Zelda Williams, daughter of late actor and comedian Robin Williams, took to Instagram Sunday to talk about grief and how she has dealt with sadness and pain.
The Instagram post comes about a year after the death of her father, who lost his battle with depression on August 11, 2014.
In the caption, Williams talks about coming to a realization this past year, one that she felt “compelled to share” with her followers. She went on to talk about her own experience grappling with sadness and grief.
“Avoiding fear, sadness, or anger is not the same thing as being happy,” Williams wrote. “I live my sadness every day, but I don’t resent it anymore.”
Williams explained that her willingness to feel pain has allowed her to fully experience happiness in her life, as well.
“The wonderful moments of joy I do find are not in order to forget, but to inhabit and enjoy for their own sake,” Williams wrote.
The 26-year-old then reached out to anyone battling mental illness, offering support and sympathy.
“And for those suffering from depression, I know how dark and endless that tunnel can feel,” Williams wrote, “but if happiness seems impossible to find, please hold on to the possibility of hope, faint though it may be.”
An outpouring of gratitude for Williams’s words came in the days following her post. Many of those who commented shared personal stories of grief, loss, or battles with mental illness.
