Tribute to People Who Have Died Because of Ignorance about Mental Illness
We pay tribute this month to two young men that sadly died as a result of their mental illness being grossly misunderstood and mistreated. Although we usually try to focus on uplifting messages in our newsletters, the cases of Irvo Otieno and Joshua McLemore, which have been in the news recently, we felt compelled to share their stories, both for their sake and for our commitment to changing the way people with mental illness are treated.

Who are you?
Who are you?  And who are you not?  For that matter, who are you that you don’t want to be?  And even better yet, what parts would you like to cultivate more?

Seeing More "Reality"

The Pink Fleshy Fish Lips

When we write our newsletters we always try to find a photo or piece of art to illustrate whatever topic we’re exploring. This month we’d decided to write about shifting perceptions but hadn’t yet found a fitting image. Right after tabling that task, as Rebecca closed the photoshop program on her computer to open a word doc, she was suddenly assaulted by a disturbing image on her screen–pink fleshy fish lips peaking out from below a black video frame!

Year In Review
At the end of every year we do an exercise–the “Year in Review”–going through the year and listing what impacted us and what we accomplished (click here for a hand out with instruction on doing a YIR).

We know being grateful makes people happier—it also makes them healthier, more resilient, and more connected to others.  But how do we actually build the gratitude muscle?  Gratitude journals?  Gratitude lists?  Counting your blessings and good fortune?

Gioia and Rebecca often joke that despite the fact that they share the exact same profile on the Myers-Briggs–they are both heavily weighed on the scale of extroverted, feeling, and intuitive perceivers–they are opposites in their natural dispositions. Gioia is generally light, energetic, and buoyant while Rebecca is more frequently anxious, moody, and easily fatigued. Because they are both such exaggerated feelers, it’s self-evident that Gioia would want to maintain her positivity and Rebecca would want to increase hers.

Why is it that some of us who have been blessed with so much in life still find living so difficult? 
Rebecca and her friend Amy mused at this perplexing phenomenon as they commiserated on how challenging life had always seemed to be for them—especially in contrast to people like Jenny, Rebecca’s twin (also good friends with Amy) who seemed to be naturally more positive and emotionally buoyant.

“My heart breaks for all survivors of sexual assault and abuse. I am so sad that our country is failing them when they need us most. Doctors must be able to give people the medical care they need, when and where they need it.”  Dr. Caitlin Bernard

KC, Rebecca’s Husband, Discovers He Might Be a Highly Sensitive Person
Last week Rebecca’s husband, KC, said that he’d just come across a quiz that revealed that he was a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP).  Rebecca, in what could be easily be called a highly insensitive response, literally laughed out loud and said, “You are not an Highly Sensitive Person!”

KC, Rebecca’s Husband, Discovers He Might Be a Highly Sensitive Person
Last week Rebecca’s husband, KC, said that he’d just come across a quiz that revealed that he was a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP).  Rebecca, in what could be easily be called a highly insensitive response, literally laughed out loud and said, “You are not an Highly Sensitive Person!”

May is Mental Health Awareness Month
At the risk of stating the obvious, though, our attention to mental health has to persist because the cost of struggling with mental illness, especially those with symptoms of depression, can be so high.

We wanted to share some of the drawings that were sent in to us this month when we put out a call for mandalas on the theme of “What is important to you and what keeps you strong.”

We just saw a video from Denmark that really touched a nerve–in a good way.  It helped ease a pain that we, like so many people, feel about how divided we all seem to be in this country — particularly acute for many of us because it isn’t just in the US, or in the world, but in our workplace, our friendships, and even in our immediate families and our homes.