If you've read my very first blog post then you know I'm a teacher. You also might know that I'm someone with a deep well of emotion. I am quite gifted at numbing those emotions, usually. But when it comes to things like mass shootings in schools, I come undone. I feel pain that is [...]
Tag: depression
Dehumanized: I Become My Mental Illness
The last place one would expect to be dehumanized and belittled because of Mental Illness is at a hospital. Or, at least that's what I would have thought. Apparently I was wrong. The medical community doesn't have compassion for people with mental health issues. They're clueless. And, they're causing more harm than they're doing good. [...]
To my “almost” daughter: Anika
My dear sweet, Anika, today would have been your birthday. 11 years. 11 years of unconditional love, of kissed "owies", of discovering books and hobbies and mysteries together. 11 years of learning who you are and figuring out who you want to become. 11 years of play, of laughter, of joy, of sheer silliness. 11 [...]
An Honor, a Privilege, and a Burden
Most days I think of my job as an honor and a privilege. It is a tremendous gift to be able to encourage, cultivate, and nurture the minds of at least 140 teenagers each year. And, to be able to gain glimpses into their lives, their losses, their loves, their passions. They are all incredible [...]
You’ve Got to be Willing to Risk Failure
Tonight I realized two things: 1) If I want to see myself grow, I've got to be willing to risk failure. I have to be willing to venture into the unknown, to walk away from all my familiar surroundings. 2) For years, I have been adamant that I wouldn't believe in God because God was [...]
Fit or Mis-fit: Finding Harmony with Mental Illness
How often do you find yourself in situations where you just don't quite "fit"? I've been thinking about this a lot lately in terms of mental health, specifically Complex PTSD. I haven't said anything yet because I've still been trying to come to terms with what this means in the context of my life but [...]
Seeing the Unseen; or, the Package Hidden Under the Welcome Mat
This week Amazon delivered a rather substantial package to my apartment and, because the delivery man thought I was not home, the package was placed under my welcome mat. Can we consider for a second how ludicrous this actually seems? I'm not particularly good at measurements, so I'm sure I can't accurately convey to you [...]
When Hurt People, Hurt People
I'm about to do something I never do... post right after a therapy session and while I am still feeling raw about an experience I had today. Actually, an experience that has been prolonged for weeks. However, resolution was just achieved today. And, sometimes, resolution sucks. It's almost better being in limbo, not knowing if something is [...]
Irony, Imprinted Words, and Complicated Relationships
Now that you're probably thoroughly confused and misled by the title of this blog, I'm going to attempt to conceptualize something that's still ridiculously abstract in my mind. I've been thinking a lot lately about how words imprint themselves in our minds; how they create not only memories but something else. Something more powerful, more [...]
Ghostly Memories and Tangible Experience
Okay, so, I didn’t give you fair warning but you should know… sometimes my inspiration comes from shows like Grey’s Anatomy or This is Us. What can I say? I’m a sucker for TV drama. As it so happens today’s episode of Grey’s left me feeling particularly inspired for two reasons: one, the speech Avery gives on Grey’s behalf [...]
Her Patchwork Heart 
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