XCVII (97) Dips

Ahh, “the dip.”

Coined by Seth Godin, the dip is kind of like a crash after riding high. As N.E.R.D. said in one of their songs that got me through a major heart break a decade ago, “Sooner or Later, it all comes crashing down.” Ebbs and flows, the moon is Full right now, but the waning time will return, so too shall this pass. Bob Marley says, “I guess it’s just a part of it, we got to fulfill the book.”

Despite my best efforts to avoid it this time, through meditating, writing, exercising, practicing mantras, eating right or eating what pleases me, I think I’m wrestling with melancholy. I’m a little ADHD and though I’ve never been diagnosed as bipolar, I have dealt with bouts of depression my entire life. Don’t get me wrong, I’m in a really good place right now, part of what has helped me is speaking about it openly and honestly. While never being clinically diagnosed as bipolar, I’m fairly certain I have had recurring episodes. Those episodes manifest more on the manic side for me, but then when I feel like I am right now, the lows feel more low in contrast. I have been diagnosed with adult ADHD, but I haven’t been medicated for a while.

Because of medical concerns associated with Covid-19, my wife and I recently upgraded our health insurance. So I look forward to taking advantage of getting back into some form of therapy, the medicinal kind or not. That said, I know that ups and downs are a part of life. Rainy days make us appreciated Sunny days, and rainy days aren’t necessarily bad, they are necessary. What we think of as bad weather, or bad things in life, can actually be blessings in disguise. In fact hard times are always opportunities for growth, if we’re willing to look at them from the perspective of possibility.

So we have to be grateful for what we have, even when we’re not “feeling it.” You gotta get down to get on up. Also, if you are struggling with mental health, talk about it.