Wife, mom of 3 beautiful children, dog lover, creative sole and children's book Author. Sharing my journey with depression and anxiety through blogging in hopes of educating and ending the stigma.
A large part of my healing journey, especially over the last few years, has been learning ways to cope with and escape from my past traumas and present day struggles that continue to allow others, undeserving others that is, to steal my mental energy and take up valuable space in my head.
Healing is hard. It’s been a constant battle. I am easily overwhelmed and triggered on a daily basis, but I made a promise to myself to work at being more gentle on myself. I’m learning ways for which I can protect that prime real estate in my head from the unwanted squatters. Nourishing it by surrounding myself with people who I know will only add value to my precious property and knowing that it’s more than okay to serve eviction notices where necessary.
Today, I went for a swim at my mother in law’s condo. I dipped my feet first before diving in, drowning out all the squatters who try to steal my mental energy and take up undeserving rent-free space in my head.
Today is Bell Lets Talk Day in Canada. It’s now in its 15th year.
This year’s initiative is prioritizing the ever-growing mental health crisis amongst our youth.
An initiative I am most passionate about in my advocacy projects.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among our young people.
Struggles with anxiety, depression, bullying, loneliness, eating disorders, and peer pressure are leading to more and more suicides among adolescents, teenagers, and young adults than ever before.
It is no secret that our adolescents, teenagers, and young adults today are experiencing many more struggles and issues in regard to their mental well-being than ever before. It is widespread, universal, and prevalent in every age group that I have mentioned above. Statistics have proven that technology and social media have magnified their struggles at an alarming rate, and evidence shows that their constant consumption of these platforms is affecting how they learn, sleep, communicate, and even show kindness.
Many of our youth may be hesitant or too ashamed to tell someone they are struggling for fear they will feel misunderstood or worry that a loved one or trusted adult will become angry or disappointed with them; or begin to judge them as well. Some however may choose to share their secret though, usually with a peer, even to go so far as to ask them not to tell anyone else which may sometimes become quite burdensome to their confidant without even realizing it.
Let’s all make a promise today to make meaningful change and support normalizing the conversation surrounding mental health. “Let’s all keep talking and taking action to create real change for mental health.” ~Bell Lets Talk
You can start today by texting “YOUTH” to 45678 in Canada to donate $5. Bell Canada will match every contribution.
They span across every culture, every environment, every belief, and every language.
They are gentle reminders of our shared humanity, a kind gesture, a special bond, or a welcomed comfort; and the best part of all is that hugs are always free.
Celebrate “National Hugging Day” today with a warm embrace, just because.
“A perfect marriage is just two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other.” ~ Author Kate Stewart.
Every year on January 19th, I am reminded of the day I was finally discharged from my first of many (long-term) hospital stays thanks to my Facebook memories.
It was on that cold winter’s day, January 19th, 2015 that I returned home from the hospital after spending an exhausting three (plus) months in the Psychiatric Ward at Sunnybrook Hospital; which included many trials and tribulations with medications and a failed attempt at 8 sessions of ECT (Electroconvulsive Treatment). It was a time in my life that, to this day, I can honestly say are still some of the darkest days of my journey thus far.
I am also reminded today just how much I don’t need perfection, I just need someone who won’t give up on me which I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say, almost 11 years into my mental health journey and a few short months shy of our 30th wedding anniversary this coming May, that I found that person.
No marriage comes without its challenges. Conflict is inevitable. Boundaries imperative. But a healthy marriage will thrive on the acceptance of one another’s imperfections and have the ability to embrace each other’s flaws, giving space for the other person to feel safe and secure enough to express themselves without the fear of judgment or rejection. Compassion and understanding help to create both a nurturing and deeper connection.
NO marriage is perfect. But when we acknowledge, accept and even embrace each other’s imperfections and vulnerabilties we open our hearts up to sacrifice, tolerance, forgiveness, unconditional love, and a willingness to work through the difficult storms together.
Thank you to my Facebook memories today for reminding me all the reasons why I fell in love with you all those years ago, Rich. Thank you, Rich, for showing me that I am enough. Thank you for your strength and resilience. Thank you for your continued and unwavering commitment to our family and for your refusal to ever give up on me and our imperfectly perfect marriage. I am forever grateful.
“Imperfection is not a weakness but a source of beauty, growth, and resilience.”~unknown
Mental breakdowns are somewhat of a daily occurrence for me, but no matter what the challenge or stressor is that I am facing in the moment, I need to keep reminding myself to fill my own cup first. We all know that it’s impossible to pour from an empty cup, so we must learn to fill our own cup first in order to allow others to benefit from our overflow.
So, as we start a new week, let’s remember that it’s okay to lean into your emotions. It’s okay to feel your feelings. Trust in the process.
Everyone is allowed to have bad days. Just promise me, though, that even on the bad days, you keep filling your cup.
Behind every smile, there is often a story of personal struggle, but that same smile can also deeply impact a connection, influence another’s behaviour, and foster warmth and comfort.
Smiles are contagious.
They unify us.
It only takes a moment, and it costs nothing to you, but to its recipient, well, it may just be the most valuable gift in the world to them.
As we light the Menorah on this, the last night of Chanukkah, it feels especially symbolic to watch the candles burn brightly one final time this year as we embark on the start of a brand new calendar year.
The Menorah not only signifies light over darkness but according to Jewish belief, the last night of Chanukkah is also when the miracle of the “Festival of Lights” occurred, making tonight feel like a perfect opportunity to pause and reflect on what I want to leave behind from the past year and what I will truly embrace more of in the coming year. It may take a miracle, but today, as I look toward the light, I feel up for the challenge.
2024 has been another really difficult year for me, but I know that by doing whatever I can in my heart to release the things that have been weighing me down will help to create more space for growth, emotional healing, gratitude, moments of joy, balance, clarity, connection and understanding of my “why”.
Thank you again for coming along with me on another crazy year of my journey. May your light continue to shine brighter and stronger than ever before in 2025, and may the year ahead also bring our hostages home, bestowing many miracles upon them, their families, and the State of Israel.
“Manifest” has been declared 2024’s “word of the year”,
Although the word itself is as old as time, it has only become a popular buzz word in more recent years thanks to the many celebrities, mindset coaches and influencers channeling their dreams out into to the universe on their social media platforms.
According to the Cambridge dictionary, manifest means to use methods such as visualization and affirmation to “help you imagine achieving something you want, in the belief that doing so will make it more likely to happen,”
To “manifest” our dreams and successes is actually backed by real science.
My girls can both attest to this with proven results this past year that it really works and has made me a believer.
Our brains have the remarkable power to help get you what you truly desire in life. It’s about believing. It’s about changing the narrative. It’s about directing your energy in a positive way to make it happen. It’s about setting clear intentions to influence behaviours and outcomes.
But there are specific steps needed first in order for someone to achieve their goal that creates a process where results get embedded into our subconscious mind.
Writing it down. Reading it aloud. Reading it silently. Visualizing it. These are all equally important steps.
What happens, though, when someone like myself tries to manifest? When you have a brain built around a negative self-talk narrative and rumination or when you believe you are not good enough or deserving enough. That our fears lead us to believe we are not adequate enough. What happens when you repeat these stories over and over again to yourself?
Well, the good news is that neuroscientists still believe there is hope for me. Neuroscience 101 tells me that we all have the ability to master the art of manifestation. It won’t happen overnight, though. It means putting in the work. And time. Again and again, and again, because it’s only through our actions that we will accomplish all that we want.
Heading into a new year, I never set myself up for further failure by setting New Year’s resolutions, but I will be focusing my efforts on methods such as visualization and affirmation to help me imagine achieving something I want more than ever, with the belief that doing so will make it more likely to happen (my friends and family reading this will know exactly what is top of mind for me right now!).
What is something you are manifesting for yourself in 2025? Write it in the comments because, after all, that is the first step.
YouAreEnough 
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