Goodbye, Robin

Russell Brand and Robin Williams have always struck me as men not of this world, but so much more and beyond. They both have a gentle and humorous way of bringing this to your attention too. How fitting that Russell Brand wrote this as sort of an online eulogy to Robin. The intelligence of Russell is clear in the writing, but the depth to which he explored the meaning of Robin's suicide is something bordering on genius.

I agree with Russell that this world makes it hard for people to be different, to be themselves, to be real, to be flawed, to be human, to hurt. I hope and hope again that my life work is to make it okay for the expression of this reality in all of our lives. I have also struggled with the very things mentioned in this fabulous editorial, and know firsthand that it is the gentle-hearted and the loving and compassionate that hurt most of all. They are the ones who progress us further as a culture too. They are the ones who heal.

The continuation of the social mask that says, "I'm not only doing fine, I'm doing a hell of a lot better than you are," needs to end. I can no longer see its use. And so, with that, I post this in hopes that you will share this post as well and get this message going. The message being that we are all in pain. And it's time to start acknowledging it, instead of judging it and ridiculing it and hiding it and hoping that will make it go away.

Here is Russell's article/eulogy:

Or copy and paste into your browser http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/12/russell-brand-robin-williams-divine-madness-broken-world

See Stephanie's site Work Stress Solutions for more information like this.