That's right, we're addressing it here and now. Negativity is actually okay. 

You are told far too often that positivity wins the day and you can achieve more by being positive.

Think about the people who are telling you this. Think about what they are trying to hide or how they are trying to disguise their pain.

The most vocal are the ones most vulnerable.

A-ha! You thought this Friendship thing was over? NEVER!

Actually, it is a good point no matter the time to understand who was important in our lives and how they helped us change for the better.

Do you think you can recall who you miss?

This "Questioning of the Friends" week comes to a close with the idea of taking stock of your friends and connections. While we often don't want to impose on anyone, we cannot continue alone. 

Not everyone is willing and able to make your health a part of their life. We can't really fault them either.

Who we need are people who are familiar with these situations. People who are ready and willing to dive into the mire because they have been there before.

Those people are rare, but we need to continue the search while understanding some connections are not going to give you the same depth.

In this world, we often wonder what people think about us. From our friends to our enemies, we crave the feedback to know we are either on course or we are suffering from massive drift.

Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues can act like blinders to us all.

How do we compensate? How do we correct? How do we stay the course?

This is the podcast's 300th episode (if you count the lost episodes that sounded as if I were underwater). 

I didn't expect the show to go this well or this long. I quit once, but that was before I realized this show had some potential and some reach.

I couldn't have done it without you. The numbers are amazing, but the outreach is more amazing.

Here is to another 300 episodes!

What happens when you find a life-defining album?

If you're anyone normal, you tell everyone about it. You share in the connection and build bonds.

If you were my former best friend, you would shame people until they didn't want to connect or they changed their music choice.

Luckily we had the same tastes for most things, but this one moment revealed the flaw in our stars.

I was going to have to go this musical expression alone.

If there is one thing we all suffer, it is the fact our friends don't believe in our mental health issues.

From "It is the devil inside you" to "false science is dragging our society down," we can't reliably depend on these people to support us in our lives, much less help us in our darkest times.

Like me, you have more people who don't believe in your mental health issues than do. What do you do? How do you cope?

What happens when you meet your own friendship mortality? You often are exposed to the shame of being alive.

Your flaws are exposed like a fresh wound and no matter how you try, you still struggle.

What can you do to get over this shameful hump?

This is a story about being accosted by a holy man at a bus stop.

Is there more to it?

I will allow your ears and your mind to find a meaning.

As it says on the tin, don't follow the social dictators.

This isn't referring to your favorite politician, your local sports team, or the shade of your spectrum.

This is more akin to being shamed because you aren't doing the right thing, the best thing, and you will be excommunicated from the group.

The social dictators control you as much as the depression roaring inside your head right now.

Be careful who you give power to.