{"id":1497,"date":"2008-12-16T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2008-12-16T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/beyondblue\/2008\/12\/tis-the-season-to-be-jolly-or.html"},"modified":"2008-12-16T07:00:00","modified_gmt":"2008-12-16T07:00:00","slug":"tis-the-season-to-be-jolly-or","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/beyondblue\/2008\/12\/tis-the-season-to-be-jolly-or.html","title":{"rendered":"Tis the Season to be Jolly … or Not: A Facebook Pal on Our Kind of People"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"christmasparty1.jpg\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Last psychiatric visit, my doctor was not pleased upon hearing about my recent fascination or well, addiction, to Facebook.<\/a> I got a B minus on my wellness report card. BUT one perk of Facebook is that I am discovering so many other wonderful blogs on the topics of spirituality and health. One new friend, Brent Bill, shared with me a fantastic post he wrote on his blog, “Holy Ordinary,” <\/a>about our kind of folks: those that nod to themselves when they review the symptoms of various illnesses in the DSM IV (shrink Bible). <\/p>\n

Brent helped me recover last week from some stinging blows by people who were not amused by my “12 (Bipolar) Days of Christmas,”<\/a> who did not find the humor in it. Not one little chuckle. Anyway, he sort of toasts all of us in his wonderful Christmas post that you can get to by clicking here. <\/a>It begins …<\/p>\n

“Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la, la la la la. …”<\/p>\n

<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Oh yeah? Well, not for everybody. I ws thinking about that while getting ready for Meeting for Worship yesterday. I was thinking about some of my best friends and how they and I might be considered by some an emotionally\/mentally motley crew. I have friends who are bi-polar, depressive, in therapy, attending 12 step programs, etc. And I’m prone to depression and panic attacks — thank Heaven (literally) for a good doctor and Paxil. We’re a walking, talking illustration (it sometimes seems) of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

I used to think this was a bad thing — as in I should be ashamed (especially of my own “abnormalities”). But another thing I realized as I looked over my friends (and me) is that we are, by and large, sensitive folks, caring people, and very creative. Many of us are writers, musicians, artists, and the like. And not second rate either — well, present company excluded. Some have had books on the New York Times bestseller list. Others sell every piece of art they create. I mean, I’m blessed with a rather amazing bunch of people who are my friends.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

To continue reading this post, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last psychiatric visit, my doctor was not pleased upon hearing about my recent fascination or well, addiction, to Facebook. I got a B minus on my wellness report card. BUT one perk of Facebook is that I am discovering so many other wonderful blogs on the topics of spirituality and health. 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