This post is a bit heavier than my usual content, but it's incredibly important for me to share.
Photography: @kyliephoto
If you've been reading my posts for a while, you know that I'm a big reflection kind of gal—I think it's super important to look at the past in order to grow. I was going to post this last week, but I wanted to take time to celebrate the two-year anniversary of this blog. That being said, today we're going to focus on 13 months ago, which was one of the darkest times in my mental health journey.
To be completely transparent with you, it was a really ugly time for me. There were some unjust situations and unhealthy relationships that were taking a major toll on me (on top of that, I got quarantined). Here's how I knew: I was struggling to see any good in the things around me. One conversation that sticks out to me in particular was with my dad. I had told him that I was struggling, and he encouraged me to write this blog because it's always been a source of joy for me. My response: "I don't know what to write. I don't feel inspired."
Guys. That was one of the most gut-wrenching things to realize as a writer, that I didn't have any words to share. I felt empty and didn't know where or how to be filled. Looking back, I see that Savannah and her hurting heart, but I'm proud of her for pushing through.
I don't necessarily want to focus on what I was feeling and the circumstances that brought me to a dark place, rather, I want to talk about the things that encouraged me. I want to highlight the people and things that kept me going in the midst of a dark time, so that way you can feel encouraged that 1) you aren't alone in your mental health journey, and 2) you can walk alongside someone else's mental health journey and support them.
So, here are two of the tangible things that encouraged me during my valley that you can use to support yourself or your friends who may be struggling.
Little Anonymous Gifts
This is actually why I was inspired to write this post: I found a picture in one of those "a year ago today" things on Google Photos of a bouquet of flowers. Someone had left them at my front door with an anonymous note dedicating them to me. It's not exactly the most flattering picture of me, as I was moved to tears by this gesture, but it was really important to me. To this day, I don't know who gave them to me, but I am beyond grateful.
You may be asking: why make it anonymous? Well, I always think it's fun to surprise people and be "in the know." More importantly, however, we, as the givers, don't get the credit. This matters because we can rest in the fact that we acted in kindness without being glorified for doing so. For me, since I didn't know who left them, the flowers made me gracious for the whole community that I was surrounded by. It was a guiding tool for me to practice gratitude for a whole group and not just one person.
Texts of Encouragement
It sounds so simple, but it really did make a difference for me. There were some really consistent people who texted me both in and out of quarantine to remind me that I was loved and cared for. Sometimes they were paragraphs, other times they were a couple words with an emoji, either way they were uplifting for me.
It doesn't even have to take a whole minute out of your day! Our words really do have power, whether they are spoken or written. You can use your power to uplift someone, even virtually. Just receiving a "thinking of you!" text changed the course of my day sometimes. Sending a text a quick and easy way to remind someone that you're thinking of them.
Final Reflections and Application
I want to tell you all now that I am in a much better place today, and I couldn't be more thankful. It was a battle, and there are times where I still struggle, but it was worth it. Mental health is such a prevalent topic today, but sometimes I think we spend too much time focusing on the fact that it's real, that we forget to talk about how to live with and through it. Mental health matters, your mental health matters.
If you know someone who is in a rough patch, perhaps you would consider doing these things or something like them for that person. These are really attainable ways to care for someone and remind them that they are loved.
If you yourself are struggling, I encourage you to reach out. I know it's scary and I know it hurts. But there are people in this world who want to walk alongside you, who want to lift the weight off your shoulders and carry it with you. It's because of people like my best friends and my family and my small group that I was able to see hope in my dark times. Lean into those relationships, we are here on this earth to care for one another.
In the end, remember how loved you are. Your actions have the power to encourage someone in their struggles. Your mental health matters. You matter.
#savvysays #savvysaysblog #mentalhealth #struggles #mentalhealthmatters #loveyourself #bekind #support #community #love
Comentarios