YAC Community Blogs- Everyone has a story.

For our new collection, which you can read all about in the You Are Collection blog, we really wanted to branch out to our community and see if people would be interested in talking about mental health for a couple of hours and share in raising awareness. We were pretty floored by the number of incredible people who a) even got back to us and b) took the time out of their lives to spend with us. 

Strong means to me that I'm still here// Strong means to me that I can be there for other people// Strength is sometimes getting out of bed and facing the day// Strong and strengths mean the ability to talk about it// It just takes a lot of inner strength to stand up with it and face it every day

Brave is being able to openly admit I'm mentally ill but still working on it. // A lot of bravery comes from vulnerability. // Taking a chance on asking for help.// I think Brave means wherever you're at you're just going to be awesome at it and be the best you that you can be// Building that confidence..

I wanted to leave. This was pointless. I could be asleep and reset tomorrow. I kept repeating in my head, any words that were gonna make me leap out of that hospital chair and leave. But I was lucky, I had Rebecca walking me through this a step at a time being aware of how I was feeling and what was the best situation for me.

So here we are, working on self-worth. Another night in the hospital, a couple but not nearly enough one on one counseling appointments, a medication change, new doctor, more medication, couples therapy, and dialectal behavioral therapy on the books for the winter - we're moving along. Sharing the good and bad, the highs and lows, the monotone... Because that's what it is, living our lives to our best possible ability, and helping each other along the way.

First and foremost I would like to give warning to those who have had suicidal thoughts and attempts or anyone who can be easily triggered. I'd also like to mention #mentalillnessawarenessweek which took place from October 6th & 12th. As a person living with mental illness, I ask you, please seek support and start the process of getting help if you think you may be living with mental health challenges or illness. 

I've been focusing a lot on self-compassion lately. I would recommend everyone on the earth checkout selfcompassion.org. I don't care where you are in your life, there's a nugget of wisdom for everyone. Anyways, it's all about what self-care and compassion really look like and well, basically, it's the opposite of what the internet thinks. 

A year ago I could've never predicted where I would be. I probably would've said off traveling - or at least I would've hoped so.

Oh, quite the contrary. Planting roots? Would that be the opposite? Michael and I have come a long way. This year has been challenging for so many different reasons. Business, personal life [...]