J.K. Rowling tweeted this moving and personal message to a fan struggling with depression, and we love her more than ever
Author J.K. Rowling is beloved by so many people just for creating the Harry Potter series, but here’s yet another reason to love her. This week, Rowling tweeted a heartfelt message to a fan struggling with depression, and even though this is hardly the first time she’s reached out to her fans on social media, it’s a perfect reminder of how she has always used her influence and her platform for good.
Rowling has always been super active on Twitter, so it’s no surprise that she wanted to be there for a fan of Harry Potter when she needed it most. The fan, Sally Burns, said in a tweet that she was having a hard time with her depression, so she was rereading the series to help her get through the rough patch, adding her thanks to the author for creating such a magical world for people to escape into when they need a break from real life. Most Potter fans can definitely agree that the series is especially good at that, right?
And Rowling’s response? Not only did she remind Burns to “keep that Patronus powerful,” but she also added that writing the Harry Potter books was helpful to her, too, when she was going through a similarly difficult time.
Dragging myself through another bout of severe #depression and re-reading the #HarryPotter series to strengthen my Patronus. A million thanks to @jk_rowling for the magical escape that's always there when it's needed ?
— Sally Burns (@joosylemon) March 19, 2018
Those stories saved their author, too. Nothing makes me happier than to think that they went out into the world to do the same for other people. Keep that Patronus powerful ? https://t.co/d9ByD4WtCo
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 19, 2018
Then, when another fan responded asking Rowling what she reads when she’s going through a hard time, this is what Rowling said:
I grew up with your stories and they’ve always helped me through tough times, but besides the stories of your own making, I can’t help but to wonder which ones you turned to when going through a tough time yourself.
— Sara (@skummelhummel) March 19, 2018
To tell you the truth, when I'm really stressed or overwhelmed I turn to biographies of people who've led turbulent lives. I find it soothing and inspiring to read about people who've endured and overcome. https://t.co/oGDFHH5dzG
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 19, 2018
That’s actually some really solid advice. Sometimes, all you need is a little inspiration to keep going, and reading about someone who has overcome incredible obstacles (like Rowling herself, now that we think about it) can often be exactly what you need to realize how capable you really are of surviving whatever it is you’re going through.
It’s great to see that Rowling reached out to Burns, and hopefully her sweet message will help her and the many other fans who read Rowling’s responses. If you ever need a little boost, look no further than J.K. Rowling’s Twitter. Somehow, she always knows just the right thing to say.
