Dear Depression,

Thank you for trying to protect me from the dangers of the world. Thank you for preventing me from experiencing a life that will inevitably hurt me. Thank you for letting me sleep for hours and hours and hours on end without giving me any desire to get up. Thank you for giving me such deep thoughts about the world that I would have never realized without you. Thank you for giving me a time to pause and think about who is truly a friend. Thank you most of all for allowing me to hit rock bottom so that I can rise even higher than I was before. I have never heard you thanked before, as most people view you with fear, but I think it is time I gave you my respect. But depression? I know that I won’t always succeed and be the best, but that’s okay. I know that I won’t be liked by everyone, and that’s just life. I know that amazing memories come hand in hand with painful ones, but I’ll take them all. I know that sometimes all I can do is get through the day, but that is enough. I know that I am not always the fastest, or the prettiest, or the smartest, or the skinniest, or the richest, but I am me. I know that I might not have a boyfriend at the moment when everyone else does, but I am willing to wait for the right one. And depression? As much as I appreciate you trying to shield me from the world beyond my room, I think I’m going to be okay. I’d rather have pain and suffering while actually living rather than regret and misery with you. So thank you for all your time and energy, but it's’ time for me to walk my journey without you, and you know what? For the first time in a long time, I can finally let you go.

Sincerely,

Sam