World Mental Health Day - with a vulnerable share <3
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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 Creative
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