Re “Poor Wreck That I Am” in the April 21 issue, GM had this to say: 

“Thanks for that piece, Mark. I too have suffered from depression and anxiety since my late 20s. To this day I still wonder how I was able to start and operate a business for 30 years, have employees, sell said business, and yet, after all that, still appear to be very ‘successful’ to the outside (however success is defined these days). The ‘am I worthy’ or am I suffering from the ‘imposter syndrome’ always haunted me. I wondered when I would be found out. It is only in the last few years that I am becoming more comfortable with myself despite being a crotchety 73-year-old worrying if my comb-over is noticeable to anyone. Catholic upbringing perhaps? I always knew I was not alone.”

My Response: I get it. You could divide the world into three groups: people that never get depressed; people that get depressed but not clinically depressed and so believe depression = sadness, and people that know what real depression is.

Here’s a piece I wrote on the subject after my last serious bout.

From AS, re “A New Rule for Discussing Economics” in the April 25 issue: 

“I liked your comments about capitalism.

“When I owned my restaurants, I always had people come up to me and say things like, ‘I should open a restaurant. I’m a great cook and my friends love my food.” Or, ‘You have a gold mine here.’

“It was crystal clear to me that those people had no idea what went into running a business, let alone restaurants. Your companions that day reminded me of all the people who think you unlock the door and then count your money at the end of the day.”