Weaving together the worlds of psychology, creativity and feminist spirituality, I craft introspective and transformative therapeutic writing experiences - including every Friday for those on my email list. Subscribe and learn how to use writing to decrease stress, process your emotions and boost your spirits!
World Mental Health Day - with a vulnerable share <3
|
Hi Reader, Today is World Mental Health Day and I started my day at Ottawa City Hall for the Courageous Conversation with Politicians - part of the Dare To Be Vulnerable Project that is working to break down mental health stigma through the sharing of real people's stories. We heard about the anxiety, trauma, depression and insomnia that accompanies politicians through their lives and careers, exacerbated by their public facing role and social media. It was an inspiring, and vulnerable morning. A morning that solidified for me, once again, the value of being honest about our mental health. I then popped back to my partner's house and sat down to write this email, but decided to check my personal inbox first. In there was some upsetting news. Nothing disastrous, but I'd been feeling a bit like a dam about to burst all week.... and burst I did. I sobbed for 20 minutes in my boyfriend's arms (thank goodness he was working from home today!), and then it slowed. I felt myself calming. I curled up, nice and cozy. I breathed. I felt better. Still sad. Still tired. But no longer feeling the tension I'd been carrying the last few days. We need to be honest about our feelings. I could have stuffed them down again today. Told myself I wasn't disappointed and pushed on through, checking tasks off my list, looking strong. But acting weak. As I watched the politicians this morning I admired their bravery more than anything, their willingness to get up there and share the truth about what has happened to them and the ache they carry. And I was proud of myself when I walked out of the bedroom in tears and asked my sweetie to sit with me while I sobbed. We don't need to pretend the pain isn't there and we don't need to face it alone. We need safe places and safe people who can hold some of it with us, they relieve a little of our burden and we, a little of theirs. So on this Friday, World Mental Health Day and the start of the Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend, I give you two prompts inspired by all my emotions today: I feel safe when I...
I am grateful for...
And if you need more safe space to be real and honest, I encourage you to consider joining Sacred Pages. Take care, Reader, good care. Rest. Laugh. Cry when you need to. Stare at the trees. Notice the gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving, and World Mental Health Day <3 Parrish |
Parrish Wilson, MA
Weaving together the worlds of psychology, creativity and feminist spirituality, I craft introspective and transformative therapeutic writing experiences - including every Friday for those on my email list. Subscribe and learn how to use writing to decrease stress, process your emotions and boost your spirits!
Hi Reader, My Friday feel is.... tired, fulfilled, inspired, sleepy, empowered... Last night was the Businesswoman of the Year Award Gala in Ottawa, hosted by the Women's Business Network of Ottawa. I was on the Gala committee this past year, and felt a bit like a fish out of water. Most comfortable in sneakers and ponytail, getting dolled up can cause me a fair amount of anxiety. But, like so much anxiety, the fears never materialized and I did fine. I got a couple compliments on my outfit...
Reader, sometimes a month is a MOOD and I felt that this morning... Every second Friday I tend to the animals at my son's Forest School - 3 goats and a bunch of chickens - and on this crisp October morning the chickens weren't too keen to head out and needed encouragement. The goats though happily trotted to their paddock, playfully as always. Chickens, goats and kids running. The trees bursting with colour. Today is so October (well, until this afternoon when it's supposed to be like 28...
It's Friday, Reader! The weekend may not mean total rest and relaxation but let's try to give you a little more emotional space for the weekend, shall we? Yesterday I had the privilege of introducing a group of ex-convicts and addicts to the power of therapeutic writing. They really got into it, even the guy who told me he doesn't like writing, nor doing what people tell him to do. But by the end of the hour, he was super engaged and looking forward to our next class in a couple weeks. I make...