Depression, Gratitude, and Seeking Joy.

Ronda Miller, Dean of Student Affairs at Lansing Community College, shares her story of life as a kid through high school, college, adulthood, and finally into a career as a leader for student services. She shares what life was like as a kid of the 70s, and that she was expected to go to college after high school graduation. Her first attempt at college ended early, and she had to regroup to restart after working through some major life challenges. Part of her motivation for that restart was to be a role model for others. She earned degrees in family life education with the intention of serving others, and as a dean she sees her work as supporting a large “family” human ecosystem.

Ronda talks about the importance of self-care, and the utility of compartmentalizing her roles in life to maintain balance. She shares that her diagnosis of depression led her to appreciate that she could not control everything in her life, and that she needed support, including pharmacological support, to pursue her passions. She dispels the myth that people who are successful are living a storybook life. She shares some of her core personal self-care practices that she relies on to stay in touch with her joy.

1. Treatment Approaches for Major Depressive Disorder, Mayo Clinic.
2. Impact of Gratitude Practice on Mental Health, NAMI.