The Art of Meeting Depression
A vulnerable, heart-opening conversation with comedian and poet John Roedel
“When you confront the open wound, approach it with kindness.”—John Roedel, comedian and poet
Preview: Episode 104 How writing might companion us through mental health crises and personal struggles
How might a writing practice help us touch the most difficult, most fearsome parts of our lives? In this vulnerable, open-hearted episode, comedian John Roedel talks about how he naturally turned, to his surprise, to poetry. “The more I wrote, the more I made it public, the more I felt like [the depression] was moving. It made me feel better and less alone.” We talk about his letter-writing format, the gifts that come from a daily writing practice, the fear and the freedom of sharing what feels intimate, and ways to be very gentle with the self as we explore our wounds.
John Roedel is a comic who unexpectedly gained notability as a writer and poet through his heartfelt pieces he shared on social media that went viral. He is the author of six self-published books that went on to become Amazon bestsellers, including—Hey God. Hey John, Upon Departure and his latest work, Fitting In is For Sardines.
Offering a sincere and very relatable look at his faith crisis, mental health, personal struggles, perception of our world, and even his fashion sense, John's writing has been shared millions of times across social media. He teaches at universities and retreat centers across the US.
What We’re Reading and Listening to:
Rosemerry:
So you may recall I am obsessed right now with Rilke translations. This is partly because I have found a Rilke translator I deeply trust to render the Austrian poet’s words in a way that is close to the original language and intent. Mark S. Burrows will have a new book of translations out later this year, but in the meantime, I suggest starting with his Rilke translations in Prayers of a Young Poet—words written over a hundred years ago that still sing as if they were written in our hearts in this moment. I also appreciate the preface and afterword that give more insight into the poet’s life, mindset and sensibilities.
I deeply appreciate poetry’s efficiency, and the haiku format is one of the most potent. Steven Nightingale, who I have long admired for his innovative take on sonnets, has turned his attention to this three-line form and added a new twist to the genre. In his new book, Incantations, he brings a cohesiveness to haiku by creating large bouquets of three-line poems all ending with the same line. He uses this technique to tell larger stories in small moments. They are fearless poems that touch on the worst and the best of humanity. Though the book is well over 200 pages, I devoured it in a single sitting, even though I kept telling myself, “savor, slow down, savor.”
Christie:
This beautiful essay by Sharon Brous resonates so much. It’s titled “Train Yourself to Always Show Up” and it contains so much wisdom about how to be a friend in times of great sorrow.
We cannot magically fix one another’s broken hearts. But we can find each other in our most vulnerable moments and wrap each other up in a circle of care. We can humbly promise each other, “I can’t take your pain away, but I can promise you won’t have to hold it alone.”
Showing up for one another doesn’t require heroic gestures. It means training ourselves to approach, even when our instinct tells us to withdraw. It means picking up the phone and calling our friend or colleague who is suffering. It means going to the funeral and to the house of mourning. It also means going to the wedding and to the birthday dinner. Reach out in your strength, step forward in your vulnerability. Err on the side of presence.
Tom Scocca’s New York Magazine piece about being knocked down by a mystery illness is a window into the experience of chronic illness but it’s also a tale of middle age and the collapse of the journalism industry. I know that sounds depressing (and I won’t say it’s not), but it’s so well-written and important that you really should read it.
Poem from John Roedel
the places in our heart
where the world took bites
out of us
may never fully heal
and will likely become
wide open spaces
~ be careful to not fill them
with just anything or anyone
your wounds aren’t supposed
to become attics for you to hoard
unnecessary junk
these holes in our hearts
are holy sites
and we should treat
them as such
so when visiting your old wounds
make sure to take your shoes off
and turn off your cellphone
sit by candlelight
and watch how the shadows
tell the story how brave you are
~ to survive
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This week, John, Rosemerry and Christie read Fernando Pessoa’s poem “I Don’t Know How Many Souls I Have” and use it as a launching point to discuss identity, how we get unstuck, and how though writing may not be therapy, it is therapeutic. If you are not yet a paid subscriber, you can go now to our website, EmergingForm.substack.com, or by clicking the button below. Thank you!
Two Questions:
(share your answers with us here on Substack or in our FB group)
What poem or piece of writing is currently fueling your curiosity about your own creative practice?
What person, real or imagined, living or dead, would you most like to have a written correspondence with?
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