“Reflections--- This time last year”

Sometimes life deals us a hand that makes it difficult to maintain good mental health. We all have a story to tell about issues of mental health. Depression is common around the anniversary of death, health crisis, loss of a job or some bad occurrence that one has no control over. If one did not believe in a higher being, it would certainly be easy to think that life is picking on you.

It is hard to believe but it has been a year since the death of my Mother, Mrs. Hattie Lillian Spann Bell. It also would have been the 37th birthday of my late son Thaddeus John Bell II. Life has dealt me a very different kind of hand that gives me cause to pose and do some serious reflection. I do not know why it all happened the way it did, but I do know that for 62 years I was blessed to have the loving guidance and support of a wonderful Mother and for 21 years a relationship with a Son that all men and women should have with their son. Thad was a “Morehouse Man” with a dream to graduate and that he did. I am blessed but in pain today. Today, I am going to take off and think about how blessed I am to have had my Mom and Son as a part of my life. October 5 is for me “a tale of two cities”. This is my life and God helps me deal with it. Talking about it helps too.

Today, call your Mom or your Dad and say, “I love you.” Today, call your Son or your Daughter and say, “God bless you” and tell them also that you love them. We will talk to you next week.
I am Dr. Thaddeus John Bell ---
Closing the Gap in Health Care. 10/05/07