The Aftermath of Suicide

The Aftermath of Suicide

The last time I saw my father, I was boarding a train. I took the Amtrak route from his city to my mother’s city an hour north, every other weekend. This is what custody battles do. Twenty-two years later, the memory of our last moment together is as hazy as day tamped down by the […]

The Color of Success

The Color of Success

It’s been about a year since we participated in One Spark. We made a lot of connections during the 5 day festival. One Spark gave us the courage to grow and helped validate the idea of bringing art groups to those living with mental illness in Jacksonville. One Spark was challenging. The five 11-hour day […]

The Ferris Bueller Theory

The Ferris Bueller Theory

The Ferris Bueller Theory: Making the most out of life despite our struggles To my fellow people struggling with mental illness: don’t wait to be happy. I was covering a college graduation for my job a few days ago (I’m a reporter) and I looked around at all the graduates. Their smiling, hopeful faces brought […]

Motherhood and Mental Illness

Motherhood and Mental Illness

For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be a mom. I was always the mom when my friends and I played house. I remember asking for and receiving a baby doll for many Christmases, even my tenth when my obsession with motherhood outweighed even my growing passion for soccer. I felt […]