The Elephant In The Room

Good Morning, World!!! I am awake at three o’clock in the morning due to not being able to sleep. Both my insomnia and depression are acting up. Not sure why either are acting up but they are.

When I started to write this post I didn’t know what I was going to write about. So lets discuss the elephant in the room; the two celebrities who died by suicide, Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. Many people are mourning their sudden and untimely deaths. People are grieving over this and I don’t blame them as it is sad news.

As sad as it is to hear about someone’s death especially when it is death by suicide people start to discuss it a little bit more. I personally think we need to talk about both suicide and mental health conditions more so we can lessen the stigma that goes with it.

If anyone is in crisis and needs to talk the United States National Suicide Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. I know this number will work in the United States however I am unsure about the rest of the world. I wish I had other crisis numbers for other countries however I do not. Please if you are in a mental health crisis or thinking of killing yourself don’t hesitate to reach out to someone.

Thank you for reading!!! Peace Out, World!!!

Today Marks Four Years

Good Evening, World!!! I know I just posted about the overall good day I had about an hour ago; I forgot that today marks four years since I started blogging. It is hard to believe that it has been four years since I started blogging.

In those four years it is my hope that reached out to people and educated folks to lessen the stigma of having a mental health challenge. It also comes to my conclusion that I have use my blog as a journal to give out hope. Hope to those who may feel alone in their mental health condition.

Well that is all I have to say about me blogging for four years. Have a great day. Peace out, World!!!

Morning Ramblings

Good Morning, World!!! I haven’t gotten any sleep and I am okay with that as I was able to spend quality time with Lil Gertie. As tired as I am, I am grateful for the time I had with Lil Gertie. She is an awesome lil kitty.

When I wasn’t spending time with Lil Gertie, I was doing one of my workbooks. Specifically, I was working on my Pathways to Recovery workbook. It looks at mental health recovery as a whole and how we can develop our strengths as well as some skill to be in recovery.

If you been reading my blog on the regular basis you know that my recovery means the world to me. I do workbooks to help me along my recovery process. I am not doing the workbooks to replace therapy, I am doing them in addition to therapy.

Since we are now on the topic of therapy, I am seeing my therapist today. I am seeing him for our new scheduled time for Thursdays at eleven in the morning. He is really cool and encourages me to build my support system by getting out of my box.

Something that has been helping me that last few days is scrap booking. I’m really enjoying doing it as it gives me something to do. It also gives me something to look at during the process of making it as well as when I am finished with it. When I look at it, it is helpful by giving me hope. Hope by helping me remember the good things in my life.

I think I am going to get going. I am going to watch the news and get ready for the day ahead. I hope everyone has a good day. Thank you for reading. Peace Out, World!!!

Sleepless In Seattle

Good Morning, World!!! I am sleepless in Seattle once again. It has nothing to do with Lil Gertie wanting to play at this hour of the day. It has everything to do with the insomnia that I am experiencing. Insomnia sucks!!!

Since my last post, I have not only attempted to sleep but I have read. I am reading about Buddhism. It is helping me be at peace with myself and the world as a whole. The more I read about Buddhism, the more I realize it is the right spiritually for me. Having faith in something is quite helpful for me as an individual as well as my recovery.

I am going to go now. I am going to play with Lil Gertie as she appears to be playful at the moment. Peace Out, World!!!

Busy Lil Bee Being In Recovery

Good Morning, World!!! I haven’t been back to sleep since my last post. I have been busy since my last post. I read a little bit. I read about Buddhism. If you regularly read my blog you know I have been looking into Buddhism. I am looking into it as I haven’t really been searching spiritual wise the last couple of years. Spirituality is a part of being in recovery. Being in recovery is something I have aspired to be and have been for quite some time. Yes, I have had bumps in the road. Yes, I have fallen however I have picked myself up and wiped myself off.

Being in recovery means doing things that are difficult. For me doing workbooks is quite challenging for me as it pushes me to aspire to be the person I am meant to be. This morning, I have chosen to work on the workbook that focuses me being queer and resilient. Being able to push myself with my gender identity, queerness and resiliency goes right along with my values in my personal recovery path with mental health challenges.

Being in recovery is a major deal for me. I was informed that I would never be in recovery from a mental health condition because my symptoms were so severe. Never tell me I can’t do something because I end up proving you wrong with being able to do it.

Thank you for reading. Have a nice Wednesday. Peace Out, World!!!

Cat = Help With PTSD

Good Morning, World!!! I woken up by Lil Gertie. She licked me smack dab on the nose. Some how this cat knows when I am having a nightmare or some other symptom of PTSD. I’m not sure how she knows but she knows.

I think once I am done blogging this post, I will read. Read about Buddhism. I am learning so many different things about this religion. A religion that knows that you’re going to struggle yet doesn’t shame or guilt you into a being something you are not. It encourages you to strive to be the best you are.

Having a faith in something spiritual is key to being in recovery for anyone. It doesn’t have to be Buddhism or even Christianity. Just as you have faith in something. For me it is Buddhism. Or at least for now it is because I am looking into it, to make sure it is the right faith for me.

Thank you for reading. Have a good morning. Peace Out, World!!!

I Don’t Think My Cat Realizes It’s Sunday

Good Morning, World!!! I don’t think Lil Gertie realizes it is Sunday. Sunday is meant to either sleep in or go to a religious service and sometimes both. For me it is meant to sleep in. If you read my blog regularly you know sleep doesn’t come easy for me.

I think what I am going to do is attempt to go back to sleep. Especially since Lil Gertie is taking a cat nap at the moment.

I will also be reading. Reading two books on Buddhism. One is called Why Buddhism Is True while the other book is Buddhist Scriptures. Right now I am looking into Buddhism and it is giving me hope and a sense of peace. A Peace that I need at the moment.

Thank you for reading my blog. It is extremely appreciated. Peace Out, World!!!

Update About My Day

Good Evening, World!!! Today has been a great day. I have spent the day with my wonderful partner, Josh. He is an amazing man. We spent the day together having adult fun as well as other fun that is more G rated. It is the G rated stuff I will be discussing in this post.

Junior and myself attended the street fair in our neighborhood. We held hands the entire time. We at lots of food as well. We both got some t-shirts. I only got one but that doesn’t mean I won’t get something tomorrow. Junior got a handful of t-shirts he had to have. We are both t-shirt lovers.

I think I will get going, as I want to spend time with Junior. Have a great day. Peace Out, World!

Semi-Early Morning Ramblings

Good Morning, World!!! I got sleep last night which is good news. The bad news is I woke up with depression. Yes, I know I am up early but I am happy I got sleep. Waking up depressed is no fun.

I am not sure what I am going to do today. My therapist will be out of the office today so I will be checking in with his supervisor. His supervisor is a nice woman. I will be checking in with her over the phone for a fifteen minute check-in.

I am most likely going to be reading. I am going to be reading my Star Wars book. I make it a habit to read every day. I love reading. I am also going to be reading a book or two on Buddhism. One of those books happens to be Buddhist Scriptures.

I need to be finding things to do to help combat this depression. For me having plans helps me with fighting off the depression. I am hoping I can talk with my therapist supervisor early so we can come up with a plan.

Thanks for reading. It is very much appreciated from my end. Peace Out, World!!!

Focusing On Things That Help

Good Evening, World. Since my last post I decided to work on one of my workbooks;  Pathways to Recovery. It is a strengths based workbook focusing on your recovery. I am now done with the first chapter.

I also have been reading Buddhist Scriptures. Reading about Buddhism is a form of mindfulness for me. It gives me hope and a sense of peace. Finding faith that potentially will help me with my recovery path is a huge deal.

As I am writing this post I am sipping on some tea and enjoying some scented candles. Doing things like lit candles and sipping tea is extremely soothing for me. Being able to soothing myself is a good thing. I feel like I don’t deserve to self soothe.

Thank you for reading. Peace Out, World!!!