Thav
Thav's JournalMy wife and I have an adventure ahead.
My wife and I have been doing a lot of walking lately. One challenge on our Fitbits is 100,000 steps in a single day. We wanted to take that challenge, but raise it to the next level. Recently, my wife and I attended at Make it OK event, and learned more about them. Make It OK is a community campaign to reduce stigma by starting conversations and increasing understanding about mental illness. https://makeitok.org
Make it OK helps by training people on what to say, and more importantly what NOT to say, when someone opens up about their mental illness.
My wife lives with PTSD, anxiety and depression. I live with, what I consider, mild anxiety that sometimes prevents me from doing things sometimes.
My wife posted this to her Facebook page, and she's a much better writer than me:
Since starting the organizing process for the Make It OK - One Step At A Time fundraiser I have had the opportunity to talk with a lot of people. It has been during each one of these conversations that I am more and more convinced that mental health awareness needs to come out of the shadows. We are taught to never let anyone see our weakness, to put on the brave face, to hide our feelings... But weakness or frailty is human. Having times of uncertainty is human. Having emotions is most certainly human. Yes, there are times when we need to have control over our thoughts and feelings, but not because we need to be ashamed of them. That's how the stigma surround mental health can take root.
As I stated, I have had a lot of conversations as of late regarding mental health. Some people have opened up to me; telling at times very heartbreaking stories of struggle. These are the people that [Thav] and I are walking for. These are the people that I am willing to push myself through a physically grueling experience for, even if this project only helps one of them. Some people have been supportive. Yet, the hardest conversations of all have been those that show the other side of the coin. The ones that show why we have so far to go, and why people are hesitant to seek help. Just yesterday, one such conversation ended with the statement, "I think what you are doing is great, but there are a lot more physical illnesses out there that are more important." We are also walking for people who feel like this. I know this person was not intentionally trying to say anything hurtful, but the message surrounding mental illness has long been that people who are dealing with mental health issues are not as important. If you are someone who has received a message like this, even from those who love you, let me assure you.... YOU ARE IMPORTANT! YOU MATTER!
[Thav] and I are still seeking your support. I am humbly asking for your contribution toward the Make It OK campaign so that we can continue the conversation, and educate others. You can give securely at https://givebutter.com/MakeItOKIASteps.... Thank you to everyone who has donated so far, offered words of encouragement, agreed to walk with us for part of the way, and so much more. Together we can accomplish a lot. Together, we can #MakeItOK.
After the hand the world has dealt us over the past few years, there are many of us who have acute mental illness, but many more have chronic mental illness. We need to come together and help those who are struggling be OK again.
DU, I'd like your help. Please help us support this cause by learning how to help someone Make It OK. Also, please join us as we do our journey. The path to handling mental illness isn't a short one. However, the most important part of that journey is the first step.
I'd like you to visit https://makeitok.org and learn more. If you'd like to support us, or just watch our occasional live stream, we're at https://givebutter.com/MakeItOKIASteps
Let's help Make It OK again.
Prayer Warriors - I could use some this week.
I've been working on a startup for about two years now, and it's close to going gangbusters. I have a few meetings this week, including a presentation to the state legislature - which if it turns out well could be monumental.
So pray for me, that I may receive wisdom and guidance to use the gifts God has given me, and for grace of peace, so the stress of everything doesn't bring me down.
I released my first mobile game.
It's a little math puzzle game I made to try out a development platform, and it's pretty fun. It's free, but has ads you can (optionally) watch for power ups. I'd appreciate it if some of you fine people could try it out and let me know what you think.
Thanks!
Android: Super Math Challenge
Apple: Super Math Challenge
I just sent $10 to Bernie!
I challenge you all to skip a coffee this week and sent it to help feel the Bern!
Let's help Bernie keep this momentum up. He went from a no-campaign to tying with the Hillary machine in 8 months. Let's help him swing it to a win in New Hampshire and other states!
Getting ready to hear the Bern in MC Iowa!
It's going to be a full house. Shout out to everyone here.
Ride from unemployed to job creator
It's been a tumultuous few months. It starts with being let go via email and turns into "I have too much work, I need to hire someone."
Before I was very unceremoniously emancipated from my former job, I was working upwards of 80 hours a week, on top of having a family. It was very unsustainable. I breathed a sigh of relief when I was let go and had a good weekend.
I started talking to people and found out there was a ton of work out there for people like me. Eventually I got enough stable work that I turned down two full time job offers to go on my own. One offer turned into a contract and now I'm here with too much work. I'm having to hire someone, but people in the IT field are hard to find around here, since they're in high demand.
So, it's been quite a ride, and the future looks pretty exciting.
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Member since: Sun Jul 11, 2004, 10:08 PMNumber of posts: 946
