RobArt Penguin

Depression runs in my family. My father hid in his house, drinking and brooding for years, consumed by his plight, the inability to be content. What I’ve learned over the years is that the way he framed his situation added to his problems. He saw himself as a failure and confirmed this judgment with his own thoughts. I fight every day not to follow this path, and pay attention on how I frame my thinking. My father and many in my family were good at framing their lives in a way that made them feel small. My uncle was an esteemed economics professor, but he was not a writer like Faulkner. My aunt was a successful shop owner, but she never became a doctor or lawyer. So, when I independently published two books, I initially told myself, “so what, I’m not a best seller.” I had to ignore this instinct to frame myself small and remember that I accomplished a lifelong goal. Luckily, I have a wife and kids who remind me of my accomplishments. They won’t let me frame myself in a negative way. They see me as big. Who am I to argue.