Finding Solace In Shared Struggles

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, our CD, Jessi Jacq,
is sharing an open letter to encourage others on their mental
health journey:

My road toward mental wellness began in 2017. I was experiencing a number of significant changes in my life. It was challenging to make ends meet and support my family through some difficult times while being an independent contractor chasing checks. I was mentally, physically, financially, and emotionally exhausted and was in a terrible position as a result. It felt so grim that my next-to-last option was to look for help. My decision may have gone in a different direction if I hadn't sought help, and I wouldn't be here today advocating for it. I'm really grateful for the inkling of mental capacity I had to make that decision. The road to mental wellness is not simple, but it is always a work in progress. I just take it one day at a time and appreciate the road that has been traveled to get me to where I am today. Whatever you are experiencing, keep in mind that it is just temporary. Your sorrows could become joyous in a matter of days, hours, seconds, or minutes, so keep running the race! You matter a lot to the people in your life and, most importantly, to yourself. Accepting help conveys trust rather than weakness. Seeking help provided me with a great deal of insight into who I am and inspired me to become the person I want to be. Let's create a society in which asking for help is a sign of strength and in which practicing self-care is viewed as a creative and resilient act. Opening up our minds and hearts to the reality of mental health is the first step in eradicating the stigma. You are not alone. 

 

Jessi Jacq, Creative Director