Stigma Fighters: Especially You

{Ping}

I picked up my phone and checked my Twitter feed.  It was a private message.

“Hmmmmm I wonder who it is?” I thought.

I clicked it open and saw a kind message from a stranger asking me if I could share a message she was trying to spread.  I clicked on the link, wanting to look into it more before I put my name on a tweet for her.  The link took me to her Fund Dreamer site.  This woman, Sara Fader , is campaigning to raise money.  She wanted  her online series  about real people living with mental illness to  become more than just a place to swap stories. She wanted it to be what it was… a community of like-minded individuals. As a 501C3 non-profit organization Stigma Fighters would be able to take the next step in fighting this illness and supporting people that live with it.

I paused.  How did she know about me.  How did she know about my story?  How did she know about my mom? Did she even know about any of it or was she just trying to get her message out and was asking all her followers for help.  Like most of these moments online I wasn’t sure if I should trust that her message was honest or just click delete and get on with my day.

I started to type.

I started to cry.

I started to cry harder.

I knew in that instant that it was time for me to write about her again. So when Sarah asked me to share my story I knew I had to say yes.

Stigma Fighters

Today I am proudly over at Stigma Fighters sharing my story of love to honor my mother, to honor the strength of my family,  to share about my struggle and to give a more powerful voice to those who struggle with mental illness everyday.  I hope you will head over there and let me share my story Especially Love on Stigma Fighters.

It

It has been too long since I have been back to this space.  The space that first supported me unconditionally.  The space that I met and made friendships I never imagined I would cherish so much.  The space that allowed me to trust and open up.  The space that showed me what a true community can mean to a woman.  The space that helped me find my voice (even though Elena would respond psshhhaw… I like to remind her frequently and the others there of their impact on my life).  Today I am linking up with Just Be Enough.

The prompt this week was: What Do You Secretly Like About Yourself

.  .  .  .  .

It carried me through a painful time of loss.

It encouraged avoiding the pain and heartache I should deal with.

It gets things done.

It steels time, frustrates others and causes tunnel vision.

It gives me the confidence to the confidence to see the finish line and charge after it.

It leaves others unprepared for the pace it will be reached.

It shows my girls that anything in life can be accomplished.

It is the core of my strength.  It is why I am survivor.  It is my drive. It makes me fierce. It gets things done.  It is an amazing quality that I cherish.  It was there when I didn’t know what it was called.  It was there before I knew its true strength.  It is a quality I hope my daughters develop.

Diligent

Stubborn

Cohesive

Not easily discouraged

Strong

Obstinate

Tough

Spunky

Tough

Determined

Purposeful

True

I secretly most proud of and deeply cherish the good and the bad, the gifts and the weaknesses of my tenacity.