Battles

While I have memories of Nixon, Ford, and Carter, Ronald Reagan is the first presidency I remember with detail. I was in high school when he was first elected, and I voted for his opponent in 1984, the first presidential election in which I was able to vote.

One of the things I remember about the Reagan era was the "war on drugs". Historically, I know that LBJ declared war on poverty and other presidents have led various "wars". What is it with our culture and imagery of violence?

But I understand battles. I realize that my whole life will involve a battle with depression. There will be times that the depression isn't as severe. There will be other days in which I force myself to function. And there will be a lot of days like today, where I'm somewhere in between.

One problem for me, though, is that understanding does not automatically lead to resolution. I know this of myself: often there is a disconnect between the cognitive and the emotional. Maybe the pathway is obstructed with mines. Perhaps it was struck with mortars. After all, we seem to love battles.