by Britt Lyle, contributor
Anyone who’s struggled to follow their dreams, make their way through life or just exist has once, twice or even thrice in their life had some sort of crisis has asked his/herself, “What the hell am I doing with my life? Is this where I want to me? Where am I gonna end up?” Donald Glover has reached this point in his life now.
Recently, Glover posted seven separate photos on his Instagram confessing his deepest fears and insecurities about himself, his life and his future. As if he was compelled to reach for a nearby notepad to express his thoughts, he wrote, “I’m afraid of the future,” “I’m scared I’ll never reach my potential,” “I feel like I’m letting everyone down,” “I got really lost last year.” How could any reader not feel for this guy? I found these scribblings nothing less than profound and was quite humbled that Glover was brave enough to share this side of himself with his fans and the world. After reading his post, I wanted to give him a hug, buy him a drink, tell him everything is going to be okay and life just gets hard sometimes.
Childish Gambino, Glover’s rapper persona, is no stranger to sharing his emotions in lyric form with songs like “Be Alone,” “Never Going Back,” “Glory,” or his most blatant title “F*** It All.” However, Childish Gambino was not the author of these notes. This was Donald Glover raw, exposed, pensive and perhaps in need of a good friend. However, online news outlets suggested that Glover is on the verge of a breakdown or clinically depressed. I vehemently disagree. Granted, I don’t know the guy or what he has experienced, but I don’t believe that having a profound personal moment or deciding to share feelings equals depression.
Characteristics of clinical depression include fatigue, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, lack of concentration, insomnia, hypersomnia and even thoughts of suicide. Glover doesn’t convey anything like that in his messages. Besides, who hasn’t felt guilty, worthless and fearful of the future at some point in their life? Any person who hasn’t felt that way, I wonder what he/she has been doing with his/her time. It’s okay to have a crisis or three in life without being depressed. It’s how we re-evaluate where we’ve been, where we’re headed and where we wanna go. Can we just let the man have his moment please?
In the past seven years, Glover has gone from getting his start with Derrick Comedy on YouTube, to being a writer with occasional bit parts for the comedy show “30 Rock,” to becoming a stand up comedian, to releasing seven mixtapes and one studio album with another to be released in December of this year. He accomplished all of this during his spare time when he wasn’t guest-starting for Cartoon Network’s “Adventure Time” and “Regular Show” and starring as Troy Barnes in “Community,” which he quit to start his own show called “Atlanta.” This man went from obscurity to a becoming a successful actor/comedian/rapper trifecta overnight and the world wonders why he has doubts and fears like the rest of us? I ponder if Glover has really sat down to process how blessed his life is. I hope he has.
One thing his post has revealed is that fame, success and realizing your dreams doesn’t make your worries go away. If anything, success might enhance those worries. Glover has proven that he is just like every other person trying to make it and follow his own path. Childish Gambino is just like us.