I didn’t go into teaching because I suck at disciplining. (Which is why parenting is a tad difficult for me as well). But as a blogger, I get the perks of the teaching profession. I get to see other writers and artists start their own Beyond Blues, tell their stories, and sometimes come back to me and say thanks.
You don’t know how great that feels.
Here’s one such example of this kind of thing, which I put into the category of “Biggest Thrills of 2007” (remember, I haven’t been able to climax so I have to get the thrills somewhere).
I try to e-mail all commenters that take the time to defend me on the message boards of Beyond Blue after a harsh critic has published her response. I’ve already told reader Nancy that she will serve as my attorney should I need one in the future.
On the message board of my post, “The 12 Bipolar Days of Christmas” (I think it was my cracking voice that upset so many people … or maybe the lyrics), Beyond Blue reader Alice wrote this (I kept her caps as they are … but I always feel like I’m being yelled at when people write in caps … you, too?):

MENTAL ILLNESS IS NOTHING TO LAUGH AT. IT IS SO DEVASTATING TO FAMILY AND TO THE PATIENT WHO SUFFERS FROM IT. THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE MENTAL ILLNESS AWARENESS JUST AS WE MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF AIDS AND DRUNK DRIVING!! AND IF YOU ARE MENTALLY ILL GET HELP YOURSELF AND YOU FAMILY BEFORE ITS TOO LATE.

I agree, of course. If you only saw this clip of mine, I can see why you might think I’ve never read the DSM IV. But most Beyond Blue readers, know that I feel as though my ministry is to help combat the stigma associated with mental illness. That’s why I like to sing about it. Anyway, on the message board of the 12 Bipolar Days, Rev. Tracie Voss wrote this:

OK, Alice, we all know it’s a serious illness. If you have bi-polar disorder or love someone with this illness, I think you’ve figured that one out. However, the beauty of Therese’s Blog is that she is able to infuse a little warmth, humor, and humanity into what can be a devastating and, yes, life threatening illness.
Elsewhere on Beliefnet, I’ve seen a few columns written by a truly gifted author (whose name escapes me, unfortunately) who chooses to approach her struggles with cancer with a little warmth, humanity, and, yes, humor. She, too, has a real gift for looking at something that would otherwise crush the human spirit and fight it with the best weapon she has: laughter.
I’ve had Bi-Polar disorder for most of my life. I take medication for it, along with many of the other treatments that Therese mentions in her new song. Many patients find that a combination of various therapies are more effective than any single therapy alone. While the song is humorous, the message behind it is sound.

I was beyond delighted at reading that because (I hate to admit this), she had the letters R.E.V. in front of her name! Yahoo! A church person who thinks I’m legit!!! I’ve been hanging out a long time in holy places, and, trust me, holiness and mental illness don’t jibe in most circles (as I described on my post “Depression: It’s Spiritually Incorrect”). So when it does, I often consider it somewhat of a miracle.
I e-mailed to thank Rev. Tracie for her generous comment, and what she said in response has gotten me through Christmas without tears or sedatives: She thanked me for inspiring her to create her own website as a freelance illustrator, where she intends to express herself creatively.
But it gets even better, she and her sister are going to work in tandem by telling their story together: Tracie’s as a person living with bipolar disorder, and her sister as a family member, but also as a mental health professional (she works in the psychiatric unit of a hospital).
This line of her e-mail probably meant more to me than anything this Christmas:

We felt that by following your example and having the courage to tell our story we might be able to help others in the way you have

.
Thank you, Tracie, for one of my biggest thrills of 2007. And all the other Beyond Blue readers who have started their own projects!!
P.S. Tracie and other creative people: please make sure to tell me about your sites so I can send readers there. You can send me an e-mail from my Beliefnet Community page.