A letter to you, in honor of World Mental Health Day

Dear?Reader,?

Hi. My name is Heather.?You may know?me, or we could be totally unknown to one another. Quick?snapshot?of me: I am a?daughter, a sister, a niece, a granddaughter, an auntie, a friend, a partner, a?business-woman, a?board member, a colleague, an employee and generally an optimistic person. I am often described by my close friends and family as having a 'loud face'… let's just say, playing poker with me is well, predictable.?I love reading historical non-fiction (usually women’s historical figures) and traveling is my love language. One of my favorite quotes by Brené Brown , “Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity"?speaks to my inspiration for writing this. And in the spirit of that quote I am going to be vulnerable with you: I am someone with diagnosed depression and anxiety. I experience anxiety on a daily basis, depressive black holes on occasion and have spent years in therapy to build my toolbox of resources, coping skills and support to be able to show up in my life and thrive.?Now that we are better acquainted,?this is a letter to you,?in honor of World Mental?Health Day which was October 10, 2021, and I hope my words inspire you to feel safe in your own vulnerability.??

The pandemic really did a number on us. We lost people. So many people... We lost moments and experiences. We lost time together. We may have felt we lost a piece of ourselves. I know I certainly?have felt that. I realized that I was waiting for it to ‘be over’ and?to?‘go back to normal’ only catching on in the last few months,?that?there is no "going back." And this isn’t ending.?At least not in the final "this is done" way, where?we thought we would wake up one day and it would be?a thing of the past.?We are merely phased into a new existence. It is still unfolding for us. That is an unsettling reality for me, and I venture, for many of you,?as well.??

So, my dear?reader, something that's become?apparent?to me over the past few years?and?especially since this all began, is that as I?am?more?open?and vulnerable with?sharing?my mental health journey, the easier it becomes for others to talk about theirs.?I?have chosen to?be?as?honest?on?the?dark, low days as?I am on?the lighter,?high?days and all?that comes?with it (anxiety,?feeling?overwhelmed,?self-doubt,?depression, grief-we are all grieving for so much that has been lost).?And let me be clear, I am not an expert in mental health. Our nation, the world, has faced an immense unearthing of truth. We need each other more than ever, and yet we are still finding more ways?than ever to create separation. That separation is deeply concerning. It is not new.?We have a long history of pain, much of it in the shadows and simply ignored for fear of what?it means.?No, I am not an expert and please do not take what I say as advice or?what should be?your truth. This is about?finding a way to share the?message: you are not alone.?I’ll reiterate that throughout.?

This letter is not about my mental health, it is?not about being back in an office, or?even?about the post-?pandemic world we live in.?This is about our collective experiences?as emotional beings.?My hope is that you are reading this and?absorbing the somatic message, you are not alone.?The ebb and flows of good and bad days, feeling like we should be ‘moving on’ but somehow there is a lethargy in your spirit or motivation… Me too.?Maybe you are nodding your head, feeling a bit of the weight in your chest releasing as you take a deep breath in and exhale slowly, fully.?You are not alone in this chaotic emotional upheaval happening in you, around you or that you are bearing witness to.?

Let's take a moment together. Take a breath.

Breathe with intention to calm the nervous system.

I invite you to breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 5 seconds and exhale for 6 seconds.

Re-settle into yourself.

I want to?acknowledge?the?insidiousness within?our?culture?that?errs?toward?isolating,?‘othering’?and creating shame around asking for help. Rather than a?perception of weakness, I see?and feel the shift where vulnerability is strength; our stories of truth, a connection point.?I want to help illuminate the path we can?all?take to empowering one another to acknowledge all aspects of ourselves;?our most confident?‘I can do anything’?moments?to?the ‘I don’t want to get out of bed’ moments.?I see opportunities for us to foster more togetherness, fulfillment and belonging?even in this virtual?and digital world.?

We need more connection through our stories more than ever. Hopefully?your?curiosity is piqued, your soul feels (just a bit) lighter,?and we can all move through our days a little better.?We are in this together as?we sort through the collective pain, trauma, loss, anger, grief, anxiety,?depression,?and millions of other emotions that have been so?prevalent in our daily lives?in a way?many of us have not experienced before.?And?so,?I leave you with this once more: you are not alone.?

With love, gratitude and the deep knowing that we are more than any single "thing" that tries to define us...?Heather?

If you or a loved one is in crisis please reach out for help, here are some resources - there are many more and often local resource options available to you in your community.

Emergency Medical Services—911 If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hours a day.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or?Live Online Chat If you or someone you know is suicidal or in emotional distress, contact the?National Suicide Prevention Lifeline . Trained crisis workers are available to talk?24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your confidential and toll-free call goes to the nearest crisis center in the Lifeline national network. These centers provide crisis counseling and mental health referrals.

SAMHSA Treatment Referral Helpline, 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727) Get general information on mental health and locate treatment services in your area. Speak to a live person, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.