Mental Health, Honest Conversations, and Hope

Finding Rainbows Through Life’s Storms

Hey everyone, Let’s get real for a minute. Mental health. Anxiety. Depression. These weren’t always dinner table topics, were they? But hey, it took the tragic loss of Robin Williams to spark a wider conversation. Maybe your journey started differently, but for me, that’s when things shifted.

Suddenly, people were noticing. Respecting. Saying it out loud, not whispering behind hands. No more “something’s wrong with her” or the fear of being labeled for admitting you felt “off.”

But honestly? I still feel the label sometimes. Different. Like the girl with the scarlet letter when people learn about my anxiety. It’s just a feeling, but it lingers.

Here’s the thing: today, the anxiety and a touch of depression hit. No shame. We all have challenges. After a grueling 12-hour day, no lunch, and forgotten prescriptions (been there!), I emerged from my work dungeon (can we all relate?) as the sun dipped below the horizon. Exhausted. Defeated. Wishing for a deserted island escape.

Baffling, right? But the truth is, my loved ones need this life we’ve built. They’re happy, and that matters. They don’t lie awake with tight chests or restless minds. But I do. The pressure to succeed, keep up, and be “good at everything” weighs heavy. The feeling of never being enough? Constant.

And then, today, it hit us hard – financially. My fault. My responsibility to fix it, even if it kills me (figuratively, of course). I leaped, a risk for less stress and more “me” time. More blogging, more Amazon dreams, more life. It hasn’t blossomed yet, and the anxiety claws at me. Did I make a mistake?

Mindfulness Checklist

4 Tips to ask yourself daily to live a happier and healthier Life!

• Practice mindfulness: Pay attention to your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations without judgment.
• Identify your triggers: What situations or events tend to exacerbate your mental health struggles?
• Develop coping mechanisms: What healthy activities help you manage difficult emotions and situations?
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle: This includes getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods, and exercising regularly.
• Connect with supportive people: Talk to trusted friends, family members, or a therapist about how you’re feeling.

Looking back, the research, the learning, the creating – yeah, I enjoy it. It’s rewarding. But like many paths, mine’s been paved with missteps and gambles. Remember those “make millions blogging” guides? Yeah, about that… (don’t worry, I’ll share my failures in another post to save you the heartache!).

But back to today. My employee, facing her own health battles, confided in me. Breaking down, unseen, unheard. Not by me, the “new boss.” It wasn’t anything I did, she admitted. It’s the fear, the insecurity, the feeling of falling apart.

Her words hit me harder than the financial woes. Was I the blind boss, missing the signs? Me, of all people? It’s a sobering lesson: sometimes, people hide their struggles well. We can never truly know what another soul carries. It’s both beautiful and terrifying.

Instead of wallowing, I did what I preach: I wrote. This post, is filled with hope and grace. A reminder that we all face storms, but rainbows follow the rain.

So, my friends, let’s keep the conversation going. Share your struggles, victories, and journey to finding your rainbow. We’re in this together, one imperfect, vulnerable step at a time.

Here’s to rainbows and brighter days!