1 April 2021
You may have noticed GARY has been missing in action. A year ago when life came crashing down and Scrabble could no longer be played at a club or safely at a nearby Starbucks or someone’s home, the passion that Gary Moss harbors for Scrabble™, slowly changed course. As Gary’s sister, website manager, and podcast producer I tried to keep LetterMan relevant. However, shortly after the first of the year, he found excuses why he could not continue on a path with no light at the end of the tunnel. I am not being insensitive writing this blog for him and placing it on his website, because I believe in him and I think this just may ignite a fire under his butt and get him off of his recliner and begin a word journey again.
DEPRESSION is real and like many of you, Gary is facing it straight on. If you are experiencing a constant feeling of sadness with a loss of interest that stops you from doing your normal activities, you are DEPRESSED! There is no one size fits all for this mental health condition it can come with symptoms ranging from relatively minor to severe. We can all blame COVID for these feelings however Depression is not due to one thing it has numerous sources and until you are ready to do the hard work and face the demons you may slip further into a black hole.
There are numerous forms of depression and some are rooted so deep inside of us we may not even recognize the sources. Today may be the day to start an exploration of your feelings and start carefully brushing off the particles to unearth what is the cause. It’s important to know that you are not alone and all those people posting Rainbows and Lollipops on social media are only sharing the best of their best and ignoring the many layers of anxiety that can lead to depression.
You (Gary) are not alone. The National Institute of Mental Health estimated that 16.2 million U.S. citizens of all ages suffer from depression. However, you can learn how to re-route your thinking and lessen the sensitivity that this mental health issue is causing you. But you must want to get better and not give in to the waves of negative emotions. It takes practice and time. Having a personal mantra that you repeat as you feel your body and soul getting trapped in a place you don’t want to be!
So on behalf of Gary please take care of yourself and those around you. I am praying and wishing that Gary will reach out soon – WE MISS HIM!