Robin Williams’ Daughter Posts Powerful Message About Depression

When much-loved comedian Robin Williams passed away in 2014, the world was rocked.  A year after the Hollywood star was found dead in his apartment, his daughter Zelda has penned a powerful message and shared it on her Instagram. Opening up about depression and grief, the 26-year-old spoke about finding "moments of joy" through the pain.

Moonrise on the lake ? I spent this night shivering and laughing under a clear, cold sky full of stars with people I love just to witness something beautiful. We mooned the moon and laughed ourselves hoarse, and I'm so incredibly grateful for every silly second. I came to a realization this year that I feel compelled to share here, for whomsoever may need it: Avoiding fear, sadness or anger is not the same thing as being happy. I live my sadness every day, but I don't resent it anymore. Instead, I do it now so that the wonderful moments of joy I do find are not in order to forget, but to inhabit and enjoy for their own sake. It's not easy. In fact, I'd say it takes much more effort to consciously do than it does to just stay sad, but with all my heart, I cannot tell you how worth it it is. And for those suffering from depression, I know how dark and endless that tunnel can feel, but if happiness seems impossible to find, please hold on to the possibility of hope, faint though it may be. Because I promise you, there're enough nights under the same yellow moon for all of us to share, no matter how or when you find your way there.

A photo posted by Zelda Williams (@zeldawilliams) on Sep 5, 2015 at 12:13pm PDT

Zelda wrote: "I spent this night shivering and laughing under a clear, cold sky full of stars with people I love just to witness something beautiful," she wrote. "We mooned the moon and laughed ourselves hoarse, and I'm so incredibly grateful for every silly second." "I came to a realization this year that I feel compelled to share here, for whomsoever may need it: Avoiding fear, sadness or anger is not the same thing as being happy. I live my sadness every day, but I don't resent it anymore. Instead, I do it now so that the wonderful moments of joy I do find are not in order to forget, but to inhabit and enjoy for their own sake." Zelda is a daughter to Robin and his second wife, Marsha Garces.  "It's not easy. In fact, I'd say it takes much more effort to consciously do than it does to just stay sad, but with all my heart, I cannot tell you how worth it it is." "And for those suffering from depression, I know how dark and endless that tunnel can feel, but if happiness seems impossible to find, please hold on to the possibility of hope, faint though it may be. "Because I promise you, there're enough nights under the same yellow moon for all of us to share, no matter how or when you find your way there."