingered, he became discouraged and depressed, causing him to begin to question if God were real. 

One of the greatest comedians of all time was Robin Williams, who sadly took his own life in 2014. A new documentary on his life called Robin’s Wish addresses the neurodegenerative disease which impacted his suicide. His autopsy revealed that he had Lewy Body Dementia (LBD). LBD is similar to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s but progresses more quickly, leading to rapid loss of motor and cognitive skills. Two years before he took his life at age 63, Williams’ wife asked him what he hoped his legacy would be. Immediately he replied, “I want to help people be less afraid.” This amazing comedian, known for generating great laughter, had battled addictions and depression throughout his adult life and was plagued by fear.