A Story of Depression

Inspiration, that spark of ingenuity, that light bulb of knowledge, that epiphany that sends us down a road of discovery and self-realization, offers us a glimpse of what we're really capable of, and opens the window of discovery. But it is melancholy, most wretched of emotions, that like a shadow looming above us, smothers the candle of hope and quenches this spark of ingenuity. But, inspiration is often taken for granted by those who don't depend on it for a living, scorned by some who are sceptical of its validity, and even utterly disregarded by the majority of our generation in our quest for cheap entertainment and ever increasing wealth. But it is melancholy, most wretched of emotions, that like a shadow looming above us, smothers the candle of hope and utterly quenches this spark of ingenuity. The plague of depression, crushing what is arguably the most fundamental aspect to our society, leaving us hollow and empty, with no desire for companionship, nor a care for the beauty around us.

Inspiration often manifests itself as a unique connection between a person and a spark of genius, the bond that draws the individual to the pinnacle of self-actualization and innovation. However, in our lives today, inspiration is omnipresent, a constant source of motivation for us to strive for self-improvement, supplying us new and ever-creative ideas, and even providing us with the very building blocks of our social interactions. It is this omnipresence that accounts for our desensitization to its magnificent effects, and leaves us barely conscious of the incredible phenomenon that draws our minds to a new, unexplored, uncharted realm of creation. Nevertheless, this sense of wonder at our own accomplishments must never be lost; regardless of how simple this sense may be, because our generation has the ability, now more than ever before, to live without seeking any inspiration at all. We now have the ability to live a life devoid of intellectual stimulation, for our psychological survival is assured in our modern world, a world where one need not seek inspiration or creativity, but can live a pleasurable and secure life, content with traveling the well beaten path and never straying into the woods of mystery and wonder. Unchecked, this will doom our future to a bland existence devoid of creativity; a robotic population incapable of grasping the beauty and wonder of inspiration and instead partakes in a stagnancy that unravels the very fabric of human civilization, society, and culture.

Conversely, melancholy appears to us as the looming shadow of failure, weakening our resolve, driving us towards a need for isolation, and severing the bond between an individual and his goals. This melancholy, this deep-rooted sadness is what drives us to seclusion, feeding on the memories of loneliness from our souls as we further isolate ourselves from society. It is this shadow above our heads, this weight on our hearts that is the true danger to the progress of society, a population without a spark of ingenuity, their inspiration crushed by the emotions contained within them, leaving them lonely, isolated, and utterly alone.