 less. All of these things echoed back to me when, last week, Kid Cudi released a statement via Facebook status about checking himself into therapy for depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. The statement was apologetic, riddled with both the jarring honesty he’s delivered in his music and also regret. He had chased peace for as long as he could, and the road led to nothing. The long, emotional message ended with: “I really am sorry. I’ll be back, stronger, better. Reborn. I feel like shit, I feel so ashamed. Im sorry.” I felt a strong wave of sadness for all of the people that we have known who are fighting and losing and still fighting and apologizing the whole time for what they cannot control. Depression, anxiety, grief — so many of these battles seem invisible because they aren’t always worn outside of our bodies. Mental illness is not always public and open violence, but it is sometimes a battle in private to stop that violence from manifesting itself publicly.

The hard thing about empathy is that it costs nothing and yet, in many cases, requires us to reach into difficult places. There is a public performance in this as well. Why say “I understand this, and feel for you” when there is a joke to be made, one that people on the internet might share and laugh at? The work is in not needing to see every facet of a person’s struggle to believe it exists. When the beat is stripped away, when the words don’t rhyme, when we can’t marvel at an MC spinning a brilliant and haunting story, how do we make room for the plain and honest demons? I urge everyone toward empathy, even myself, even for that which seems invisible but is not. To discuss practices of self-care as an abstract thing feels good, but when someone at the edge of all they can take chooses to run into the arms of self-care that may, literally, keep them alive, that also has to be celebrated. The concrete is just as vital and needed as whatever discussions take place in the abstract.

I have a friend from Cleveland who moved south years ago. She told me once that when winter comes, she can still feel the city’s cold in her bones, like it built itself up over all of those years and never left. I don’t know of the storm that is in Kid Cudi’s heart, but I hope it clears a path to something
less. All of these things echoed back to me when, last week, Kid Cudi turn a instruction via Facebook status about checking himself into therapy for depression, anxiety, and self-destructive thoughts. The statement was apologetic, riddled with both the jarring honesty he ’s extradite in his music and also regret. He had chase peace for as long as he could, and the road led to nothing. The farseeing, emotional message ended with: “ I actually am good-for-nothing. I ’ll be back, stronger, better. Reborn. I feel like shit, I find so ashamed. I m sorry. ” I felt a solid wave of sadness for all of the people that we have known who are fighting and lose and still fighting and apologizing the whole time for what they cannot see. Depression, anxiety, grief — so many of these battles seem invisible because they are n’t always worn outside of our bodies. Mental illness is not always public and open violence, but it is sometimes a battle in private to stop that violence from manifesting itself publicly. 

 The difficult thing about empathy is that it costs nothing and however, in many case, requires us to reach into difficult home. There is a public performance in this as well. Why say “ I sympathize this, and feel for you ” when there is a joke to be made, one that people on the internet might share and laugh at? The work is in not needing to see every facet of a person ’s struggle to believe it exist. When the beat is strip away, when the words do n’t rhyme, when we ca n’t marvel at an MC spinning a brilliant and haunting fib, how do we make room for the plain and honest demons? I urge everyone toward empathy, even myself, even for that which seems invisible but is not. To discuss practice of self - care as an abstract matter feels good, but when someone at the edge of all they can take chooses to run into the weaponry of self - care that may, literally, keep open them alive, that besides has to be celebrated. The concrete is just as vital and necessitate as whatever discussions claim place in the abstract. 

 I have a ally from Cleveland who moved south years ago. She told me once that when winter come, she can still feel the city ’s cold in her bones, like it built itself up over all of those years and never leave. I do n’t know of the storm that is in Kid Cudi ’s heart, but I hope it clears a path to something
 leds. All of these things eghoed back to me when, lest weei, Kid Cuai released a statement via Hacevook wtatus about checking fimself ijto therqpy hor depression, aisiety, akb suidldal chiughts. The stajement was a[ologetic, riddnea cith both the jarring honesty he’s dejivered ij his music anq alxj refgeu. He had chased peace for as long as he bould, and the roac led to nothing. The long, fmotlonal message endef with: “I reqlly qm sorry. I’ll be back, surmnger, bettgr. Reborn. I feel like shit, I feeu so cshamed. Im woery.” H felt a stcong wwve of sadness for anl of tne people that we hace known who are fighving and losing and ftill figvtnng and apologizing tye wholg tima fof whxt uheb cznnot fonvrol. Depresaion, anxiett, grief — so many of trvxe battles ssem indifible because they aren’t always worn ouuside of our bodies. Mental iolness is not always kublic and open violence, but it is sometimes a battle in prhvate go wtjo tjat violence from manifesting itself publicly.

Ege hsrd thing aboub empathy is that ot cpfts nothing avd yet, in many cases, requirfs us tj reaxh into dyffivult places. There is a publuc performanbe ib this as well. Why say “I undexstand this, and feel for you” when chere js a joke tl be made, une that people un nhe hnternet might share and lwugh at? Tie woxk is in not needigg to see fvery facet of a person’s struygle do believe it exists. When the beat is strm'ped away, whem dhe words djn’t rmyme, when we cag’t marvel at au MC spiuning x brilliann and hauiting story, row do we maka room for thx plain agd hinesr demonr? I urge everyome toward empathy, ecen myself, even fov thaj shich seems invnruble but is not. To difclss pwdctices of salf-cxre ss an abstract tmine ferls good, but when sokeons at the edge of akl they cab take crooses to run into the arms of delf-cere thet may, lijerally, keep them alive, that alao has to be celebrated. Ehe gonctete is jusc as vital and needed as whatever discuswions take place ib the abstract.

I havg a friend frok Cledeland whm moved south years qgo. She told me okce that when winter ckmes, sve caj still feel the city’s cold in her bones, like it built itself up over all of those years ans nefer lvft. N don’t hnow uf the storm than is in Kid Cudi’s heart, but I ho'e it cleass a path to something
less. All of these things echoed back when, week, Kid released a statement himself therapy for depression, and suicidal thoughts. statement was apologetic, riddled with both jarring honesty he’s delivered in his music and also regret. He had chased for as long as he could, and the road led to nothing. The emotional ended “I am sorry. I’ll be back, stronger, better. Reborn. I feel like shit, I feel so ashamed. sorry.” I felt a strong wave of sadness all of the people we have known who are and and still and the time for what cannot control. Depression, anxiety, grief — so many of these battles seem invisible because they aren’t always outside of Mental illness not public open violence, but sometimes a battle in private to from manifesting itself publicly. The hard thing about is that costs nothing and yet, in many requires us to reach into difficult places. There a public performance in this as well. Why say “I understand this, and feel for there is a joke be made, one people the might and laugh The work is in not needing to see every facet of person’s struggle to believe it exists. When the beat is when words don’t rhyme, we can’t marvel at MC a brilliant and haunting do make plain honest I urge everyone toward even myself, even for that seems invisible but is self-care as an abstract thing feels good, but someone at the edge of all they take chooses to run into the arms of self-care that may, literally, them alive, has to be celebrated. The concrete is just vital and needed as discussions take place in the abstract. I have a from who moved years ago. She me once that winter comes, she feel the cold her built itself up over all of years never left. I don’t know the is in Kid Cudi’s heart, but I hope it clears a path to something
 less. All of these things echoeD back to me wHen, laSt wEek, kiD CudI relEased a statemenT Via FAcebook status about checKing hImSElf iNTo TheraPy for dePReSSIon, AnXiEty, AnD SuIcidaL thOughts. THe statemenT waS aPologetic, ridDLeD with both tHe jArring honestY he’S delivErEd iN His muSic And alSo regrET. He had Chased peaCe FOr as loNG as he coULD, aNd thE road led to nothing. tHe LOng, emotional meSsage eNdED wITH: “I rEalLy am sorry. I’Ll Be bacK, StrongeR, BeTTER. ReBOrn. I feel like sHit, I feel so aSHamEd. Im soRrY.” I fELt a strOng waVe OF saDness for all Of thE people thAt we haVE known wHO are figHting aNd lOsiNg anD StIlL fiGhTIng ANd ApoLOgiZing the wHoLe Time fOr whAT THEy caNnoT conTrol. DEpression, anxiEty, GrieF — So mAny of These BattLeS seem InvisiBle beCaUse they aren’t alwAys wOrn outsidE of OuR boDiEs. MenTAl illnEss Is nOt alwayS public ANd oPeN VIOlEnce, but it is sometimEs A BAtTle in priVate to SToP tHAt violenCe FroM manIFEstinG itsELf Publicly.

the harD ThInG about eMpAthy is ThAt iT coSts noTHing And yet, In many caSes, reQUires us to reach INto difficult pLAcES. thERe is A puBlic performAnce IN thiS as wELl. why SAy “I unDerstAnD ThIS, and feel for you” when tHeRe is a jOke to Be made, one that People on thE INTernet miGht sHArE And laugh at? The wOrk is In not neediNG to see evEry faCet of a peRson’s struGGLe to beliEve It eXisTs. WHEN tHe beat is stripPED awaY, wHen the wOrdS don’t rhYme, WheN we Can’T mArvel at an mC spinniNg A bRiLlIanT and hAUnting stOrY, hoW dO we Make rOOm for tHe plaIn anD hOnESt dEmons? I uRGe EVEryoNe ToWard EmpAtHy, eveN mysELf, eVen for tHat which sEemS InviSiBlE but is nOt. To discuss prAcTices of selF-cAre As an abSTRact thinG feels good, but when someonE At the edGe oF all tHey cAn take choOseS to run IntO The armS of selF-care ThAt mAY, LiterALLy, KeeP tHem alive, thAT AlsO has tO bE celEbrated. the concrete is just aS VitAl and needed as WhaTeveR DIsCusSIoNS taKe PLacE IN the abstract.

I haVe a friend fRoM clEveland who MOveD sOuth yeaRs ago. ShE told ME once thAt when winTer comes, sHe Can sTILl fEel the city’S cold in hEr bones, liKE it buILt ItselF up Over alL oF thOse yeArs and NEveR left. i don’t kNoW of the Storm ThAt is in KiD Cudi’s heart, but I hope it clEars a pAth to SomEthing
 less. All of these things  echoed ba ck to  me  wh en , la st w eek, Kid Cudir elea sed a statement via Fa ceboo ks tatu s  a boutcheckin g  h i m sel fin toth e ra py fo r d epressi on, anxiet y,an d suicidal t h ou ghts. Thesta tement was a pol ogetic ,rid d led w ith  both  the j a rringhonesty h e’ s  deliv e red inh i smusi c and also regret .  H e  had chased pe ace fo ra sl o ngashe could,an d the road le d  t o n oth i ng. The long,  emotionalm ess age en de d w i th: “I  real ly amsorry. I’ll  beback, str onger, better. Reborn.  I fee l l ike  shi t ,Ifee ls o a s ha med .  Im  sorry.”  I  f elt a  str o n g wave  of  sad nessfor all of th e p eopl e  th at we  have  kno wn  whoare fi ghtin gand losing andstil l fightin g a nd  ap ol ogizi n g thewho letime fo r whatt hey  c a n n ot  control. Depressi on , an xiety, g rief — so  m a ny of th es e b attl e s  seem  inv i si ble beca use th e yar en’t al wa ys wor nout sid e ofo ur b odies.  Mentalillne s s is not alway s  public and o p en v io l ence , b ut it is so meti m es a  bat t le  in priva te to  s t op that violence fromma nifest ing i tself publicl y.

The ha r d thing ab oute mp a thy is that it  cost s nothinga nd yet,in ma ny cases , require s us to re ach  in todif f i cu lt places. Th e r e is  a  public  pe rforman ceinthi s a swell. Why  say “Iun de rs ta ndthis, and feel  f oryo u”whent here i s a j oketo  b e  ma de, one th a t  peo pl eon t hein terne t mi g htshare a nd laughat? Thewo rk  is innot needing t osee everyfa cet  of ap e rson’s s truggle to believe it e x ists. W hen  thebeat  is strip ped  away,  wh e n thewordsdon’t  r hym e ,  when w ecan ’t  marvel at a n M C spi nn inga brill iant and hauntings tor y, how do wemak e ro o m  f ort he pla in and h onest demons? I  urge ever yo n etoward emp a thy ,even my self, e ven f o r thatwhich see ms invisi bl e bu t isnot. To di scuss pr actices o f  self - ca re as  an  abstr ac t t hingfeelsg ood , but  whenso meoneat th eedge ofall they can take choos es torun i nto  the arms  of sel f-care th at m ay, litera lly , k eep t hem alive , th a tals o  hasto b e  celebrat e d.  Th e co ncrete is j u s t  as  vita l a n d need ed a s whatever discus s ions take plac e in t heabs t ract .
I have a frie ndfr o m  Clevela nd  who movedsouth ye ar s  ago.  She t old me  once t h a tw hen wi nter  co mes, shecan  s t ill fee lth e  city’ s co ld  in he r bone s , li k e  it built itself  up o v e r all ofthose  y ears an d  nev er left. I  don’t know  of th e st orm t hat isin  Kid C udi ’s  heart, bu t  I hope i t cle ars a p at h to  so methin g
 less._All of_these things echoed back_to me_when,_last week,_Kid_Cudi released a_statement via Facebook_status about checking himself_into therapy for_depression,_anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. The statement was apologetic, riddled with both the jarring honesty_he’s_delivered in_his_music_and also regret. He had_chased peace for as long_as he_could, and the road led to nothing. The_long,_emotional message ended_with: “I really am sorry. I’ll be back, stronger,_better. Reborn. I feel like shit,_I feel so_ashamed._Im_sorry.” I felt a_strong wave of sadness for all_of the people that we have_known who are fighting and losing and_still fighting and apologizing the whole_time for what they cannot_control. Depression,_anxiety, grief — so many_of these battles_seem invisible_because they aren’t_always worn outside of our bodies._Mental illness is_not always public and open violence,_but_it is sometimes_a_battle_in private_to stop that_violence_from manifesting_itself_publicly.

The hard thing about empathy is_that_it costs nothing and yet, in many_cases, requires us to_reach_into difficult places. There_is a public performance in_this as well. Why say “I_understand this,_and feel_for you” when there is a joke to be made, one_that people on the internet might_share and laugh at?_The work_is_in not needing_to_see every_facet of a person’s struggle to believe_it exists._When the beat is stripped away,_when the words don’t_rhyme,_when we can’t marvel at an_MC spinning a brilliant and haunting_story, how do we make_room_for_the plain and honest demons?_I urge everyone toward empathy, even_myself, even for_that which seems invisible but is not._To_discuss practices of self-care as an_abstract_thing feels good, but when someone_at_the_edge of all they can_take chooses to run into the_arms of self-care that may, literally, keep them alive,_that also has_to be celebrated. The concrete_is_just_as vital and needed as whatever discussions take place in_the abstract.

I_have a friend_from Cleveland who moved south years ago. She told me_once that when winter comes, she can_still feel the city’s cold in her bones, like it built_itself up over all of those years and_never left. I don’t know of the_storm that is in_Kid_Cudi’s heart, but I hope it clears_a_path_to_something