Robin Williams

I feel compelled to write about Robin Williams for some reason. I wasn't a huge fan of his work really, and I wont pretend I am now, but there was a brilliance to him. Whether I enjoyed this brilliance is irrelevant. To me, something about him always oozed suffering. Sometimes it was painful for me to watch him because of this. I think sometimes when people devote their entire life and being to other peoples' enjoyment and entertainment, especially to the extent Robin Williams did, there must be an inherent suffering force guiding them; a yearning for others not to suffer the way they have, type of force. There is a profoundness in that. "There's a profoundness in that depression, that isolation—a profound understanding of the world, and a deep penchant for perspectives other than your own..." (I don't know who said that, but someone!) which most of us seem to try to shove aside, ignore, distract ourselves from, and Robin Williams understood that, it seems. He seemed to want that distraction for us. I often wondered if he was ever having as much fun as anyone watching him was, or if he was doing his duty: doing his service to the world and to the people. He gave every ounce of himself to everyone. He gave himself to you for whatever purpose it would serve for you.  A truly selfless act, I do believe.  So whether I was a “fan” or not does not take away the fact that I deeply respect anyone who can do that, is willing to do that, and knows why they are doing it.  For those who think acting and “entertainment” is just silly people doing silly things to gain riches and fame, having it all, and living the dream; I think Robin Williams is a prime example of someone who defied all of that, both in his life and within his death.  He was doing "silly things" for a very serious reason, which had nothing to do with himself, his own ego, or self satisfaction, I do believe.  To truly connect to everyone, to comfort anyone, to heal, and to help others escape the things he wished he could escape from, maybe?  Perhaps he had no one to do for him what he so brilliantly did for others?  For that he is a hero, and I wish him nothing but peace and the absence of suffering in his resting place.  I’ll heed the plea made by his wife, Susan Schneider:  "As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin’s death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions."