when i was in middle school, i got depressed. we're talking "lie in bed watching youtube all day" kinda depressed. this was in the fall after a really bad wildfire year, where the sun was red for days and we set up improved air filters. and one of our chickens, truffle, got sick. she went ¾ blind and lost weight, and someone needed to go out there and feed her. i had no motivation to get out of bed, but she needed to eat and so every day from around november to may, i went out there, put her on my lap, and let her eat from a box of corn and seeds and mealworms; high calorie foods that she liked. and she survived that winter, and she survived another three or four years. and you know what? she was always anxious, and she didn't like to be touched, but when i would go out there to feed her, i'd pick her up, and she'd lean her completely blind side against my neck and grab my hands with her feet, and she'd take the help and use it to survive.
i'm chronically ill now, long covid and a few other things. and sometimes i think—if a sick, too-light, mostly-blind chicken can do this, can get up every day and go outside and live, then i sure as hell can too
(truffle picture for tax)
Yes! I hope you also have someone to lean on and help you survive, just as you helped Truffle.
