Skip to main content

Take Care

Life is crazy. Things happen. People get sick. Like me for example. I came down with a cold, and my focus is not where it should be, so I’m just going to do a quick post today. If you follow me on Twitter, then you may know that I participated in Bell Let's Talk Day on January 28th. In an initiative to start the conversation about mental illness on this day, Bell Canada donates 5 cents for every Tweet, text, or phone call towards mental health research. I learned last year that a research building in Toronto was funded entirely by Bell. This past year, $6 107 538.60 was raised with 122, 150, 772 interactions. I felt so fulfilled after 15 hours of tweeting because I knew I was actually making a difference for a great cause.

[source]
The reason I put so much effort into it is because it is something I hold near to me. Both of my grandmothers suffered from depression. I am not ready to share my story yet, but I have been in counselling three times, one including a current biweekly appointment. I have been through this, but I have been unable to share my experience with others. No one talk about it. Why? However, these past few days, I noticed a few people mention “my therapist” in a conversation. There was no big fuss, and no one questioned it. It was so casual in a conversation, and that’s exactly how mental health should be regarded! Instead of making an excuse for why you are missing out because you have counselling, just say you have counselling. I believe that it’s only a big deal if you make it out to be that way.

With that being said, you do not have to be seeing a therapist or counselor to talk about it. As the jack.org chapter in my university tells us, 5 in 5 of us have mental health. I am about to have a busy month, and I know from past experience that if I lose focus, then I get overwhelmed and I stop taking care of myself. My mental state goes into a downhill spiral that is neither healthy nor productive. For me, I care of myself by taking a long, hot bath with a magazine or taking a night off to spend with a friend. If you’re in the middle of a busy time and don’t know how to cope with your stresses, talk to the people around you. Ask how they maintain their mental health. Start a conversation.

You are the most important part of your life. You have a light that no one else can give. If you let your light dim, it may be harder to see your path. If you get to the point where your light goes out altogether, it may be harder to get out of the darkness. So please, take care of yourself. Listen to your body. And reach out.

-Daniella

P.S. I decided to post this after midnight because the 25th of February marks my official first year of blogging! Thanks to everyone who has been a part of this process whether is through reading, or active support. I appreciate each of you whole-heartedly.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Recently Read - October 2020

 Is fall not the best reading season? I’m so glad I’ve had a few opportunities to sit on the front porch, wrapped in a fuzzy blanket with a hot drink and my book. Right now, it’s raining outside and all I want to do is cozy up and get back to my book. I’ve read some great non-fiction in the past six weeks. I’m learning so much about how people relate to the world around them. That is so important to me. Check them out! The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism – Naoki Higashida – 4 Stars         This is a very short book that I think everyone should read – particularly those who work with children. Although knowledge has come a long way, there is still so much more to be learned about autism. This book is a series of question that Naoki Higashida answers from his point of view. Interspersed is also a handful of short stories from Higashida’s point of view.         It’s an incredible book. It’s something that really allows readers to understand ho

Very Inspiring Blog Award

Yay yay yay, I got nominated for the Very Inspiring Blog Award from Marlee at Marlee and You ! Now, you can learn even more about me! Pretty exciting isn’t it? The hardest part is gathering all the 15 bloggers to tag. But hey, I got this! Rules: 1.        Link the person who nominated you (CHECK) 2.        List and display the rules (CHECK) 3.        Share seven facts about yourself. 4.        Nominate 15 other blogs and let them know they have been nominated. My Seven Facts: 1.        My favourite meal is breakfast. Although I basically only eat milk and cereal, I love the variety of things you can have. I just made myself a Blueberry Breakfast Quesadilla , and it was amazing! 2.        My all time favourite website is HelloGiggles . I have recently taken on the title of a feminist, and this website has been a great way to see that other women share the same views as me. 3.        I’m not a chick-flick kind of girl. James Bond and Indiana Jones are the best. I

Monthly Favourites- February 2016

I don’t know about you, but it feels like February has flown by! I can’t say it’s been a busy month; it’s more like a month of sinking back into routine. Last month, I was so ready to get back to school. It’s been great so far. I’m loving my classes, and I’m doing well with keeping on top of readings. I went to watch The Superbowl with friends (we didn’t make it to halftime), took control of my own body, and I’ve made myself a solid group of friends. I’m really happy. Here’s what got me through the month: 1.        NetGalley     I’m sure you can tell based on the sheer amount of book reviews I’ve been posting, but I have been reading quite a lot. This is all thanks to NetGalley. I have been a member of the site for over a year, but I never really got into it until now. At home, I have an extensive bookshelf, but I couldn’t bring that to the UK with me. I turned to NetGalley, and I have been rewarded. As a member, I request book titles and get a free e-book. In exchange, I have