Voice Post: Walk across the Stone Arch Bridge

Happy birthday, Alan Rickman

As madrobins helpfully points out, today's Alan Rickman's birthday.

( To celebrate the occasion, under the cut there's a recording of him reading Shakespeare's sonnet 130. )

That voice . . . *swoons*

Philosophical question re: depression

I'd like to get my friends' list's perspective on this: what benefits can be derived from depression? Tell me, either from your own perspective or from knowing someone close to you who has experienced it. I'm not talking about feeding neurotic needs, something like "it gets me attention." Instead, I'm talking about . . . well, not advantages, exactly, but what gifts it has brought you, what is it about depression that you can honestly say has made you (or someone you know) a better person.

I have my own opinions on this, but I'd be curious to hear your thoughts.

All replies are screened for your privacy; please let me know whether it is okay with you for me to make them public after I have read them, and I will respect your wishes. If you don't say one way or another, I will keep the comment screened. Thanks.