“It is in all of us to defy expectations to go into the world and to be brave; and to want, to need, to hunger for adventures; to embrace change and chance and risk so that we may breathe and know what it is to be free.” -Mae Chevrette

Purple. Green. Blue. Orange. Yellow. Pink. Red. I was staring at my notebook one afternoon at school when I realized how bright and full of color the cover was. I started thinking "what would it be like if the world didn’t have color?" Everything would look so different without it, such as bright, red juicy apples, the beautiful, blue sky, deep, blue ocean, crisp, green grass, sunsets, and sunrises. All of these things would be faded into a grey color of sadness. Colors are what make the world a better, happier, and brighter place. What do you think it would be like if all of those colors vanished into thin air leaving the world in a state of black and white?

An excellent example would be the 2014 film, “The Giver”. This movie, starring Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Brenton Thwaites, and Katie Holmes, is about a boy named Jonas who lives in a world that is colorless and conformed to fit society. He is assigned the role as “The Giver”, one who is given the power to keep all of the memories in their world. He soon finds out that the world wasn’t always colorless and makes it his mission to find out more and try to escape in order to make their world a better place.

For most of us, we take color all for granted. We have eyes that can see all of the brilliant shades of a vibrant life; however, for some, that privilege is not present. I’m not just talking about people who have a hard time seeing or suffer from blindness. I’m talking about a disorder that affects millions every single year and can even result in suicide.

Depression is a serious and sometimes fatal disorder. According to the Mayo Clinic, depression is “A brain disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest and activities, causing significant impairment to life.” I, myself, have struggled with depression as well as anxiety ever since eighth grade. I know how difficult and tiring life can be for someone who struggles with depression like I do. Many times, you do not want to get out of bed in the morning and start your day. You also have negative thoughts and feelings about everything regardless of the circumstances. Sometimes it may be very difficult to consume anything, but, worst of all, suicidal thoughts come into play making life seem as though nothing is worth living for. All of these examples create a perfect picture of what it can be like living in a dull world with no color.

Depression is something that can be difficult to fix; however, there are many tools available to help those struggling with it. Of course, there is always the option of going to doctors, counselors, psychiatrists, taking medication, or any number of other options, but I believe the best medicine to help fight depression is hope. Try finding something good or positive in each day. It doesn’t have to be something big. It can be something as simple as having access to the internet, or being thankful that you made it to the bus on time. Write these thoughts down and put them in a cute little jar or keepsake box, and when you’re feeling down or hopeless, read them. Another great thing you can do is keep a journal and write down what you feel, while still persisting with trying to find some positivity. Helping others in your community or doing community service is also an excellent way to get yourself out of bed. You would be surprised how much helping others helps you in return. With every small hopeful step you take towards a happier world, more color begins to be seen filling that world.

Fighting your way out of depression is just like a caterpillar trying to get out of its chrysalis. It works hard to emerge from its safety net and turn into this beautiful and colorful butterfly. Once you emerge from your own cocoon, you have to trust those new wings and learn how to fly.