Depression | Hole In The Donut Cultural Travel

The Yin And Yang Of Life

Published December 2, 2008 | By Barbara Weibel

Ancient Chinese philosophy teaches that forces seemingly in opposition to one another are inextricably bound together. The Chinese refer to this concept as the Yin and Yang of life, which is represented by the black and white circular graphic shown below.

In simplified terms, Yin and Yang teaches that there is value in opposites. Without having experienced darkness, we would be unable to appreciate the sunshine. Without cold, heat would be less meaningful. Were there no evil in the world, there would be no distinction for goodness. And without sadness or depression, there could be no joy or happiness.

I am intimately familiar with this concept. Whenever I experience a period of extreme happiness in my life, it is inevitably followed by a period of depression. In recent years this has happened less and less often and I suspect that’s because my definition of happiness has changed. I used to believe that I needed to be deliriously, uproariously joyful, that anything less did not qualify as happiness. I was constantly in search of a paradise where life would be perfect.

My views are different these days, or perhaps it is my understanding that has shifted. I now believe that true happiness has more to do with Continue reading →

Posted in Inspirational |

Tagged beaches, beauty, Chinese philosophy, contentment, depression, despair, Florida, Gratitude, happiness, joy, photos, Siesta Key, sunsets, yang, yin |

9 Comments

Breakfast With Buddha And Other Insights

Published April 4, 2008 | By Barbara Weibel

If you have been reading my blog lately, you know that I have just emerged from a bout of depression, the likes of which I haven’t experienced for many years. My life has changed so much in the past two years and I sometimes question whether I have made the right decisions. I walked away from the world of real estate, where the money was enormous and the egos gargantuan. I left a beautiful home on 12+ secluded waterfront acres on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and moved into a small two bedroom, one bath apartment in Sarasota, Florida that my dear friend, Joan, offered to share with me.

I am pursuing, with some success, a career as a freelance writer, but I am learning that even though writing is my passion, there are elements of this business that I don’t much like. Between freelance assignments I have continued researching and writing my book, but by the time I spiraled down into the depths of my depression earlier this week, I seriously questioned whether my book was a ridiculous folly.

I did a lot of things to get out of that depression. Yoga. Meditation. Energetic rebalancing. Acupuncture. Walking miles. Talking to friends. Praying. Aromatherapy. Letting myself sit with the pain. Too much sleep. Too little sleep. Believe it or not, I even took two Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized |

Tagged Books, Breakfast With Buddha, contentment, depression, happiness, inner peace, meditation, Spirituality, Travel writing, Yoga |

8 Comments

New Tool For Depression

Published April 2, 2008 | By Barbara Weibel

Yesterday:
Two double shots of espresso
One iced coffee Chillate with whipped cream topping
One Cafe mocha

Oh yes, I am feeling better!

Posted in Uncategorized |

Tagged coffee, depression |

Finding Strength In Adversity

Published April 1, 2008 | By Barbara Weibel

I am WAS depressed. For the last few days I have felt myself spiraling down into the depths of depression. I have no idea what sets it off. It doesn’t seem to happen for any particular reason or occur at regular intervals. I begin to question the endlessness of it all. I ask myself what I have really contributed. And through it all I wrestle with the idea that my life has had little value. I have left a successful career to write a book but sometimes when I read what I have written it seems like so much drivel and I wonder if I am kidding myself; who on earth will care what I have to say?

Fortunately, I have learned that I have tools to combat this depression and I never hesitate to employ them. AA taught me that when we share what is going on, we take away its power, so today I called two good friends and “told on myself.” I one case my friend, Patti, talked Continue reading →

Posted in Inspirational |

Tagged AA, depression, faith, Friends, Gratitude, Joe Damon, videos |

Too Much Time On My Hands?

Published January 15, 2008 | By Barbara Weibel

My Dad says I have too much time on my hands. I regularly send him emails with links to interesting articles found on the Internet. My latest email contained a link to TED.com, an acronym for Technology, Entertainment, and Design. TED started out as an effort to bring together people from those three worlds. Since its first conference in 1984 its scope has become ever broader. The annual conference now brings together the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. TED’s website makes the best of these talks (nearly 200, with more added each week) available to the public for free.

On TED you can watch a presentation by Larry Brilliant, who, as a young doctor, was given a mandate by an Indian guru to eradicate smallpox from the world; he subsequently joined the World Health Organization and did just that. Continue reading →

Posted in Inspirational |