Yesterday we were shocked with the news of Robin Williams’ passing. It shook us to the core and left us wondering how on earth this could happen to someone so loved, celebrated and successful in what seemed like every aspect of his life. Growing up Mr. Williams was pure magic on the screen, playing some of our favourite characters and making us laugh until our stomachs hurt. President Obama said it best in this public statement he made yesterday:
“Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But he was one of a kind. He arrived in our lives as an alien – but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit. He made us laugh. He made us cry. He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most — from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalized on our own streets.”
Beyond his immeasurable talent as an actor he was also a husband and a father. He seemed down-to-earth, humble and full of comedic brilliance that we all hoped would flow on forever. He seemed to have it all, which made the news of his suicide that much more shocking. It made us stop and think. It made us re-assess what we believed to be true. It made us re-examine why we are doing what we are doing at RAW Beauty Talks. Here are some lessons we were reminded of from Mr. Williams untimely passing:
LESSON 1: The Media Myth
Media allows us to create elaborate stories about people we don’t even know. It gives us permission to believe things that may not be true. It only gives us a small portion of a much bigger picture and our minds naturally fill in the gaps with whatever it is we’d like to believe. Remember that next time you are reading a magazine or flipping through Instagram. You are only getting a portion of the story and a small glimpse into the intricacies of another persons life. Once you truly understand this it becomes hard to judge people from afar. It becomes difficult to buy into the stories the media would like us to believe. it also allows us to focus on living our own lives rather than getting caught up in the things we see scrolling by on social media or in the news. RAW REMINDERS: Don’t compare your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel & don’t make assumptions about someone’s life without knowing the full story. Do not believe blindly.
LESSON 2: Fame, Money & Success Do Not Equate to Happiness
Success, fame, money & family do not equal happiness. Academy awards, movie deals and the love of a country do not equal happiness. Happiness comes from an internal place and while external sources can provide momentary happiness it is not long-lasting or deep. It can wash away as quickly as it comes often leaving us to feel more empty than before. Consider this when you are striving to find your own place of happiness. Are you looking for it in the right place? RAW REMINDER: Take a moment to consider where your happiness comes from.
LESSON 3: We Must Open Our Eyes to the Reality of Depression
Depression is something that needs to be talked about more now than ever before. It is something that will affect most of us at some point in our lives and yet it still remains taboo to talk about. It is effecting our society on incalculable levels and yet we do not have the infrastructure or support in place to manage it properly. It is a happiness suck, a productivity suppressant and a silent killer. If we are going to do anything about it we must start talking about it more. We must support groups like,
TWLOHA and reach out to anyone around us who may be struggling. If anyone reading this is feeling lost or struggling with anxiety or depression please reach out to us at info@rawbeautytalks.com. We can help connect you with the right resources.
One can only hope their life makes as much of a positive ripple as that of Robin Williams. We owe it to this fearless man to own the stage in our own lives and to show up and share our personal gifts and talents with the world. Robin said it best. “You’re only given one little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.” We send our love and thoughts to Robin’s family and friends.
