On Willpower

Throughout this short, but educational jaunt through depression and recovery, one thing has been on my mind quite a lot.

Why have I been able to pull myself together when so many others need meds and therapy? I'm not saying that those are not useful medical devices(or that those who need them are somehow less for it), and I'm glad that I didn't have to go that route...but what is it that gives me that ability to empower and heal myself? Can anyone do the same? Is it simply a matter of willpower?

The way that it happened for me was that I recognized that I was more than just a little bit sad, then took steps to get over it through whole body/mind healing. It was a very logical progression. Mind hurts --> body hurts, so heal the body and the mind will follow. It never occurred to me that it may not work. I just did it.

This seems to be a trend in my life. I just assume that I can do anything until I'm proven otherwise. That goes for challenges (new job, NaNoWriMo), travel (teaching ESL in Korea, hobo-life/backpacking Scotland, etc), and healing (broken arm/loss of motor function in hand, common colds, this depression). It seems I just don't take no for an answer. Now, sometimes I find myself in over my head, this is true. But most of the time, I discover or develop some new skill or talent.

As for my current challenge, all seems to be going according to plan (as I assumed it would): I got my apartment cleaned (except for my bedroom, but wasn't so bad to begin with), I did some (though not all) my laundry, I had a visit from a friend (and a short Skype with another), got some Christmas shopping done, took a long bath, and planned an exercises for the week. I didn't have time to the week's plan meals, but the evening isn't over and there's still time. :)

And while I'm not completely back to my normal, perky self, I'm certainly far better than I've been these last few weeks.