Some days are tougher than others, that’s for sure. It’s been about 2 weeks since we said I final goodbyes to Uncle Louie and laid him to rest. I learned a lot from him over my years but one of the most important lessons was of perseverance. He was given 6 months to live. He fought & beat the cancer multiple times, only for it to come back again.

What is most memorable is how strong he was through it. While I’m sure he had weak moments, I never saw them. He was determined to live everyday on his terms and not let cancer dictate his life. It’s that strength, that resolve that helps me.

Today was a dark day. I miss my Uncle, I miss my friend. Depression and missing those we love is something we all experience at one time or another. Some folks handle it with grace, others try their best to hide & ignore it, while others soldier on taking every punch the darkness has to give.

We all can find strength and inspiration if we look hard enough. I find mine in his courage, his fight, his refusal to let cancer win. There is a ballad that goes,

"Fight on, my men," says Sir Andrew Barton,
"I am hurt, but I am not slain;
I'll lay me down and bleed a while,
And then I'll rise and fight again.

It is human nature to want to communicate & interact with others. The need is so strong that Tom Hanks created Wilson to have someone to talk to in ‘Castaway’. If you struggle, know you are not alone. We all get pulled into the darkness at one time or another. Be a friend and help pull someone back into the light.