Big boys (and girls) don't cry...... huh?

Hey Rantsters,

So I am finally back and writing again. I first want to send a big thank you shout out to my buddy over at The Daily Life of Jordan for holding down the fort and keeping you with something to nibble on in my absence. This month has been interesting to say the least, and I feel I'm ready to bring the heat again. Before I do that though, I want to talk to you all about something that can really affect every aspect of your life.

So I had an interesting Conversation with a friend recently. We were discussing how our months were going. I shared with him about all the things going on in my life and how though it was all laid out and going well, I still found my self worried and anxious. I felt like I was on the verge of a breakdown, when there was no need to be. After a long pause in our text conversation, he countered back with a very interesting comment. "You just got to keep it to yourself and not broadcast it to the world." "The last thing you want for people to see is you crying and weak!"

I was quite shocked to read this and thought about it a lot this past week. Is being able to share your feelings and even cry a harmful thing? As I sit here today, safe and somewhat sound, I have found my answer....... HELL NO!  I have seen depression in its lowest form.  I personally know what it is like to feel like you are all alone, even in a room filled with people.  Sometimes it feels impossible to speak about whats happening in your life, but if you have the chance to speak DO IT!  I have lost one of my closest  Friends to a battle with depression and the biggest thing was he didn't talk to us.  No one knew what he was going through or the depths of his pain.  So often he would say things like "men aren't supposed to cry", or " I just got to put a smile on my face and keep going."

If You need to scream, SCREAM!  If you need to laugh, LAUGH! Most importantly if you need to cry, CRY!  Letting that stuff bottle bottle up inside only allows it to fester and rot the beauty of your soul. I'm not saying you need to get on a bullhorn during rush hour traffic and scream your feelings out, but let someone know.  To the friends and family, please heed this message.  People who are depressed and down need you to listen.  Not just with your ears, but with your hearts.  You can tell when somethings wrong.  Pay attention.  If you see a change in someone close to you, don't just sit and wait for you to tell them.  Ask whats going on, what they need, how you can help.  Silence is the energy Depression feeds on.  I've been lucky these past few years to have exceptional friends and fraternity brothers that were listening even when I wasn't talking.

If you read this message, and you are in a bad place, speak.  I'm here text me, call, me, send a carrier pigeon if you need to.  Know that you are not alone, because we are all part of this interconnected web of humanity and losing one person to depression is like losing a generation.  Wee need you.  So let it out.

Coop

Throwback Sunday Jam!!!

Little Ransters,

Its been a crazy month but I'm back.  I decided Sunday would be the day that I would Bring back some jams from when I was in high school.  If you know them comment.

The First is from the lyrical maestro Ludacris.  This song came out in 2000.  I was a junior, and was all about the rap scene.  Here ya go!