So… I am on feet. I had a really great week. I assume my systems are paying off (diet, sleep, exercise, mindfulness, etc). But sometimes these episodes have their own rhythms and simply run their course. I can’t really say for certain what changed, but I know that I am grateful to be feeling better. An interesting notion that can come with feeling better, at least for me, is a little bit of guilt. So I want to take a moment to say to myself (and to you) that none of us should feel guilty for the times we feel awesome. And none of us should feel ashamed for the times we’re feeling off. In some ways, depression and anxiety are like having a bad back… sometimes it makes perfect sense why your back goes it, but other times it just seems to crash for no reason at all. Either way, it’s not your fault. It’s a condition. And it can be managed. And the more you deal with it honestly and openly, the better you’ll get at the whole thing. So whether you’re feeling high or low or somewhere in between, I hope you can allow yourself the space to feel where you’re at. Embrace it. Know that it’s not forever. And find that bite of joy and hope to carry you through to tomorrow.
Today I am feeling a little sad. Can I say that and be okay with it? And not spend the day in fear that this small sadness will grow into a sadness monster that might take me down? Maybe I can even be grateful for the ability to hold this sadness (not run from it) and place it next to some hope I’ve been nurturing. And just let them co-mingle for a bit, like nervous strangers at a dinner party. And just kinda see what happens. Because, as many of you know, sadness is not the same thing as depression. Sadness is a feeling I’m grateful to feel. Sadness we can work with. So yeah. I’m a little sad. And a little hopeful. That’s… pretty good. How are you feeling today?
This is my daughter Ora. She turns 16 today. I’ve never wanted to post pictures of my kids on here for all the reasons you can probably understand. But this girl is a goddamn force and she can’t be held back. Funny, kind, sensitive, creative, gifted, and razor sharp. Truly the best of what @katieaselton and I could possibly offer. We have big plans for the next few years and I can’t wait for you all to get to know this beautiful, electric tornado. ❤️
At the beginning of the pandemic, I started writing a story. It was about a 16 year old girl who leaves behind the trappings of modern life to seek out a simpler, more deliberate life in the woods. It turned into a 30 minute script. Then another. Then another. I couldn’t stop writing. Eventually I had written 8 episodes, the entire first season of my new, favorite show. A show for and about young adults. About the way life could be if we simplified things. And then I realized that our title character PENELOPE was not just a teenaged girl. She was all of us, trying to find a peace, simplicity, and happiness that we’ve lost. I knew when I brought the scripts to the buyers that there would be a bidding war. But there wasn’t. No one would give us the money to make it. So I thought to myself… I’ve financed my own films before. Why can’t I do it with TV? And that’s what I did. And I asked my BIOSPHERE co-creator (and head of Duplass Brothers Productions) @meleslyn to direct all the episodes. And now we’re premiering the show at Sundance next month. And I am so grateful to be in this moment. So desperate and excited to bring this show to the world. Here is the first image of possibly the most important thing I’ve made… PENELOPE
This is Murphy. He’s about 10 weeks old and he just joined our family. He loves Dave Brubeck era jazz, playing with his new friend Blue, and escaping anything that contains him. As a rescue pup, he carries that appreciation of every small thing… food, soft bed, naps in the sun. Today I’m going to let him inspire me. I am going to remind myself that we are all lucky to be here, at all. And when I get home from work I’m going to snuggle the shit out of him.
This is Murphy. He’s about 10 weeks old and he just joined our family. He loves Dave Brubeck era jazz, playing with his new friend Blue, and escaping anything that contains him. As a rescue pup, he carries that appreciation of every small thing… food, soft bed, naps in the sun. Today I’m going to let him inspire me. I am going to remind myself that we are all lucky to be here, at all. And when I get home from work I’m going to snuggle the shit out of him.
This is Murphy. He’s about 10 weeks old and he just joined our family. He loves Dave Brubeck era jazz, playing with his new friend Blue, and escaping anything that contains him. As a rescue pup, he carries that appreciation of every small thing… food, soft bed, naps in the sun. Today I’m going to let him inspire me. I am going to remind myself that we are all lucky to be here, at all. And when I get home from work I’m going to snuggle the shit out of him.
Okay. Time to get proactive. This Sunday at 4pm pt/7pm et I’ll be going live on @instagram with my fantastic partners at @twloha to talk all things mental health. We’ll have some surprises and also be officially launching a fundraiser for mental health scholarships. I’m matching the first $10k so please join us and spread the word. As always, sending you a giant wave of hope.
I’m not sure all these options are good for me. The sheer amount of things I can do/see/experience/consume on a daily bases has increased drastically in my lifetime, and I don’t think it’s made me happier. When I look back at some of the most wonderful moments in my life, they were surprisingly super small. The quiet of a long winter hike and the delayed gratification of eating my homemade 62 cent peanut butter and jelly sandwich once I reach the summit. Teaching my daughter how to play that dumb Monopoly card game and spending two hours trying to master it while listening to The Weepies. Sitting in my front yard with my dog, my 2nd coffee, and talking to a new neighbor about something unremarkable. And the gentle smiles we share, acknowledging that this sort of meandering neighborly chit chat is a relic we both miss. This epically small stuff is the easiest to access, and it’s really lifting me up right now. I hope it might do something similar for you. ❤️
I tried to be as open and honest as I could be. It’s not perfect, and it’s not everything, but it’s a good summation of my mental health journey so far. And some of the tools I’ve developed to cope. And how they sometimes work and sometimes don’t. And how this will likely be with me on and off for the rest of my life. And how I’m learning to accept that and maybe even see some silver linings on the good days. If you (or someone you know) are struggling, I hope you find something useful in here. Lotsa love. ❤️✌️ (Link in bio) https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/how-mark-duplass-fights-the-sadness
I’ve been thinking about next year. And what I want to focus on. And I keep coming back to this word. Balance. It’s the least exciting, least sexy of options. The funny thing is, even though I know it works for me, when I’m in a state of desperation (or inspiration) I often find myself ignoring it completely and searching the extremes for answers. “I need more nature in my life… I’ll hike the entire Appalachian Trail!” “I’ve become too dependent on technology… I’m gonna switch to a flip phone.” “Work is stressful… maybe I should retire early and try something else.” But the somewhat boring-sounding truth is, sometimes one overnight in the woods is all I need to reset myself. Maybe I should just put my phone down for the last few hours before bedtime. Or find a slightly different lane inside my current career. The truth is, I’m at my happiest when a day is full of bits and bobs of all the things I love and need. And when I translate that microcosm to a week, a month, a year… I tend to be much happier. A life raft of sorts forms around me. Not too heavy or too light in any of my life’s interests or directions. It doesn’t sound all that exciting on paper. But as a person who deals with mental instability, I’m not going for big highs. I’m going for peace. I want to be in the middle. I want to be Goldilocks. How are you doing? Sending you light and big, big waves of hope. (Also, a reminder that @twloha and @betterhelp are offering free therapy to any of you who need it. Still a few spots left at my links in bio.)
After the holiday madness, Katie and I try to go away for a few quiet days at the beginning of each year. These are special times for us. We don’t do much. Walk, talk, sit and look at some simple aspect of nature. And we think about last year and what we’d like this year to be. This year, I am having this vision of my “woog” (that special anxiety/depression combination I know so well) as a sort of superpower. Yes, it’s a heavy load to carry. No, I wouldn’t have chosen it for myself. But it has genuinely afforded me some wonderful things. A few off the top of my head: It forces me to drop deeply into myself and be 100% present. My woogie days don’t fly by unnoticed. That’s a true gift. It affords me a deeper sense of empathy for anyone I meet who is suffering. It makes me extra raw and vulnerable, which has directly informed who I am as an artist and a human. So I’m going to try to co-exist with my woog a bit more peacefully this year. Still be smart and vigilant with my systems (good sleep, proper medication, therapy, clean diet, etc). But I’m going to try to see my woogie visitor as less of my direct nemesis and more of a frenemy. And see what happens.
After the holiday madness, Katie and I try to go away for a few quiet days at the beginning of each year. These are special times for us. We don’t do much. Walk, talk, sit and look at some simple aspect of nature. And we think about last year and what we’d like this year to be. This year, I am having this vision of my “woog” (that special anxiety/depression combination I know so well) as a sort of superpower. Yes, it’s a heavy load to carry. No, I wouldn’t have chosen it for myself. But it has genuinely afforded me some wonderful things. A few off the top of my head: It forces me to drop deeply into myself and be 100% present. My woogie days don’t fly by unnoticed. That’s a true gift. It affords me a deeper sense of empathy for anyone I meet who is suffering. It makes me extra raw and vulnerable, which has directly informed who I am as an artist and a human. So I’m going to try to co-exist with my woog a bit more peacefully this year. Still be smart and vigilant with my systems (good sleep, proper medication, therapy, clean diet, etc). But I’m going to try to see my woogie visitor as less of my direct nemesis and more of a frenemy. And see what happens.
After the holiday madness, Katie and I try to go away for a few quiet days at the beginning of each year. These are special times for us. We don’t do much. Walk, talk, sit and look at some simple aspect of nature. And we think about last year and what we’d like this year to be. This year, I am having this vision of my “woog” (that special anxiety/depression combination I know so well) as a sort of superpower. Yes, it’s a heavy load to carry. No, I wouldn’t have chosen it for myself. But it has genuinely afforded me some wonderful things. A few off the top of my head: It forces me to drop deeply into myself and be 100% present. My woogie days don’t fly by unnoticed. That’s a true gift. It affords me a deeper sense of empathy for anyone I meet who is suffering. It makes me extra raw and vulnerable, which has directly informed who I am as an artist and a human. So I’m going to try to co-exist with my woog a bit more peacefully this year. Still be smart and vigilant with my systems (good sleep, proper medication, therapy, clean diet, etc). But I’m going to try to see my woogie visitor as less of my direct nemesis and more of a frenemy. And see what happens.
After the holiday madness, Katie and I try to go away for a few quiet days at the beginning of each year. These are special times for us. We don’t do much. Walk, talk, sit and look at some simple aspect of nature. And we think about last year and what we’d like this year to be. This year, I am having this vision of my “woog” (that special anxiety/depression combination I know so well) as a sort of superpower. Yes, it’s a heavy load to carry. No, I wouldn’t have chosen it for myself. But it has genuinely afforded me some wonderful things. A few off the top of my head: It forces me to drop deeply into myself and be 100% present. My woogie days don’t fly by unnoticed. That’s a true gift. It affords me a deeper sense of empathy for anyone I meet who is suffering. It makes me extra raw and vulnerable, which has directly informed who I am as an artist and a human. So I’m going to try to co-exist with my woog a bit more peacefully this year. Still be smart and vigilant with my systems (good sleep, proper medication, therapy, clean diet, etc). But I’m going to try to see my woogie visitor as less of my direct nemesis and more of a frenemy. And see what happens.
“I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I’m not happy. I don’t feel the way I’m supposed to feel.” The best part of my birthday was snuggling with my family and watching the Charlie Brown Christmas special. We talked about the bittersweet nature of the holidays. About embracing the paradoxical sadness and joy of it all. It was so comforting to accept it all. How are you all doing as we approach the holidays? Let’s catch up if you’re free tmrw. I’ll be live here Sunday December 10 at 7pm et/4pm pt to talk all things mental health. I’ll also have some fun surprises and resources from the fine folks at @twloha and @betterhelp. Hope you are all hanging in there, my dudes. ❤️
In the last last year we’ve rescued two pups. They have changed our lives in the best way. There are so many studies of how rescue dogs help us as much as we help them. I can’t think of a better thing to do for them and ourselves in such turbulent times. #rescuedogs #mentalhealth
A first look at @sylviahoeks in the upcoming movie Hurricanna, a thrilling odyssey into the eye of the storm of pop culture icon Anna Nicole Smith, also starring #hollyhunter and @markduplass and directed by @fgregorini #hurricanna
A dog in the sun. I set so many lofty goals for myself. Not a bad thing, but it comes with a lot of stress, pressure, ups and downs. A dynamic and interesting way to live. But at times… exhausting. So today I’m going to follow the example of my friend and teacher Blue the dog. I’m going to try to be thankful for the smallest of things. A nice meal. A hug from my kids. A gentle walk in the crisp air. Some time with my book and a decaf coffee. A movie with friends. Today I’m going to be a dog in the sun. And try to reach the place where that’s enough to make it a “great day.” Sending you all love, light, and a big-ass wave of hope.
Thank you everyone for joining our conversation on mental health. We still have spots for free online therapy available through the amazing folks at @betterhelp. And we are still raising funds for therapy scholarships through @twloha. I’m matching every dollar up to $10,000 so please share this around and let’s get everyone they help they need. A direct link for these resources is in my bio: https://wrt.lv/therapy As always, sending lotsa love and a ten foot wave of hope. ❤️
We firmly believe that mental health care should be affordable and accessible for everyone. Together, we will be the hopeful. TWLOHA and @markduplass will be going live this Sunday, December 10th to have an honest conversation about depression and anxiety—all while fundraising for mental health resources. We are so stoked to have this conversation together all while raising funds that will go directly toward our Treatment Recovery Scholarship. The ability to keep our waitlist clear and say “yes” to as many people as possible is a game-changer. Mark your calendars. We’ll see you right here on Instagram, December 10th at 7:00 pm ET.
This year I spent some time catching up on books that I missed. Particularly some in those earlier parenting years where, let’s face it, reading doesn’t happen. I was enriched by almost every one, but some that stayed with me were MY METEORITE, FOSTER, LUCY BY THE SEA, STAY TRUE, TRUST, THE NIGHT WATCHMAN, NORTH WOODS, and THE BEST MINDS. Hope you had a good reading year! Lemme know what you loved. My Meteorite – Harry Dodge The Rabbit Hutch – Tess Gunty The Last American Man – Elizabeth Gilbert Foster – Claire Keegan The Swimmers – Julie Otsuka The Oldest Cure In The World – Steve Hendricks Starry Messenger – Neil deGrasse Tyson Dirtbag, Massachusetts – Isaac Fitzgerald When The Emperor Was Divine – Julie Otsuka The Psychopath Inside – Jim Fallon Lucy By The Sea – Elizabeth Strout The Buried Giant – Kazuo Ishiguro Finding The Mother Tree – Suzanne Simard The Buddha In The Attic – Julie Otsuka Companion Piece – Ali Smith Muppets In Moscow – Natasha Lance Rogoff Outline – Rachel Cusk Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow – Gabrielle Zevin The Human Machine – Arnold Bennett A Visit From The Goon Squad – Jennifer Egan Once Upon A Tome – Oliver Darkshire Nocturnes – Kazuo Ishiguro Silence – Shusaku Endo The Topeka School – Ben Lerner Stay True – Hua Hsu Saturday – Ian McEwan The Poisonwood Bible – Barbara Kingsolver The Librarianist – Patrick DeWitt Atonement – Ian McEwan Post Traumatic – Chantal V Johnson Imagine Me Gone – Adam Haslett Trust – Hernan Diaz Station Eleven – Emily St. John Mandel The Glass Hotel – Emily St. John Mandel The Sea Of Tranquility – Emily St. John Mandel The Night Watchman – Louise Erdrich Death Valley – Melissa Broder Summer – Ali Smith The Interestings – Meg Wolitzer Open Water – Caleb Azumah Nelson Planet Walker – John Francis North Woods – Daniel Mason Eastbound – Maylis de Kerangal The Best Minds – Jonathan Rosen
We want to see people get the help they’re asking for. We want people to feel like asking for help won’t lead to nowhere. We want a reality where therapy and resources are accessible. TWLOHA’s Treatment Recovery Scholarship tears down the financial barriers to therapy so that people can receive care without wondering how they’re going to pay for it. But this scholarship isn’t possible without support from you. The fundraiser attached to this post is being matched dollar for dollar through a partnership between TWLOHA and Mark Duplass. If we can raise $10k here on Instagram, that will be a total of $20k invested directly into treatment recovery. Your support has brought us so far, and we are so close to that milestone. Donate, share, and remind people that they are not alone in their fight. Hope is real and help is possible.
We want to see people get the help they’re asking for. We want people to feel like asking for help won’t lead to nowhere. We want a reality where therapy and resources are accessible. TWLOHA’s Treatment Recovery Scholarship tears down the financial barriers to therapy so that people can receive care without wondering how they’re going to pay for it. But this scholarship isn’t possible without support from you. The fundraiser attached to this post is being matched dollar for dollar through a partnership between TWLOHA and Mark Duplass. If we can raise $10k here on Instagram, that will be a total of $20k invested directly into treatment recovery. Your support has brought us so far, and we are so close to that milestone. Donate, share, and remind people that they are not alone in their fight. Hope is real and help is possible.
