A slow smile spread across Gus's face. It was a huge grin nearly too big for him.

"We start on the outside looking in. From where we sit on our cloud nine throne of judgement it's easy to be condescending or assume we know what other people are going through. Maybe you think you've been through that yourself.

"My best friend is a great example of that. When I got sick instead of being able to understand what I was going through she tried to understand. She would talk about how her parents were complaining about her not helping around the house while I was emptying the contents of my stomach into the toilet bowl."
Everyone laughed.

"You know what," Hazel said, "This doesn't only have to be about illness. I knew someone who used to think depression was an excuse and then she developed depression herself.

"Whatever the case may be it's important to understand that you don't always know the hell a person is going through."

Hazel paused to let everyone take that in.

"Close your eyes. We are about to journey to the next step. We are imagining that now you are going through your tough time. How are you feeling? What is going through your mind. Well maybe you are so frustrated that you just want to scream as loud as you can. Maybe you do break down in tears. Maybe you just sit around watching PROJECT RUNWAY and sleeping it away.

"Are you scared about going through your tough times? I'll be very honest. I'm scared about going through mine. It's something everyone has to face but it doesn't mean it's something I want to face..."
Hazel's voice began to waver a little. Gus flashed her a reassuring look. She took a deep breath and found her voice again.

"The one thing we don't have to do is stay stuck in tough times."