Don't Just Sit There...Get Up & Get Involved -or- If Avatar Has You Depressed...Help Others!

So, as many of you know I have occassional bouts of depression and the funny thing is, they are NOT brought on by watching movies, seeing others tragedies or anyone elses direct contribution to making me miserable. No, these bouts come on by themselves and sometimes I can pin point things like medications, pain or family issues, but at other times, they have come on while I am perfectly happy.

I bring this about because yesterday I received an Email on how many people are coming out of the movie Avatar feeling utterly depressed and suicidal and others are wanting to protest the movie because it portrays the military in bad light. No! It portrays greed in bad light, shareholders, corporations, conglomerates, it portrays to me societies that have going after what they want at all costs no matter who or what they harm! If that depresses people then they need to get up off their duffs and do something about it!

REACH OUT AND HELP SOMEONE ELSE! It really is that easy. If you are like me and don't have a full-time job and have some extra time, volunteer at a local school to read to or listen to students read, go into a nursing home and see if there is someone that has no family and read to them or visit them weekly, take a plate of cookies to the new family that just moved into the area, volunteer at a local hospital or animal shelter.

If that doesn't sound appealing, buy lunch, hot coffee and a hot meal for the panhandler on the corner, hand them new gloves, hat or even fresh clean and warm socks. Nah, that doesn't work either? Contact your local government or other offices that have had huge layoffs and volunteer to go into their offices (if they will allow it) and answer telephones a few hours a week.

Want to help those in Haiti? Contact Haiti Arise (Actively Raising Individuals to Serve and Evangelize), they are taking donations now and they are located in Montesano, Washington about 10 miles if that down the road from where I live, I know they are a legitimate organization and they will give you all the information you need and they are also good news as they receive it out of Haiti. Don't forget Doctors Without Borders, American Red Cross and many local churches are taking donations to help.

There are millions of excuses for NOT helping and trust me over the years, I have probably heard them all. I can't find anywhere to volunteer, I don't feel well, I don't have time, I can't afford it. Well, wake up people, if you can't or won't volunteer because you are like so many people I know that just couldn't bear to give one minute of their time away without some payment attached...............

Disney Land is giving away free park admissions in 2010 for everyone over the age of 6 who volunteers. All you have to do is give a day to receive a day and for a family of our size one day of volunteering equals park passes worth over $300. Now, if you can catch a great airline deal or rental car deal this would make going to Disneyland or DisneyWorld so worth the volunteering!

So, what are you waiting for?? Go out and volunteer and don't ever let anyone steal your joy! Depression is a horrible thing to have, but if those of us who suffer do nothing but sit around and feel sorry for ourselves, we aren't going to get much better and it has been proven that if we help others, we feel better!