It’s rare that someone makes me laugh – truly laugh from some primal part of my soul.  Sure, I’m good for a polite snicker or even a chuckle. A belly laugh? That’s rarely me. Then comes along a blogger like Allie Brosh, the popular author of “Hyperbole and a Half” and all my apathy, my impassiveness, my weariness at all of the attempts I find to be so banal immediately disappear. (Yes, I’m a little hard on comedy. That explains my love of improv. Wait, maybe it doesn’t. It might explain my sketch writing.)

With a few words and a poorly drawn stick figure, she can have me on the floor gasping for breath, tears rolling down my face. She’s absolutely amazing. She’s hysterical. She’s hilarious. Unfortunately, she also suffers from debilitating bouts of depression. For the last 18 months she’s been taking a break trying to cope with her illness, occasionally popping up briefly on forums while everyone waited for her return and worried.

Today she posted her first full length post speaking openly about her ongoing struggles with depression; her honestly has made me admire her that much more.

If you haven’t discovered her, let me introduce you to her – through her laughter, through her struggles and hardships:

Hyperbole and a Half