Hey with Ken, I'm sure it came from a good place and he meant well. He's good people.
RandomK, on the other hand ...........
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It came from a VERY good place.
I GET that he's depressed, and that depression is a real thing. But if/when he get help, what I offered is exactly what he needs to do (along with whatever medication they prescribe). Everyone goes through a depressive period at one time or another. I know I have, but that's another story. But I also know that you have to take steps to get back to normal. It's not simply, depressed today and not tomorrow. But the FIRST step is the hardest.
Finding a purpose. A reason to get up in the morning. IMHO the easiest way to find that purpose is giving to others. Anyone who has can't tell me what an uplifting feeling that can be. So when I tell him to go coach, scout, or something to do with football. Coaching is a great way to give back if you love football.....and they PAY you to do it.
To someone who is in a dark place and suffered a devastating loss things like, perspective, common sense, rationality no longer matter. This kid KNOWS what he needs to do. But right now he can't seem to do it. That is what depression does. It's kind of insidious. So if I left readers with the sense that ALL he needs to do is "get off his sorry ass". Well that's poor writing by me.
But he DOES need to take that first step. AND that step involves finding a purpose. That should be easy for him. He and his partner put together a clip that pulled at our heart strings. In seven minutes he created a moment that moved people. Not everyone can do that. It would be a whole different and uplifting thing if they could do that for SOMEONE else, who is on the ropes.
That, writing a children's book about the pain of loss, or simply go back to football in one of the many areas that don't involve playing. All of these are things he is CAPABLE of doing, and in that he is lucky to have such a wide variety of outlets. Most people don't.
Like others have written, the very fact he is admitting to the problem sounds like a good first step, but it needs to be followed up with the next thing, whatever that is.