Me: I just need more peace.
Inner Me: What if your power is in your war?
Can’t say I was happy with that, but it made sense. As much as I hate all I go through, without it I couldn’t relate it tell stores that help people heal, find their own path, and recognize their own journey.
I feel I have purpose and much of that purpose has been birthed out of these low moments….
I have helped more people because of my relatability. My ability to even know what to say to comfort someone is due to my low moments.
I think of all the people Mychal the Librarian is helping by merely being honest about his struggles with mental health. People are being more honest now about struggles they’ve been dealing with quietly in the shadows. People who had no idea what to do are receiving ideas on how to deal with what’s been going on with them. The shame that I’ve was therapy (seeing a therapist) is now normalized in conversation.
Simone Biles choosing on a grand stage that she was stepping away from the Olympics for her safety had the United States in an uproar, as people called her weak and wrong for shirking her responsibilities, while others applauded her for her bravery to do what was in her best interests despite the pressure. So many, now, have her as a reference when they know they need to take time off but are tempted to risk their health and press through.
Jenifer Lewis, one of my favorite actors, who’s been in the business for decades was one of the first celebrities to be open and honest about her diagnoses and struggles with her own mental health and the importance of going to therapy. As a Black woman, well known in our community for the numerous important roles she’s played, her voice mattered. In Black communities therapy was not a welcomed topic. We have a long history of being taken advantage of, harmed, and misused by the medical community. That alone, not to mention the cost of therapy was enough to let us be okay suffering in silence. We’d learned to not trust them and fear therapy. Her voice is a powerful and trusted one. If Jenifer Lewis is saying she goes and it’s okay, maybe it’s safe and worth a try.
I share my stories, experiences, and insights I gain along the way because I believe there is value in our testimonies. I believe we are here for each other. And it’s worth it to me to be vulnerable and share my personal business if it can help you navigate life with more clarity.
Many years ago when I attended church my pastor said words that’s really stuck with me. He said, “God lives you too much to let you go through for no reason.” I held on to that, even as my views on religion have evolved. I still choose to believe that what I do through has purpose. And if I can find value in my ear maybe, just maybe, it can help bring you some peace.
I’ll double back later to fix typos. Than you for being here.
Blessings,
Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist
