There is something about Robin’s passing that has really affected me, and I am struggling to understand what and why. I never knew him personally, yet somehow I felt that I did.
Perhaps it is the paradox that was Robin Williams: that behind his unique and exceptional comedy, there was such sadness and darkness. How could someone so funny and full of life be so tortured and in such pain?
As my blog friend Lorrie Beauchamp says below: “creative genius and mental anguish are two sides of the same coin.” This was especially, and tragically true of Robin.
The word “sadness” keeps coming up in much of what is being said and written about him. And for those he left behind, it is very sad. We will never enjoy him again. But it is not sad for him. He is no longer anguished or troubled or tortured. He is at peace now. And it is certainly not sad for his new audience of lucky souls who will now have the privilege of enjoying him.
Robin’s death is a reminder for me that no one ever really can know what demons lie beneath the mask. And that I need to keep working on not necessarily letting the past define who I am now…keeping the good, and letting go of the bad.
But Robin used his incredible gift to brighten the lives of so many. Wherever you are now, I have no doubt you are doing exactly the same thing, Robin. This little story from Badass Digest says it all for me.
In 1995, Christopher Reeve told Barbara Walters that “he wanted to die” after a horse-riding accident left him paralyzed. Reeve’s wife even told him that if he wished to pull the plug, they would find a way to that. “But you’re still you, and we love you,” she added. When Reeve was lying in the hospital with these dark thoughts, awaiting back surgery that had a 50/50 chance of killing him, a man burst into his room. He was wearing surgical scrubs, talking in a Russian accent, and said he was there to give a rectal exam. It was Robin Williams; the two men had been roommates together at Juilliard. Later Reeve said of his life-long friend: “For the first time since the accident, I laughed. My old friend had helped me know that somehow I was going to be okay.” He told Walters: “I knew then that if I could laugh, I could live.”
I can just picture Robin doing this and it makes me smile every time I think of it. Thank you Robin for shining your bright light on so many people during your short stay with us on Earth.
I hope to see you again on Ork.
servingothersblog.com 
Robin’s passing has affected me as well. Depression is such a scary thing, and we really need to be aware of those around us who may be suffering. As a sufferer myself, I know it’s possible to hide how bad it really is. Perhaps no one realized how tortured Robin was. It is very sad, indeed. He leaves behind quite a legacy and will continue to make people laugh. What a special man he was, and he will live on.
Thanks Teresa. He does indeed leave behind a legacy. And he reminds us of how important it is to care for ourselves. And you too.
This is the nicest response to Robin William’s death that I have read yet; thanks so much! Beautifully said, and with such a perfect example of how little it takes to have a positive influence in someone’s life. I think mental anguish and creative genius are two sides of the same coin; it never surprises me when a celebrity ultimately reveals a problem in this area. But still, so sad that they feel alone in their struggles.
Thank you Lori…and a very insightful point you make about creative genius. Will add your quite to the piece.
Thanks for this piece–I like it so much I hope you don’t mind if I reblog it on my site! 😀
Reblogged this on Hope and Healing Haven and commented:
I haven’t posted in a while and I ran across this wonderful post and felt moved to share it:
Not at all Roxanne…thank you for your interest.
I’ve done some research on high achievers and there is a highly inbuilt self critical component to their personality. To do things well is a drive that is forever there and we all get the benefit of their ability. I suspect for Robin Williams the illness flaws that were creeping in on him (Parkinsons Disease) made him judge himself as less than perfect. Existential people that they are, there has to be a strong reason to live and work and I wonder that if he could not work through this oncoming disease he had no reason to be around any more.
Really good point Cybelline. Thank you.