Tag Archives: Writing

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

Posted on by Gertie
A woman in the woods. (Not me in the picture.)

Walking through the woods is in itself a mindfulness meditation practice. Being one with nature can help with ones stress level. For me personally, being nature like walking in the woods like the woman in picture helps me deal with many of the symptoms of my mental health challenges. Oh how I wish I could go walk through the woods on the weekly basis but sadly it is not an option. Being in the woods or any form of nature put a person at peace and is a form of self-care. Self-care in nature is key to dealing with stress. Oh how I wish I could be back walking through the peaceful woods. Glad I had the opportunity to walk through the woods over my birthday weekend.

Everyday Inspiration; Day 3: One Word Inspiration

Posted on by Gertie

HOPE

For me hope is a simple yet loaded word. If it wasn’t for hope, I don’t think I would be typing this post much less alive. Hope comes from many sources but most importantly it comes from within. My cat Billie Dean gives me hope. He gives me hope by just being so adorable and choosing me to adopt him. Billie gives me hope in so many ways that I can not explain it. The hope that is within myself helps me be a better person and allows me to be compassionate toward others. Hope is the reason why I am in recovery from a mental health challenge.

Everyday Inspiration; Day 1: I Write Because…

Posted on by Gertie

I write for various reasons. Take this my blog for example. I blog to educate those who don’t have lived experience with a mental health challenge and/or substance use disorder in hopes to end the stigma that is associated with mental health and substance use. I also blog to give other people hope in their recovery. I may not have a substance use disorder but I hope that my recovery with mental health, self-harm and eating disorders can be of inspiration to those who struggle with substance use disorders. Another reason I blog and didn’t realize this till about three years after starting my blog is that it helps with my own mental health.

So, I guess, the reason I blog in hopes that with me sharing my journey that it will lessen the stigma of mental health challenges and substances use disorders as well as give others who struggle some form of hope. Being in recovery is not easy but it is well worth it. I just hope my blog can help lessen the stigma of mental health challenges and substance use disorders as well as give others hope. Thank you for listening.

Intro to Poetry; Day 10: Future

Posted on by Gertie

Untitled Poem

by Gertie

The future is now.

Live in the present like cats.

Cats are mindfulness.

Intro to Poetry; Day 9: Landscape

Posted on by Gertie

Untitled Poem

by Gertie

Looking out the window all you see

is an on ramp to a major interstate freeway

and tents.

Tents of those who are homeless.

It’s heartbreaking and brings tears to ones 

eyes

yet a sense of gratitude arises.

A sense of gratitude for having a roof over ones head.

Living across the street from

a freeway on ramp

isn’t ideal

but the gratitude of having a home is well

worth it.

Intro to Poetry; Day 8: Pleasure

Posted on by Gertie

Once Upon A Time

by Gertie

Once upon a time,

there was a sense of

 normalcy.

Once upon a time,

life was simpler.

Once upon a time,

people were much kinder to

each other.

Once a upon time

never was.

It never was because it never existed.

Intro to Poetry; Day 7: Flavor

Posted on by Gertie

Untitled Poem

by Gertie

It’s my birthday and I can

eat all of the cake if I want to.

The flavor of this cake is

to die for

as it is strawberry chocolate.

You’re not getting any as

I don’t want to share.

Intro to Poetry; Day 6: Screens

Posted on by Gertie

Damn You, Covid-19

by Gertie

Staring at a computer screen all day give me a headache

but the headache is well worth it as it is

because I love my new job more than I realize.

A job that is helping me along my career path even though staring at a 

computer screen all day isn’t the most fun thing in the world to do.

I don’t blame my career choice for me staring at the computer

all day; I blame this stupid ass

pandemic known as Covid-19.

If Covid-19 didn’t happen, meeting clients in person;

face to face would be happing and not having to do

virtual appointment would be ideal to not having to stare a stupid computer screen

all day.

Damn you Covid-19, you are causing me to get migraines due to

staring at a computer screen all day;

just to help my clients.

The migraines are well worth it though as

helping my clients is the best feeling in the world.

Intro to Poetry; Day 5: Imperfect

Posted on by Gertie

Arms of Imperfection

by Gertie

Looking at my arms,

all I see are railroad tracks.

Railroad tracks due to scars.

Scars that were caused

by acts of self harm.

Thankfully, no more acts of 

self harm and now just

reminders of it.

Intro to Poetry; Day 4: Journey

Posted on by Gertie

Untitled Poem

by Gertie

Walking along side someone,

on the path to recovery

is very much like hiking

with a friend.

It’s just this friend is

someone you help guide

through the life of recovery.

A life of recovery which is a

life worth living.