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How strong is your support system?

It can be fascinating to listen to my various friends and family that I reach out to, in their words of wisdom and empathy as they hear about my struggles. Interesting because each one of them is different than the other. The message may be the same, but the approach and tone is very different. This is why a strong support system needs to consist of various people, various outlets, and a variety of personalities. Because a strong support system will get you through all obstacles in your way. Types of Support As many of us do, part of my …

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Life of a working man (woman)

There are 24 hours a day. That is 24 hours to try to fit in sleeping, eating, working, maybe school, taking care of the family, and if you can find the time, taking care of yourself. On average, reported time spent in America working is between 34-38 hours a week. I emphasized that this is what is reported through payrolls. Because if you ask some of your friends, I bet you will find some working less and some working much more. So on average we are spending over one-third of our daily lives at work. And here is the question…do …

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Never easy to understand grief

I came across an article from PsychCentral that was titled “9 Different Types of Grief”. I had not even read the article, and the title alone opened a flood of emotions. Grief is something we all go through many times in our lives. But do we really understand grief and how we are able to cope through it? Honestly, I thought I did. Until last year. When I was made aware of grief I had not even considered. Defining Grief When you hear the word “grief”, many think of the loss of a loved one. Whether family or friend. That …

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Another Year is Another Chance

In just a few days we are going to say goodbye to 2022 and hello to the new year. If you are like me, these last 365 days have tested you, pushed you, blind-sided you, and maybe even lifted you. But the best thing about 2022, if you are sitting there reading this now, the best thing is…you survived! It is another year you survived and now you are being given another chance. The Old Year I was talking with a friend recently when I admitted that this year, I have changed in so many ways. The past year, I …

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Tis the season to be worried

Tis the season to be jolly. Well, more like tis the season to be anxious, worried, happy, and peaceful. As we are getting closer to the Christmas holiday and so many cultural and religious holidays throughout the next weeks, this is the time that we think about our family and friends. The pressure of finding the right gift, scheduling the dinners and parties, traveling between homes to make sure everyone is visited. The winter holidays are meant to be a time to sit back and enjoy your family. Instead, there are so many of us that are running around, barely …

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Emotional intelligence will provide the way through

This week has been filled with laughter, enlightenment, and stress. Celebrating with coworkers for the holidays, planning my travel to see family soon, and a class at work that struck a chord in me. As I have told my coworkers this week, we all leave fingerprints on the lives we interact with. And this week, those fingerprints mean so much more. Intelligence at work The week started off with a class at work about emotional intelligence. Now, this was focused heavier in the workplace, but there were several points that I couldn’t help but reflect in my personal life too. …

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Carry your legacy through footprints of life

The year is getting closer to closing out. A few years ago, I decided to start work on myself and my mental health. This year has come with some of my greatest challenges and struggles with a few accomplishments tossed in. The weight of the world kept rushing in to try to stop me. But each day I still got out of bed. I went into work. Finished my schoolwork. And then continued to take care of my family. So many friends and family telling me about how strong I was. Yet, constantly feeling weak. What do I want to …

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The weight of winter time on us all.

This time of the year is one of my favorites. The winter season brings colder temperatures, possible rain or snow. The holidays we celebrate that bring our families and friends closer. Then there are all of the lights and smells of the season. Lights on the houses as we drive by, scenes of merriment. Smells of cocoa and cider with a touch of peppermint. Winter has always been one of my favorite times of the year. But there are so many people in the world that find this time to be one of the hardest. Harsh of winter Seasonal depression …

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Always thankful for another day!

The holiday season is coming fast. Almost seems faster each year. Today we are celebrating Thanksgiving here in the US. Everyone is talking about all they are thankful for. Roofs over their heads. Food on the table. Money in the account. Friends and family that we love. Thankful for our health. Every year trying to teach our kids about being thankful for what they have instead of focusing on the objects they don’t. Thankful for… Let me ask you something. Have you ever been thankful for your mental health? Thankful for making it through another day to see the sunshine? …

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Understanding depression a little better.

It doesn’t matter if you are young, old, male, female, or what race you are. Depression can find its way into your life. But it is, like everything else we encounter, how we handle, embrace, or ignore our depression or someone else’s. I was about to write that there is no right or wrong way to handle depression, but that is not entirely true. However, there are positive and negative ways. That is what will determine the end result. Depression Types Depression does not just hit when you experience something that makes you sad. There are several types of depression. …