Exploring Mt. Everest in slippers.

Some of the greatest thinkers we know of; Plato, Aristotle, Socrates - pondered the nature of existence.  Who are we?  What is our purpose?  Why do we exist?  Over the centuries, other great thinkers have discovered more ways to ask the same questions.  Other than Douglas Adams' Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy answer of '42', the answer remains the same. We  Don't  Know. Are we random collections of molecules?  The creation of an omnipotent God?  A genetic mutation of a space going species?  Did we evolve through millennia due to superior intelligence?  On a personal level, my fight against Depression has revolved around the question: Who am I?  I'm no closer to knowing myself, than a cat is to recognizing it's own reflection. There's the 'me' that my family sees, the 'me' my children see, the 'me' casual acquaintances see, the 'me' co-workers see, the 'me' that is seen online, the 'me' that friends see, ...

Driving a manual/stick shift in rush hour traffic is an exercise in frustration.  You know how it goes.  1st gear, 2nd gear, 1st gear, 2nd gear, 1st gear, 2nd gear, ooh 3rd gear! bugger.  2nd gear, 1st gear, 2nd gear, and so on.  Knowing eventually you'll be able to stay in 3rd, get to 4th, and be back up to open road speeds as soon as the traffic eases.  In older cars, there's the additional stress of possible overheating; hearing the fan kick in, watching the temperature gauge, and hoping for a clear spot to gain some speed ahead. When you're in traffic, everyone else is dealing with the same situation.  While their automatic gearboxes, and more efficient cooling systems makes the experience less stressful, everyone knows we're all just waiting for the congestion to ease.  This week, my Depression has me stuck in 1st and 2nd gear.  Others are having to move around me, any 'car troubles' they're having, not seeming to slow them down.  Y...

There's a thing that gets glossed over when anti-depressants are prescribed.  It's mentioned of course, but it's so far down the list of priorities to straighten out (you know, like wanting to stay alive ), it doesn't concern anyone. One of the most prevalent side effects of anti-depressant medications; is loss of libido. When I was fighting suicidal ideation, and struggling to get out of bed at all; this was 'no-big-deal'.  Barely even noteworthy. I seem to have moved past that stage, and now I wonder how much the lack of sex drive impacts a lack of any kind of drive at all.  Would an urge to meet someone, overcome my need to stay in?  Would the need to attract someone, provoke me to brush my hair?  I honestly don't know.  (Please note, no amount of make up would make me look like Charlize Theron). I'm only thinking about it now, because it was pointed out to me that I've been single for well over a year now, and there's nothing to...