It seems that just by acknowledging that I might be depressed and writing about it (here and on my other blog) has given me hope that this won't last long. And if it does, I know what to do. I will increase my activity level. surround myself with loved ones, talk to my doctor about it, go back to my psychotherapist's office, continue to eat well, and clean up my seep hygiene…yes, that's what I'll do.

However, the thought occurred to me today that this may only be a situational depression. The good lord knows I have plenty of stressors going on. I'm writing my story and am feeling sad as I re-live my stroke and divorce. I haven't been able to exercise everyday like normal because of a recent illness that lasted two months. It's getting darker and colder here in Alaska. And another loved one passed away a week ago.

Whatever this is, I'm confident that I'll get through it just fine. I may struggle, but I'm used to struggling. I'm tenacious, positive, and determined. God has allowed me to suffer both in duration and intensity since my stroke 7 years ago. And with every struggle, I've learned that through him I can do anything.

My parting thought comes from an article I read recently on mindbodygreen.com about whether or not to stop pursuing a major goal. FYI: my goal is to write my story, share it, and then get a degree in rehabilitation counseling so I can help future stroke survivors. Anyway, these words by Lamesha Serf-Walls evoked a whole new can-do attitude in me. She writes, "But if you still have a spark in your soul and hope in your heart, then dust yourself off and just keep going."

Dusting myself off and moving onward…because the spark and hope are still there!