I’ve spent a good chunk of my weekend fostering love and expressing gratitude.Â
My new venture “a gentle reminder” which I launched a week ago has felt both purposeful and meaningful. So much of my heart has gone into making each handcrafted, one-of-a-kind orders I’ve received thus far.Â
I hope that it will bring a smile to your face every time you wear yours and that it will also help make someone else’s day a little bit brighter too.Â
Thank you to everyone (and especially Rich) who continue to support me on my journey. I feel truly blessed.
Attached are some of the many designs I was so honoured to create this weekend. If you would like to place an order please message me directly or email me at: youthareenough@gmail.comÂ
*A portion of sales are donated to youth mental health
Music can help to de-stress us during difficult situations, it can help lift our mood, it can help ground us and it can help take us away to another dimension.
Music is an expression of our inner selves and deep emotions. It can be extemely mezmerizing and powerful, it can help build connections and it can help release our creativity onto the world.
Music therapy has been around for centuries but it was only during WW1 when it was first realized just how powerful music can be to help suffering war veterans. It has since proven through many studies that people, both young and old alike, who may be battling a disability, cancer, alzheimer or a mental health disorder like depression, anxiety or PTSD are better able to express themselves when having difficulty communicating through their words to instead communicate through music.
My grandfather was a very talented musician in his time and a prime example of how music helped him to communicate and make connections with others through his music which included his own family. He performed in an Orchestra most of his life. He played the trumpet and violin. He’d practice for hours every day and whenever I heard him practicing behind closed doors I felt a sense of comfort and ease come over me.
Several years ago my Doctor suggested that I try music therapy as a form of treatment for my depression and anxiety. Here’s the problem though; listening to music can often trigger feelings of sadness and anxiety in me. You will never catch me listening to music while I’m driving for that reason.
However, when I’m in a really overwhelming headspace (like I’ve been all week) I find myself scrolling through my playlist or on youtube to find the most nostalgic songs to listen to or songs with the pure intention of triggering emotions in me that are sure to lead me to tears. This has ironically become a great coping mechanism for me.
I usually start by choosing a nostalgic song which then leads to another and then another after that until my mood actually begins to lift and the tears slowly subside. Elton John probably said it best in his hit song “Sad Songs (Say So Much)”
“Sad songs they say soooo much. So turn em on, turn em on, turn on those sad songs. When every little bit of hope is gone why don’t you tune in and turn them on.”
Sad songs as I mentioned above can trigger some really great memories and nostalgia from my past (think of your first slow dance with your schoolboy crush) which does help boost my mood. Sad songs, which is an art all to itself can also feel deeply relatable and can give someone a sense of belonging. Sad songs often exemplify beauty, make us feel less alone, exude empathy, channel our emotions and build a sense of connection.
Jacob and my grandfather
I guess listening to sad songs is my musical therapy, but while driving, which is one of my most dreaded activities, is still probably not the best time or place for me to release such deep emotions. It’s more than okay though to feel sad and if listening to 10 sad songs in a row helps you release your sadness or ease some of your anxiety then go right ahead and try it! I only wish I had more performances I could listen to of my grandfather belting out his tunes on his trumpet to add to my playlist (the last time I heard him play live was at my wedding almost 27 years ago). It always brought me so much comfort.
I lie awake most nights feeling as though the world would be better off without me and then awake most mornings after a very unsettled sleep, feeling guilty that I am trying my best to take care of me in order to be there for my family and loved ones.
A gentle reminder…the world needs you and self care is not selfish.
Feel free to message me to order your very own handcrafted gentle reminders today…
Part of the proceeds go to youth mental health programs.
I received a lovely thank you card in the mail today. It really warmed my heart.
Back in the “olden days” as our kids so lovingly call it today and what we as kids ourselves would also refer to it as when talking about our parents or grandparent’s generations too; a hand-written stamped envelope (sealed with a kiss) with a personal message of thanks tucked inside were just a given for almost any occasion.
Without hesitation had we received a special gift, been an invited guest to someone’s home for Christmas dinner, a job interview, condolences to a friend who lost a loved one or any other momentous celebration we attended, we would send a short, personalized note as a gesture of appreciation, love or thank you.
It seems however that this simple act of kindness has all but been lost on most of us today and the way in which we communicate nowadays has become so much more impersonal than back in the “olden days”.
This new age of technology, email, text messaging and social media that our millennials and Gen Z’s are growing up with today has basically given us all a free pass from the more meaningful sentiments we once used in order to communicate with one another. I’m just as guilty as the next person.
Technology has made it both super convenient and super fast for anyone to relay a message to others; sadly though, it will never carry the same sentiment or thoughtfulness.
Going out, taking thoughtful consideration into choosing the perfect card that expresses exactly what you want to say and then sitting down to pen your sentiments is truly so much more meaningful. Wouldn’t you agree?
Yup I know, we are all soooo busy with our lives these days that who has the time or energy to do all that, I mean like come on??? Lets try and keep that in mind though the next time you find yourself aimlessly surfing the Internet for hours on end looking for your next gadget or latest fad to buy on Amazon and maybe consider adding some thank-you cards to your cart!
“Too busy is a myth. People make time for what’s important to them.” ~ Mandy Hale
What is something you miss about the “olden days” that you wish we still did today?Â
Very often a person living with a mental illness can find themselves surrounded by people who try to deny, invalidate or minimize their feelings and emotions.
It takes great strength and courage to share our very raw emotions with others, especially someone we trust implicitly; even if we know in our heart that it’s not what they may want to hear.
When we deny, invalidate or minimize someone else their feelings of sadness, grief or fear by dismissing their negative thoughts or human experiences and although it may very well be coming from a good place or be well-intentioned, responses such as “just be positive”, “stop being so negative”, “think happy thoughts”, “you don’t look sad”, “others have it worse”, “everything happens for a reason” or “just be grateful for what you have” lack a sense of empathy.
This is referred to as “Toxic Positivity”.
Yes, having a positive attitude and outlook are great but what happens when your toxic positivity denies, invalidates or minimizes someone else their feelings of sadness or fear or even their time to morn?
What will likely happen is it will cause a false sense of reassurance and lead to feelings of disconnect if the other person is unwilling or too uncomfortable to sit with you in your time of grief, your fear, your sadness or even your anger.
Sadly, and oftentimes these same people who deny, invalidate and minimize other people’s feelings with toxic positivity, whether we realize it or not are often doing the same exact thing to themselves. Trying to avoid dealing with your own negative emotions and experiences by denying them, invalidating them or minimizing them will only bury them for so long and lead to a further negative impact on your own mental health as well.
Whether we truly believe that we are comforting another person’s negative emotions or trying to suppress our own difficult feelings by overgeneralizing a situation is simply an ineffective and unhealthy approach to helping someone to feel better.
We need to learn to embrace all of our emotions and those around us too, even the negative ones. We need to learn how to support others when they share their raw emotions with us. We need to learn how to change the conversation to allow a person to feel safe and heard by asking them if they want to talk about how they are feeling; make them feel validated, let them know you are listening.
And lastly, just as a gentle reminder… know that no matter what, it’s okay to feel sad sometimes, to grieve in your own way, to be scared or even angry; these are real emotions and don’t let anyone deny you of them, invalidate them or minimize them because it’s more than okay to always be your true authentic self.
Wear this handcrafted hoodie made especially for you by me! Wear it with pride and carry a message of positivity with you wherever you go and help brighten up someone’s day. Every item includes my signature/mantra “you are enough” on the left sleeve.Â
Lots of gentle reminders to choose from (or create your own). See colours and sizes (youth xs to adult 5xl) available in pics.
A portion of each sale will also be donated to help support youth mental health.Â
“Maybe this journey isn’t so much about becoming anything, maybe it’s about un-becoming everything that isn’t really you, so you can be who you were meant to be in the first place”. ~ Paulo Coelho
Email me at: youthareenough@gmail.com or message me on Facebook or Instagram to place your order today.
I’ve been struggling pretty bad in recent days and I’m feeling pretty broken inside.
It’s been a super challenging time of late and well…life in general feels very uncertain right now which has left me feeling even more emotionally exhausted, burdensome and extremely overwhelmed; just the thought of taking a shower or washing my hair most days lately has become a completely daunting task.
For close to eight years now I’ve been on this very tiresome journey toward healing and mental health. I feel desperate to find that spark again and I’m trying my best to do so even though it may mean having to continually start from scratch again and again as I battle the many daily obstacles in large part due to my illness that often distract me or steers me completely off course altogether (depression has a very cruel way of sucking the life right out of you while trying to take another step forward).
But, on the other hand though, my illness has truly helped me to discover my greatest passions and purpose in life as well by using my creative mind, helping others and giving back to my community whenever and however I can which I continue to build upon through my writing, my blogging, my advocacy and sharing my journey.
I’ve often been told that my voice becomes animated and my eyes may even sparkle a bit whenever I talk about ways for which I can use my creativity and adoration for helping others.
This is what I’m supposed to be doing, I know in my heart it is and by sharing my journey so openly helps keep me accountable and motivates me by talking through my goals with all of you.
You have helped raise me up in so many ways and see things in me that I can’t. It’s the gentle reminders every day that lets me know that the progress we make along our journey matter way more than its perfection. I also know that I’m not alone and I’m pretty damn sure that we could all use some gentle reminders right about now, especially given what we have all been living through over the last two years which has left many, many people also feeling emotionally exhausted, burdensome and extremely overwhelmed. This is why I am excited to announce the launch of my new initiative “A Gentle Reminder” which I’ve been working on creating for the last little while but could not have gotten it off the ground without the extra support and encouragement of a few very special people in my life who I am forever grateful for continuing to love me, even at my lowest and gently reminding me that “I am enough.”
This new project showcases both my passion and purpose, very similar to that of my graduation lawn sign initiative which I created during the spring of 2020 for our graduates who were missing out on so many important milestones in their lives due to the Pandemic and then continued from where I’d left off again last spring for our class of 2021 grads as well. Over the course of both graduation seasons, along with some of the sales from my children’s book “Where Did Mommy’s Smile Go?” (which launched in August 2019) I have raised over 15k for youth mental health programs all from the incredible support of my beautiful community and surrounding areas. It still warms my heart everytime I think about it.
Many of our young people desperately continue to need our help right now as we begin to navigate toward a new normal which is why I will be continuing my fundraising efforts right where I left off last spring with my new project “a gentle reminder” by donating a portion of each sale to youth mental health programs and initiatives again.
I have put together a list of gentle reminders and affirmations which you can see and choose from in the pictures attached (with many more to come). Each sweatshirt (hoodie) will be handcrafted by me with love (and lots of technical support and tlc from Rich!) and will include one gentle reminder on either the front or back side of shirt (your choice) along with my loving signature/mantra “You Are Enough” to be placed nearest to the cuff on the left sleeve (see pic).
Everytime you put on your hoodie you will be carrying with you a message of strength and inspiration for others to see or even a daily affirmation to yourself as you look in the mirror. And just remember, as you go about your day proudly spreading these positive messages know that your gentle reminder or words could help bring a smile to a stranger’s face or brighten up a loved one’s day or make a big difference in someone else’s life just by reading them. Xoxo
See pics for available colours. Unisex
Sizes available in Youth xs to Adults 5xl (depending on availability and colour)
Crewneck option is also available if preferred.
Local delivery available or pickup in Concord (Ontario). Added shipping costs may apply to all other orders.
Prices range between $40 to $55
Please feel free to message me for more information or to place an order. Website not available yet.
You can also email me at: youthareenough@gmail.com
I thought today may be a good day to do a mental health check-in.Â
How is everyone feeling today after the announcement this morning that mask mandates are being lifted in Ontario as of March 21st? My feelings, to be honest are quite mixed right now.
Having to wear a mask for any great length of time has triggered many anxiety and panic attacks for me but I also know that, although not full proof, my mask that I’ve worn for the better part of two years now which I had specially made for me using both my mantra and logo that I’d created several years prior to the Pandemic as part of my advocacy and healing process has also helped to protect me and others from contracting Covid (not looking for a debate here). Donning this mask has undoubtedly become a reflection of my true authentic self and a perfect way to show my self-expression (See original blog,
So what now? Do I frame it, put it in a keepsake box, maybe enclose it in a glass case to showcase on my mantel or simply throw it away when I am ready to stop wearing it?Â
Either way though, and no matter if you choose to continue to wear a mask or not after March 21st, the key for all of us as we move forward is tolerance and kindness towards each individual’s choices, not shame or stigma for the many people out there who may still want the added layer of protection that comes from wearing a mask or who simply can’t afford to let their guard down yet, especially the most vulnerable or immune comprised amongst us.Â
Do you still have mask mandates in place where you live?
To all the incredibly strong, beautiful, smart, inspiring women I know; especially these two bright and talented young ladies right here; a gentle reminder, “There is no limit to what we, as women can accomplish.” ~ Michelle Obama
YouAreEnough 
You must be logged in to post a comment.