When I think of Robin Williams, I smile.

I obviously didn’t know Robin Williams personally but I really felt like I did. He was one of those people that had an energy that just draws you in no matter how he gets to you. And once you have connected your energy to him, he has you for life. Comedians/funny people become so beloved by the people they connect with b/c the energy/emotions they cause are the greatest things about life. Laughter, happiness, joy, love, and for long periods of time. All it takes is to think about even 1 line or scene and all those emotions can come flooding back.

Every time. So many of my favourite movies were brought to life by his greatness; Jumanji, Mrs Doubtfire, Jack, Aladdin, Good Will Hunting, Patch Adams, Death to Smoochy, Hook. Even the ones not on the list are great but these meant the most to me. Take a look at each one and you begin to get an idea of just how special he was. He could take any character in any story, bring them to life and make them as real as the nose on your face. Jumanji is a story that only Robin Williams could bring to life, he always had this child-like enthusiasm in everything he did and that was exactly whats the character of Alan Parrish required. When he talked about Jumanji, it seemed like a real place. When he described what he heard and experienced, you believed every word. Even after multiple viewings, he could still engage you like it was the first time watching. I’m so thankful that we were given a place like the world in Jumanji to escape to for a couple hours.

One of his best and an all time classic, Ms Doubtfire may have been his finest work. His unbelievably amazing performance as Euphegenia Doubtfire kind of overshadows the masterful portrayal of Daniel Hillard. An extremely flawed character yet someone that you never stop rooting for, the light of Robin Williams shined through the character. Its a very tough thing to do to present a character with flaws like Hillard and keep the audience on his side. The whole movie you are hoping he will get everything together and get his family back, and even when he doesn’t, its ok bc its all about the kids and you feel how much he loves them. That’s a credit to the high level of talent Robin Williams had.
And of course the star of the movie, his performance as Ms Doubtfire. Just like she was to Sally Field and the kids, she is a real person to me. Sometimes as you’re watching its almost like you forget its Robin Williams under there and not a real person. There is a big difference between being good at playing a woman and actually becoming the woman character, I think the IRS tried to audit Mrs Doubtfire so you can guess which one Robin Williams crushed haha another one of those movies you can watch over and over but it still feels like the first time.

His performance as the Genie in Aladdin proved he didn’t need to actually be on the screen to steal the show and bring a character to life. The Genie was the perfect vessel for Robin Williams energy, he was hilarious and sweet and charasmatic and off the walls and everything the Genie character should be. His performance completes the movie and helps make it the classic it is. The second wasn’t the same without him and I was so happy when he came back for the third, he will live on forever as kids of all the coming generations see the Genie brought to life.

I could go on for days about the amazingness of his work but I just wanted to highlite a couple of my favorites. Not only was he an amazing actor but a hysterical stand up comedian. It was just last week we were on the golf course when we started quoting his hilarious routine on golf, big laughs every time. I don’t think I have got through his Broadway set without stopping to give myself a rest from laughing. Its a shame we wont get another special with his hilarious perspective on present day topics. Its more of a shame that his light and energy is gone from this world. A bit of him will live on in all the people he connected with over the years but losing a soul like Robin Williams is tragedy to the human race. I can’t imagine what the people that actually knew him are going through, my love and prayers go out to them.

I loved Robin Williams and it hurts to think time on earth is done. Take a look at his filmography, its packed with movies & characters that inspire imagination like dry brush to a wildfire. So much laughter and happiness follows Robin Williams every where his energy goes. I’m sure he already has the Heavens rolling with laughter.

Its crazy to think that someone that inspired those great emotions so strongly had so much trouble finding it for himself. I wish I would’ve given him back what he gave me so maybe he could have found peace on earth. Depression has no mercy, you could be the funniest, richest person in the world but it don’t mean a thing if you aren’t happy yourself. Some people have had things happen that denies them happiness and some don’t even know how to be happy. We take the emotion of happiness for granted, expect that it will come naturally and always be there. We don’t think that our own happiness needs to be worked on but the happy emotion is one of the most fragile emotions. If you don’t know what makes you truly happy, you may never find it. False happiness is what shows up and that is like getting diet when you ordered regular, it doesn’t replace it and makes you miss the real thing even more. Some of us might be in situations where we can’t just change things at the drop of a hat to find happiness, then we have to figure out where it is in our current situation. Needle in a haystack sometimes but rest assured there is a needle out there. God will always give you a chance to be happy, just some of us have to fight harder for it than others. So to anyone reading this, don’t you ever give up. Ask for help, be vulnerable. Lean on me, when you’re not strong. If you don’t think you know how to find your own happiness, that’s when you need to talk to someone. If you dont feel you have anyone, paying to talk professionally can sometimes be the best option bc you have the freedom to be totally raw and open an honest without worrying about offending people or blowing up your life. An outside perspective is sometimes exactly what we need to recognize what we have been missing. Talking to someone is not weak, running and hiding and being afraid to rip the scabs off so you can heal properly is weak. Once you figure out what you’re missing, go after it and don’t let anything or anyone stop you. If somebody is against what make you truly happy, they probably weren’t meant to be a big part of your life. Being happy doesn’t hurt people.

Were all unique, nobody becomes truly happy the exact same way but we do have people that share a close connection to our happiness, those are the people that should be the closest in your life. It can be tough and harsh doing what needs to be done to be happy but you can’t let bad ppl bring you down. Life is too short and you have too much to risk. But hopefully as we start to discuss depression more openly, we can all start healing together and nobody has to be pushed out of our lives. Whether Robin Williams died of suicide or not, he was suffering from depression and we need to use the impact of his death to help as many people as possible. If we do then he did not die in vain, through this and his life’s work his legacy of providing laughter, happiness, and imagination will live on stronger than ever.

I still can’t believe he is gone but I def won’t forget him. One day I’ll watch Jumanji with my own kids and tell them the legend of the man who could make anyone laugh. I’ll tell them about all the places he helped me visit. I’ll use what I learned from his comedy to make people laugh. And when I think of Robin Williams, I’ll smile. Love you, Goodbye and God Bless.

RIP Robin Williams – 1951-2014