My Favorite Bit of Information From The Week:
Relationships
It’s O.K. not to be O.K.
You are stardust and you are worthy of love, acceptance, and life.
This post from Maria Popova’s blog always reminds me of this fact. I hope it does for you as well.
This past week I have been showered with love and support from the family – chosen and biological – in my world. I used to have hard time being vulnerable with people, and as a result, I would never become very close with them. Often times I had many “friends”, but no active, true friendships. Much of this was due to fear.
But I believe that our connections with another is why we are here. Perhaps it has a cosmic purpose, or perhaps we are simply wired to seek it out for survival. Who knows? Perhaps I’m just feeling very loved at the moment. Regardless, if you are interested in creating deeper relationships, I highly recommend this TedTalk on vulnerability by Brene Brown. It changed my life, my friendships, and ultimately, it changed how I perceive fear.
While accepting love can sometimes be draining, it can also be quite positive for mental health. Quality relationships greatly alter our mental and physical well being. This short Harvard Medical article hits some of the best highlights including immune and cardiovascular health, as well as certain causes of non-genetic depression such as loneliness. It is important to note that depression brought on by loneliness and hereditary depression operate and respond to treatments very differently (there will be more on that in a later post.)
I also want to acknowledge that – especially as an adult in our culture – it can be very challenging to meet new people and cultivate friendships. If you have people in your world and you want to get closer to them, ask them to join you for a walk or a cup of coffee. Some of my best friends have been made this way. If you don’t have people, send me an email. We’ll get that sorted out!
Relationships and Mental Illness: This article is a beautiful resource, if you personally have a mental illness or have a friend or partner with one, since it discusses why having a relationship with a person who struggles with mental illness are important, challenging, and rewarding.
Update On My Show:
Research Update: This past week I took time off to celebrate my elopement with my partner and some of our friends and family. It was both challenging and fulfilling, but I am excited to create and work hard again this week for One Woman Hamlet!
Fundraising: The project is free for audiences and therefore is completely independently funded – any support is appreciated! If you have already donated, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, you have made it possible to get this far. And if you are not in a place to give a dollar right now, thank you for being here and being a part of breaking the stigma on mental health. Much love!If you would like to donate to my show, share this project with a friend, or find out more about it please check out my gofundme here.
Please check out the One Woman Hamlet Website: www.onewomanhamlet.com
AND! my update Video.
Many, Many thanks: Margo Siwak and Joe Siwak for the design of the logo, and to Jillian Best and Bill Best for the Website creation and Design! I feel very blessed to have such beautiful humans in my life.
Ways to Support: If you would like to donate to my show, share this project with a friend, or find out more about it please check out my gofundme here: https://www.gofundme.com/one-woman-hamlet
Thank You: Thank you VERY much to all who have donated thus far, making this project possible.
An extra thank you: To my editor Benjamin Lapean. He always helps me clarify my thoughts, and it was especially hard this time around.