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Anton Kleinschmidt's avatar

Alexander, I cannot respond to this wonderful essay at a creative level because I am out of my depth. I can address two issues:

1. I am a dry alcoholic who gave up drinking 34 years ago at the age you are now. The booze was about to finish me off as a person. I gazed into the abyss and realised that only I could deal with the problem so I stopped. Thats it. Please just do it.

2. After a diagnosis 8 years ago and faced with life long incurable cancer I went on the permanent paliative care. Depression became a problem. My GP put me on a happy pill. It changed my life.

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Alexander Kaplan's avatar

Thank you for the kind words, Anton, but I always see you deprecating yourself when it comes to the creative process, and I don't think anyone who writes as well you should be doing so!

Also, I am happy to say that, while my depression and alcoholism will always be with me, I am at a pretty good place in my life right now. I don't think I'll ever be Mr. Sunshine, but I'm able to express gratitude for the good things in my life, which is not something I can always do.

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