I saw a commercial yesterday. It was from some mental health organization about the need for mental health awareness. In this particular one there are people of different ages, races, sex, etc that approach a coat rack and don a coat. The size and shape and length of each coat was as varied as the individuals.
You know the commercial but can’t remember who it’s from either I bet.
The point being we all wear various shrouds of troubles, our own dark clouds of unique sizes and shapes. Varying degrees of darkness.
But I like to use an analogy I heard from a close friend over drinks and appetizers at the local hot spot in the mall. I’m not certain if it was after the first or second espresso martini and my bitching about my life or she the same with hers. She stopped the conversation and pointed out that every person in the restaurant had their own little shit bubble over their heads at all times.
You know the bubble I’m talking about, you see them in every Sunday comic or cartoon strip, where the character’s thoughts are contained in a cloud-shaped bubble overhead. Not those bubbles where you can see what the characters are saying. Those voice bubbles are little solid lined ovals. The shit bubble is like where Dagwood thinks Mr. Dithers should give him a big raise.
I was skeptical, as I’ve always assumed all these smiling, laughing people were actually “normal”. Then she proceeded to spout out what each person’s shit bubble was saying…one by one.
“The girl in the booth really hates her date”
“ The one in the suit can’t pay rent”
“This one wants a divorce”
and
“Her cat just died”
And so it went around the room, each becoming more creative than the last – and surprisingly – each relieving a little more of our own burdens
Knowing that all of us have that little shit bubble of troubles dancing around our heads at all times. Some bigger than others, but no one without some burden, many just hiding it better than others. This bubble theory is a good analogy in my opinion. At least at the bar, at the time, good for a laugh. But the best part? It silenced my own shit bubble for a minute. Then it popped right back up again.