I know I can overcome the bad days because I have before, and I have before because I believed enough in myself to keep going.
As many have said, you have survived 100% of your worst days. Every single one of them. Use that knowledge to believe in your ability to continue to survive and to heal.
You can heal. You are worth the effort.
As we roll into November, and many men are taking part in a Movember activity, we like to take a moment to note that the whole movement is focused on men’s health, including mental health.
The folks at Second Step in the UK have book recommendations on the topic.
Honestly, we put a birdfeeder in our yard a few years ago, and I will occasionally go out and watch some of the birds as they come to the feeder. It is relaxing. Having a few moments of relaxation in my day is good for my mental health. Maybe you can’t get a feeder and keep it stocked, but maybe there’s a park or lake nearby where you can hear and see the birds.
Give it a shot. See what happens.
Each of us has a choice to make. We can acknowledge that millions of people are oppressed and discriminated against. We can recognize that each additional act of oppression adds to the stress and mental health issues, or we can ignore that and do nothing. We can support celebrities, politicians, and religious figures who have no issue oppressing other people, who favor discriminating against people who are not like us, or we can contribute to lessening the discrimination people face and the harm caused.
Read the article below. Read it slowly and thoughtfully. Then choose wisely.
From my perspective as an abuse survivor, if you think there’s even a chance your child has been abused, bullied, or is simply dealing with mental health challenges that need help, get the help early if you can. It only gets worse the longer you wait. Read the examples, and if any of them sound like your kid, do something.
Similar to what I’ve said many times about exercise or other things that might make a small impact on our mental health, art and music won’t change everything, but they certainly aren’t going to hurt. They might only make us feel better, but isn’t that the point?
