Member @daniel posted this in the Members Feed the other day. He said “People talk of living this sober life one day at a time. When trying to be sober the bad feelings do pass, but they are real and hard to shift. When it is tough I think these thoughts from Stephen Fry are really helpful, even though it is about depression.”
Stephen Fry:
I’ve found that it’s of some help to think of one’s moods and feelings about the world as being similar to weather:
Here are some obvious things about the weather:
It’s real.
You can’t change it by wishing it away.
If it’s dark and rainy it really is dark and rainy and you can’t alter it.
It might be dark and rainy for two weeks in a row.
BUT
It will be sunny one day.
It isn’t under one’s control as to when the sun comes out, but come out it will.
One day.
It really is the same with one’s moods, I think. The wrong approach is to believe that they are illusions. They are real. Depression, anxiety, listlessness – these are as real as the weather – AND EQUALLY NOT UNDER ONE’s CONTROL. Not one’s fault.
BUT
They will pass: they really will.
In the same way that one has to accept the weather, so one has to accept how one feels about life sometimes.
‘Today’s a crap day,’ is a perfectly realistic approach. It’s all about finding a kind of mental umbrella.
‘Hey-ho, it’s raining inside: it isn’t my fault and there’s nothing I can do about it, but sit it out. But the sun may well come out tomorrow and when it does, I shall take full advantage’
Beautiful words. Thanks to Daniel for sharing and MrsD fir reposting.
Dammit, Hamiltron is too far from Wellytown for me 🙁
@aprilaries it’s in Welly
There’s only two things stopping me from coming: I live in Auckland and I have S.A.D. otherwise I’d be straight there.
I should probably clarify I meant social anxiety disorder not seasonal affected disorder, I’m English I quite like winter.
Love that quote from Stephen fry, I am struggling today as it’s day six of giving up wine and it’s Friday night. Just reminding myself that the cravings will pass!
I think I can probably make it – let me see what I can juggle around on that day. Will email you when I am sure xx
Aw damn, I’ll only be two days into my new job so I can’t make it. I hope some of ‘The Family’ (said like Don Corleone in The Godfather) can make it!!
Stephen Fry is another of those vulnerable gifted people who really knows what he’s talking about. Great quotes.
What a helpful consoling outlook.
@angie – these words of Mr. Fry express what I was trying to say about moods. He makes it all so beautifully poetic!!