Depression and Christmas
Depression and Christmas
by Tanner Olson
writtentospeak.com
“Hi Tanner.
I was wondering if you could please do a post on instagram about suicide/depression and the holidays? Maybe going into another painful year?”
Hi.
Although we’ve never met and don’t know each other, I feel like we do.
I know what it's like to be depressed.
I have felt the heaviness of the holidays and the weight of living.
I know what it’s like to feel far from yourself.
I’m not a therapist or a mental health professional, but I have spent a good amount of time thinking and feeling and writing and asking questions.
Although I am a writer, I have been staring at my screen for about an hour trying to find the words.
Sometimes there are no words.
Sometimes the best thing we can do for another is to simply sit with them and pour them a little more coffee when their cup gets low.
But you asked me to make a post, so I will.
I don’t know where to begin, so maybe it’s best I begin with sharing with you all of the things that I have a hard time hearing.
Things like …
You are a gift.
You are loved.
You are worthy.
You are invited.
You are a blessing.
You are brave.
It is not an easy thing to open up and hand over what you’re holding inside or what seems to be holding you down.
Most people want to keep hidden what hurts, but that’s never been helpful.
It is a brave thing to say something isn’t right, that life isn’t merry and bright.
It is a brave thing to invite someone into your thoughts and feelings and questions.
And it is also a brave thing to ask for help and do what helps.
And I don’t know much, but I know coffee helps.
I know dogs help.
I know Jesus helps.
I know community helps.
I know writing helps.
I know sunshine helps.
I know admitting life is heavy and hard helps.
I know asking for help can help.
But what helps doesn’t always erase or replace the pain or questions or noise or feelings.
There isn’t a trick or switch to flip that will make everything better, but there is something.
Something that has always been and something that will always be.
Hope.
There has always been hope.
I know, you aren’t surprised I’m bringing this up.
This is what I know hope to be:
Hope is the forever reminder that God is with us.
Sometimes I like to think that hope is the magic ingredient for living.
As I’ve slowed down and opened up I have come to see how Hope changes our story.
It changes our today and our tomorrow.
And this is the time of year when we remember that hope has come to us.
Not by accident.
Not out of pity.
Not by chance.
But out of love Jesus arrives.
Hope has come to you.
Hope has come for you.
Hope has come to be with you.
And sometimes we have to remind ourselves of the hope we have.
So, before you go, I’d like to remind you of all the things that I have to remind myself of.
Things like …
The heaviness of the holidays and the unknown of another new year is always met with hope.
You can create space to pray and sing and scream and walk a little slower.
It’s okay to make an appointment with a therapist.
You are allowed to wrestle with hope and messages like this one.
It’s okay to not know what comes next.
And even though I don’t know what comes next, I look back and see what has happened.
Hope has arrived.
And it’s not going anywhere.
And neither am I.
With hope,
Tanner Olson
@writtentospeak
About the Author
Tanner Olson is an author, poet, speaker, and podcaster living in Nashville, Tennessee.
He is the author of I’m All Over the Place, As You Go, Walk A Little Slower, and Continue: Poems and Prayers of Hope.
You can find Tanner Olson’s books on Amazon.
His podcast is The Walk A Little Slower Podcast with Tanner Olson and can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.
Tanner Olson travels around the country sharing poetry, telling stories, and delivering messages of hope.
You can follow Tanner Olson on Instagram (@writtentospeak) and Facebook where you’ll daily find encouraging words of faith and hope.
Tanner Olson wearing a Written to Wear t-shirt. grab one here: writtentowear.com
A prayer for Florida as Hurricane Ian arrives.