Depression's a mean bastard, even more so at Christmas. So, this year get your inner "Billy Wilder" on and do something about it.

It's the holidays.

A time when so many of us hang lights, wrap gifts, send cards, play happy, jolly music…Only thing is, it's also a really hard time for another demographic. It's the season where many people get severely depressed.

I want to talk about how depression can really take down some of the most creative, lovely, warm people you could ever imagine. You would be shocked if you knew just how many of your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors all quietly try to keep their inner "black dog" of depression from taking over their life.

Almost anyone is capable of succumbing to a variety of mood disorders under duress, but the top of the line is depression.

Speaking of the "black dog," take, for instance, wonderful Vermont folk artist, illustrator, author, Stephen Huneck, who sadly died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

He was only 60 years old. He loved dogs so much he created the famous Vermont Dog Chapel. But, somewhere along the way a deep depression took his life and tragically he killed himself.

Here's a clip below of artist, Huneck, speaking below about his work.

Watching this you can see what a wonderful, loving person he was.  He was so full of life, talking about how the joy of creation. But, then one day, even he lost hope. How this happens, we still just don't fully get.   But, my point is, it does happen sometimes.

I get that it's scary to think that someone as funny and giving and full of the meaning of creative joy as this can all of a sudden just fold up and move on like that, but things like that happens more than we like to admit.

My advice, my plea, to you this year is to do something small to make a difference in the life of another.  -- Someone who might not expect it.  It might change a trajectory.  Even if just for a day.

One whole day.   That would be one very great day.

It's cold out there.  It's downright Dickensian, so why not reach out to someone who wouldn't normally expect this?  Go on,  shake a hand.  Just drop by. Have that cup of tea. Walk their dog with them. Chat unexpectedly in line with that quiet person. Do something random, but from your heart, to remind another human they are of value for that moment. It can be a small gesture.  But, you never know the impact of connecting like this.

I happen to think that this is the true meaning of Christmas.

So, this holiday I'm asking you to consider channeling your inner "Billy Wilder" (films)* and embrace the lunacy of my plea to unexpectedly show some shred of appreciation for another fellow human by making some real gesture of connection.  It can be as soft as a leaf falling or as rowdy as Uncle Fezziwig party, but they are both what Christmas is really about.  

(*Note:  While my husband thought I might have been trying to say "consider channeling your inner 'Frank Capra'" But, no, that is not a typo.  I meant, Wilder.   Sure, Capra is def. the go-to director for pro-human movies, but, I happen to also love and adore the human side of Wilder's movies, such as in Some Like It Hot, The Apartment and Sabrina and think Wilder beautifully embraced those endearing quirks which make us all very, very human -- including our darker sides.  But, come on:  The Apartment?  Very dark, but very much a movie about reaching out to someone who isn't having a great day.)

And, if you know someone, anyone, who has already confirmed they struggle with depression, then do what you can to see they do not go to that dark place alone. Try putting your money where your mouth is: Tell them they'd be missed if they were gone.

Mental illness is real. And these days it's sure not going away:  It's the holidays.  So, it's probably actually worse right now.  But, you can do something about that.  

You can make a difference to someone who might be feeling not so jolly inside.

It's sure not gonna kill you to do that.  And in doing so you might just find the person you've saved, is you.