Robin Williams’ genius has been immortalized in many of his films. The world will know him forever as the teacher who inspired a generation to scream carpe diem, the professor who showed irresistible brilliance and social standing, and the nanny who left no doubt that a parent’s love knows no bounds. As audiences remember the energy and talent that underpinned the Oscar winner’s legacy, his eldest son, Zach Williams, remembers the unconditional love and support of a father who wanted to find his children. happiness.
On a recent episode of the Daily Warrior Podcast for Men, we talk to Zach about his father, his humanitarian work, and more. In this article, we look at what it was like growing up with a famous father, what he learned about happiness, and how he turned unimaginable pain into a relentless goal.
Create a natural state of chaos
As children, we believe that each person’s life mirrors our own, even when our experiences are far from average.
Zach is a great example. “I have seen [movie] Sets, the various actors on screen, and I thought it was… all part of a natural experience, he says.
Although his father was a movie star, his parents raised him away from the bright lights of Hollywood.
“I grew up in San Francisco, there was [separation] Between everything that’s happening in my father’s career and our home life,” says Zack.
Whether living there was about his parents’ love of the Bay Area or cementing the family’s normal life, it was undoubtedly a quieter upbringing. In the end, their cause is less important than the effect, which is what Zack describes as a “normal childhood.”
Do what makes you happy
There is an expectation that children of celebrities will follow in the footsteps of their parents or succeed in another profitable profession. While some of that pressure is external, especially in today’s social media culture, a lot of that expectation comes from parents who believe their children’s success reflects on them. Choosing a career is one of life’s most important decisions; When people choose a career based on earning potential approval or parental approval, they often find themselves trapped in unfulfilled jobs.
Some people know what they want to do early in life, while others take longer to find their goal. While Zach took some time to define his passion, he always knew that his father wanted him to be happy.
“There is happiness on the superficial level, and then there is happiness that is deep, meaningful and fulfilling,” says Zack. “[As] The evolution of my definition of happiness … I discovered that service is my path to happiness,” he adds.
recovery journey
On August 11, 2014, Robin died by suicide after silently suffering from Lewy body dementia, a brain disease that affects a person’s thinking, memory, and mobility. Shocked by his father’s death and his dealings with several personal issues, Zac’s own struggle with alcohol came to the fore. He continued to self-medicate for years before realizing, “I can’t go on with this and [expect] for a happy result.
Zack wasn’t alone on his recovery journey. Old friend Olivia John helped him find his way back and showed him the importance of self-care.
“You helped me understand that [I wasn’t] Take care of myself and that I need to look at what I was doing [each] Today and reset about that,” says Zach. “We were just friends at the time…but we soon found out we were destined to start a life together,” he adds.
After getting married on World Mental Health Day 2020, the couple started working with the founding of PYM (Prepare Your Mind). The company’s website states, “PYMThe company’s mission is to provide safe, natural, and effective mental health products to enhance self-care and end the stigma surrounding mental health.”
Finding the purpose
Richard Branson famously said, “There is nothing greater you can do in your life and work than to pursue your passion in a way that serves the world.” After five years of sobriety, Zack now realized that following his passion for service was essential to his recovery and recovery. An advocate for mental health issues, Zack works to spread awareness about suicide prevention. He believes that our nation should change its approach to suicide, saying, “We have to lift the blame; people will not seek help, especially family and friends, when there is stigma attached to it.”
In August, Zack began educating millions of listeners about suicide prevention as a special correspondent on ask for help Audio notation. The four-part series, which he co-produced with Lemonada Media, takes a look at the newly launched edition. 988 Suicide and lifeline crises and the challenges facing the mental health system in America.
“the purpose [of 988] is to help direct people to a more contextual model of care,” says Zack. Many people avoid mental health services for fear that they will invoke a law enforcement response. Zack explains that calling 988 connects those in emotional crises with trained mental health professionals, not the police.
Although his path was tough, every hardship Zach faced along the way prepared him to be an effective defender and make a lasting difference. While Robert Brault did not write the following passage with Zach in mind, the author’s words seem prophetic to his experience: “Sometimes in tragedy we find the purpose of life. The eye sheds a tear to find its focus.”
If you or someone you love is contemplating suicide or experiencing emotional distress, please call 988. This nationwide service is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The 988 Suicide and lifeline crisis It is a national network of local crisis centers that provide emotional support and are committed to improving services through empowering people, developing professional best practices and building awareness.
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