Although May is Mental Health Awareness Month, depression doesn’t have a month assigned to it.

In my daily travels in various parts of the city, I know many are suffering from depression daily.

Today, I know from experience that everyone does not have the same mental bandwidth to deal with today’s challenges.

“About 5% of adults globally have depression. That number is likely even higher as not everyone who has depression obtains an official diagnosis.”

Depression Statistics (2024) – Forbes Health

I had a conversation with my wife this week about writing my five things down to be grateful for and from that conversation had a landmark idea.

That simple act of gratitude that I practice each day helps keep me grounded in both my faith and reality.

It helps me in beating the odds and dealing with depression because I know what is required of me.

I’m reminded that everything will happen at just the right time.

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

However, everyone is not equipped to deal with depression and being able to find a safe space to discover new habits and life skills.

Because I have traveled the world and been to several landmarks, my ideas are sometimes connected to a landmark.

I know that the Global Pandemic has been a landmark for many.

Unknowingly, I started doing various things to actively strengthen my mental health during the pandemic in 2020.

I got up early each morning, took showers, put on clean clothes (not pajamas), and started writing and reading more, creating better habits.

I often wonder who is still using the pandemic as a reason for not being a better person or blaming it on other circumstances.

Although the pandemic was a season, we all had to go through; however, I’m reminded of something I heard a priest say years ago, “Sometimes you have to go through it, to get through it.”

I have gotten through plenty these past four years.

As I think about all the things in my life, I have had to go through to get to the point in my life now, it was the small steps I took each day being consistent.

For the record, depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think, and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn’t worth living.

Depression (major depressive disorder) – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

Many of us learned about word choice or attitude.  You and I have a choice each day on how we want our day to be, we can choose it to be good or bad; however, do we take it seriously?

In reading Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck I learned years ago it’s a matter of having a growth mindset instead of a fixed mindset.

It’s all about being resilient and being able to bounce back.  I have learned many lessons as an Army Master Resiliency Trainer over 12 years ago.

I’ve also been able to attend high-level meetings within the Pentagon during my two developmental assignments with the Army Resiliency Directorate where I worked with the Army Suicide Prevention Program (ASPP)

Army Suicide Prevention Program: Suicide Prevention Training and Education

Directorate of Prevention, Resilience, and Readiness (army.mil)

I’m pleased with understanding early on the various foundational training experiences that have allowed me to better understand depression and its causes.

I also realize that not everyone has had the privileges or the life I had which is why I pass my life lessons on to you.

As you reflect on today’s topic surrounding depression, and beating the odds, I know that reading has helped me tremendously.

The author Jim Kwik wrote a book entitled “Limitless” which was the catalyst or the agent that provoked speeds of significant change or action in my life.

Jim Kwik now has a new book entitled “Limitless Expanded Edition” which I have in my library.

It all started with the simple habit of journalling five things down every day to be grateful for which I have consistently done since April 2020.

Your catalyst or agent of change for you must be significant to the action that works best for you.

We must know when to ask for help and get beyond the stigmatism.

I’d ask that you think about all the people you can call and know the numbers of various hotlines available within your community.

Also seek qualified counselors, which is important.

Today these are my thoughts as someone who has completed 51 of 60 credits towards Clinical Mental Health Counseling that I’m sharing with you.

“Never give up and be confident in what you do. There may be tough times, but the difficulties which you face will make you more determined to achieve your objectives and to win against all the odds.”~ Anonymous

Each one of us at some point in our lives must deal with adversity.

Because we’re all humans we need to figure out where our breaking point is in understanding how strong or weak we are in dealing with adversity.

As I close, I challenge you to think about all the odds you have beat while remembering that everything will happen at just the right time.