Tag Archives: Mental Illness

Everyday Inspiration; Day 6: The Space to Write

Posted on by Gertie

Hello!!! When it comes to the space to write, it all depends what exactly I am writing. Let use blogging as an example at this current time. For me to be able to blog, I need to have internet connection as well as my laptop with me. I also need to make sure that if I blog that there is no chance of drizzle or rain as I live in Seattle.

When it comes to writing poetry, I just need to make sure I have a pen or pencil as well as some paper. I also have to make sure if I write outside that the weather isn’t drizzly or rainy especially in the autumn and winter months. Poetry is something I may or may not share with other depending how personal it is.

When it comes to journaling, I make sure I have a writing utensil and my current journal. I usually do this in the privacy of my own home. If I am not home and say on vacation, I do this in a private room. Journaling is a private thing I do and most of the time I don’t share them.

Writing spaces can be different for everyone. When I write at home I have a space at my creative table to do so. I just have to make sure there is room for my cat at the table so he can lay right by me as I write. My cat, Billie Dean appears to want to be near me when I am being creative which includes writing. I really like that fact that Billie like to be near me as I write as it seems to be that it helps me not have writers block.

Everyday Inspiration; Day 5: Hook ‘Em With a Quote

Posted on by Gertie

The future belongs to those who believe the beauty of their dreams.

Eleanor Roosevelt

I’ve chosen this quote from Eleanor Roosevelt because it has helped me a great deal with figuring out what my dreams are as well as being able to accomplish my dreams. In my case my the dreams I am thinking about are around my career. My career of being a peer support specialist also known as a peer counselor. This quote has helped me believe in myself that I can do anything including being able to be in recovery with my mental health challenges. Being in recovery means I am able to succeed in whatever I want to succeed in which includes my job. I love my job with a passion and am beyond grateful for Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote.

Everyday Inspiration; Day 4: A Story in a Single Image

Posted on by Gertie
A woman with back toward us, walking in the woods.

The picture above is one of a woman walking alone in the woods. It reminds me of the times where I was at peace in the solitude of nature. Nature has a way about it to bring peace to ones soul or at least that is how it is for me personally. The picture above is reminding me that I need to go on one more hike before the end of summer.

Everyday Inspiration; Day 3: One-Word Inspiration

Posted on by Gertie

HOME

 

Home is where the heart is or at least that is how the saying goes. I don’t know how exactly true it is as if home is where the heart is then I guess I have lots of homes. I am not exactly going to discuss home is where the heart is in this post or last that is not what my plan is.

For me my current home is home to me. Home is currently in Seattle where I live in an apartment that is the longest place I have lived as an adult. Home is also where my beloved cat, Billie Dean, resides with me. So, I guess, for me home is where my cat, Billie is. Coming home to Billie is where the love is. I guess for me home isn’t just where I get the unconditional love from Billie is but a place that I created to be a home that is full of memories of homes past which is why my home is my home.

Everyday Inspiration; Day 2: Write a List

Posted on by Gertie

Things I’ve Learned

  • I’ve learned the beauty of recovery
  • I’ve learned the value of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills
  • I’ve learned it’s nots the other person responsibility on how I react to their behavior
  • I’ve learned the value of having a cat being around the home
  • I’ve learned the value of friends
  • I’ve learned to enjoy each moment I have with family
  • I’ve learned that it is okay to see a therapist
  • I’ve learned that it is okay to ask for help when I need especially if it is regarding my mental health and my recovery

Everyday Inspiration; Day 1: I Write Because…

Posted on by Gertie

I write this blog for many reasons. I started this blog to help those who struggle with mental health challenges that recovery is possible. I also started this blog to educate those who do not struggle with mental health challenges that folks who do can live productive lives however that looks like to the individual. I started this blog to help lessen the stigma around mental health challenges which includes self stigma.

The one thing I did not expect when starting this blog what that it would become a form of self care for me. Little did I know it would help me with my recovery. Realizing that blogging has helped me with my recovery was and is a nice surprise to me. I am grateful that it has helped me with my recovery and continues to help me with my recovery.

As much as writing this blog has helped me with my recovery, I just really hope it has helped others with their recovery. Helping others with their recovery is why I continue to write this blog. I’m not sure how many people my blog is helping with their recovery but if it helps just one person then it has done it’s job.

As you can tell there are many reasons I write this blog and I hope it gives you some form of hope.

Weekly Plans

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Read
  • Mindfulness practice
  • Go for a walk

Monday

  • Mindfulness practice
  • Go for a walk
  • Work

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness practice
  • Therapy
  • Work

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness practice
  • Peer Pathways Conference
  • Darci Lynne concert

Thursday

  • Mindfulness practice
  • Peer Pathway Conference
  • Hang out with my cat Billie Dean

Friday

  • Mindfulness practice
  • Day off from work
  • Clean apartment
  • Read
  • Hang out with cat Billie

Saturday

  • Mindfulness practice
  • Read
  • Hang out with cat Billie

Weekly Check-In

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! I have decide to start my weekly check-in again here on my blog. I have decided to do this again so I can be able to keep you my reader engaged in reading my blog. I realize a weekly check-in may not keep my readers engaged but at least it is something that will be posted every Saturday to let readers know I am still around. I am also going be doing Weekly Plans on Sundays for the same reason.

This week flew by quicker than I thought it would especially since it was one of those weeks a work. I love my job and being able to help people along their path of mental health recovery. It is nice to see people grow into the person they want to be.

As far as my volunteer job goes, it is going well. I now have other volunteers on my shift. Right now it is only one and they just became a volunteer. It is nice that things are getting back to normal although I fear what is going with the new Covid-19 variant. I enjoy my volunteer job at PAWS Cat City.

I’ve been pretty much doing a movie marathon this weekend. Every Friday the 13th weekend I do a movie marathon by watching the movie Friday the 13th. Yes, I know it sounds cheesy and that the movies are corny but it was something I started doing at the beginning of my mental health recovery and surprisingly still do it as I enjoy it.

I don’t have much more to say in my Weekly Check-In. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you read my blog. If it wasn’t for you the reader, I wouldn’t be writing my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. I hope the rest of your weekend is enjoyable. Peace Out, World!!!

Three and a Half Years and I Still Miss My Grandma

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! Today marks exactly three and a half years since the death of my grandma. I miss my grandma a great deal. She along side my grandpa helped my dad raise me since my dad was a single father. My grandma was the motherly figure in my life. I miss being able to talk with her just to tell her about how my day went.

As much as I miss my grandma, I am glad she is no longer suffering as she had Parkinson’s Disease. I just wish she was alive to meet my last cat, Lil Gertie as well as my current cat Billie Dean. She would have loved both cats and would have spoiled them.

I don’t have much more to say in the particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated that you do read my blog. If it wasn’t for you the reader I wouldn’t be writing my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my hear for reading my blog. I hope everyone has a great weekend. Peace Out, World!!!

After Work Ramblings

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! I am now off work. I am having some anxiety and am unsure where it is coming from. It is something I just need to be aware of and not worry about why I am anxious. Worrying why I am anxious can cause me to be more anxious. Being more anxious can become an issue that I don’t want to deal with in this current moment.

As I type this particular blog post, my cat, Billie Dean is on my lap. Billie is help a great deal to lessen my anxiety which is a good thing. After I am done writing this blog post and I post it, I will be reading a book. I will be reading as reading helps with my anxiety. So, reading and having my cat Billie on my lap with be of great help to me regarding the anxiety I am currently dealing with.

I do not have much more to say in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you read my blog. If it wasn’t for you my reader, I wouldn’t be writing this blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!