February is over, so this is my last ‘Share the Love Series’ post (more like a reflection), but sharing the love is never over. A few moments have really stuck out in my mind over the past few days. Like the fact that this month is also known as Black History Month and many advocates like Martin Luther King Jr. have fought for African American Rights. (To be treated equally, which fits a bit into ‘sharing the love’ I’d say.) I’ve seen many events in my community spreading awareness for women’s rights, LGBTQ rights and much conversation about gun violence, sexual abuse, and mental health. There are so many advocates in this city, state, country and world for a number of groups. I applaud all of you. What you do matters!
Yet there’s something I’ve been constantly thinking about as my eyes scan the words, ‘share the love.’ Why can’t we just generally being there for people in all walks of life? – Be kind, compassionate, respectful, accepting and loving. All of these advocates and what they stand for could be rolled up into one word, love. Without love, how do we live?
The other day, I attended an educational event called ‘Mental Health First Aid USA’ with a few coworkers. I’ll be honest, I was pretty excited to freshen up my knowledge on mental health and I’ve been struggling with caring for those close to me (including myself) whom live with one or more mental illnesses.
Psychology has always interested me. How the mind works, I’m always curious about what others are thinking, feeling and why they react to things the way they do. (Maybe this is why I LOVE to interview people.) This training gave me a new way to approach those that may need assistance due to a mental illness or substance abuse. It helped me have faith in people and the compassion and understanding they hold. I found myself very inspired. Inspired to be an advocate, to make a difference.
I’ve also been reflecting on choices I made throughout the past year or so. Relationships I’ve lost and those I’ve gained. How these changes have helped me grow and become stronger mentally. Through the training I was able to recognize ways people have approached me in the past that were kind and thoughtful. As well as ways I’ve been approached that were toxic, unhelpful, and only made my anxiety and depression worse. I’m happy to say, I now know when these relationships need to be ended.
I’m making a goal for myself, to not rush to judgements about another person. You never know what someone else is going through. You can only try to understand, listen, lend a helping hand, and provide resources. I think, because I too struggle from anxiety and depression, I notice how others around me throughout my day-to-day life judge people. Exclaiming, ‘they’re crazy’ or ‘that person is nuts’. It makes me want to correct them, but instead, I hope one day they realize that maybe that person needs help, needs love, that it could be them, you just never know.
I think the least we can do, is share the love we have with one another.
If you’re interested in taking this course, to be a conduit for mental health and substance abuse. You can visit Mental Health First Aid to learn more about course options near you.
I kind of just wanted to get down some thoughts, which may or may not have made sense. (Hopefully it did?) I hope you get a little something from this, maybe a smile, or little spark of something. I plan on sharing more about mental health in future posts. – What do you think?