That One Thing

When people have depression, they often lose interest in activities they used to enjoy. I can speak from my own experience and the depression I've been dealing with for many, many years. My depression worsened in April 2010 and there were things I found myself no longer interested in. I lost my interest in art and papercrafts but most of what I lost interest in was television-based as that is my form of entertainment. I was a big THE OFFICE fan but after my mother passed, I stopped watching. There were other shows I stopped watching and even some sports I don't follow as closely as I used to. I just don't care. I don't do many things outside of my apartment so that really wasn't harmed from the depression other than me not being able to do hardly anything now.

But one thing that has kept my interest and kept me going has been the band Daughtry. About the time my depression spiked, my interest in them was rekindled. Following the band members on Twitter and listening to the music really helps me when my depression is strangling me. The three concerts I've been able to attend were vacations from my gray days even if I struggled with the crowds. For an hour and a half, THERE THEY WERE! RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME! The people who unknowingly lift me when I'm down and provide me with just enough fuel to function through each day were performing the songs I listened to over and over through tears and doubts. And then to have the honor of meeting Chris and the others, well, that was really something special to me. They are so normal and care about their fans.

I've been through a lot of tough moments the last five years (cancer, my mom passing, nearly falling victim to my depression and the list could go on) but since April 2010, I've had Daughtry and Chris and his wife Deanna, and the other band members and some of their wives on Twitter. I've written before about my thanks for everything they've given us fans but for me, they give me that extra push to keep going. If I'm down, I put on the video I took of Chris performing "Tennessee Line" at the Myth from last December. I remember funny moments from Twitter like Chris shaving off his beard. I remember the happy tears I cried when Chris tweeted me this last summer and giving me a GREAT JOB tweet after I had a great writing day.

I am lucky in that I have THAT ONE THING that helps me every day more than therapy or the stupid pills (neither I think work very well). I felt so grateful to Chris and Deanna that I thanked them in my acknowledgements when my first novel was published last November. (They received a copy I sent their way and I hope they enjoy the story should they decide to read it.) Without them and the music and the moments, I would not have seen that dream come true. I'm sure I'm not the only person who as been affected positively by the Daughtry universe but I can only write about my own experiences.

When all else fails - listening to the music, remembering the moments - I have the anticipation for new music. The first single is just two days away with the album coming later in the year. There's plenty of excitement but I'll be honest, talk of a new sound and Daughtry 2.0 worries me a bit. Daughtry has been my metaphorical security blanket and I worry that my blanket may be replaced by one that's not as familiar as the old one. At first I trusted that everything would be okay but then the talk starts and one can't help but wonder if what we're going to get will be just so different that it could be, well, a disappointment. I don't want to be disappointed. I want to be knocked off my feet. I fell in love with Daughtry 1.0 and 2.0 kind of scares me.

Sometimes my writing gives me the moxie to be honest. I guess it would actually be worse if I didn't have worry about the new album. That would mean I didn't care and Daughtry is the one thing that my depression has not touched yet. I probably care too much, using the Daughtry universe too much as a crutch. I want Chris, JP, Steely, Brian, Elvio and Robin to be successful. I want the world to know how wonderful these men are but I guess I'm also being very selfish in that I want great music that I'm familiar with. I fell in love first with the music and the sound and then came the people behind the songs and music and was introduced to the band of brothers that make up Daughtry. I have trust issues and I just have to trust that those guiding the band know what's best. I'm hoping to be knocked off my feet.

Dana