Blessed to be depressed

Question: What do Abraham Lincoln and I have in common? We have both suffered from depression. Yes, depression - that scary word that most people feel uncomfortable talking about. Well, I have decided to talk about it.

In my opinion, depression is a blessing and a curse. It can make even the simplest everyday activity seem impossible. Doing the dishes often feels as overwhelming as eating an elephant! But, as the saying goes - "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!".

It's this kind of philosophical thinking that has made me develop some appreciation for my depression. I have learned so much more about myself, others and life in general because I have been depressed. I have read many books and watched many documentaries that I would never have noticed if I hadn't been depressed. Yes, some days are really, really hard, but some days are just magical and full of wonder because I can accept myself more and more as I heal.

 It has also made me a better teacher and person in general. After feeling so isolated, I now feel much more connected to my community. I am kinder. I get scared about the silliest things, like putting up a poster on a noticeboard, but I have no problem performing on stage in front of thousands of people! And yes, I can now laugh at myself about these things.

 Finally, I feel most blessed to be depressed because it made me realise that I really wanted to run my own teaching business. It's the biggest challenge that I could have taken on at this time in my life, but I am really enjoying it. I can feel it healing me more and more each day. I feel a bit like the blue butterfly in our logo - except I'm still stuck in the cocoon! However, I have a feeling that one day soon I will be ready to soar.

Why your business should be modeled after Abraham Lincoln's life