A Tribute to My Favorite Actor: Robin Williams

 Robin Williams had a gift — the ability to make people laugh when they needed it most. His comedic brilliance and boundless energy lit up every screen he graced, yet behind the laughter, he carried a heavy burden. His death was a heartbreaking reminder that the brightest smiles can sometimes hide the deepest pain.  I never knew this about him until his departure.  All that I could see was his unbelievable way to light up the world with his quick wit.  

Depression is an invisible weight, often carried in silence. It doesn’t always look like sadness; sometimes, it disguises itself as humor, as busyness, as showing up for others while feeling lost inside. It convinces you that your struggles are yours to bear alone, even as your heart aches for connection.

I’ve known that darkness — the feeling of being stuck in grief, of losing not just loved ones but pieces of myself along the way. It’s a shadow that dims the world’s color and muffles hope’s voice. But I’ve also learned that speaking that pain out loud or writing about it, can be a small act of defiance against despair. Every time we open up, we break the illusion that we’re alone in the struggle.  When the pandemic hit, I lost a piece of myself, just like Tom Hanks when he found himself marooned.  Coincidently, the pandemic stuck around for four years, the same amount of time that Tom Hanks was separated from the world with only Wilson to keep him company.  For Robin Williams, that pain he felt was with him for a lifetime.  I can't even fathom having that kind of pain for so long.  The trigger for me happens to be when I get word that a loved one is facing a battle that appears hopeless.  Optimism is a mask I wear very well.  Only those who are capable of reading between the lines can know what is really going on.  If this happens to be you, I'm with you.   

Robin’s legacy isn’t just in the characters he played but in the conversations his loss sparked. It reminds us to check on our friends, to look beyond the surface, and to choose kindness — because we never know the battles someone is fighting. And maybe, by choosing to share our truth, we can light the way for someone else who’s searching for a reason to hold on.

Have a great day.