A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. ~ The Message Bible
2018 was my year for healing and for accomplishing my goals - I completed my book challenge by reading thirty books in a year!
My Favorites:
Graphic Novels/Comics:
Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: A Graphic Novel adapted by Pete Katz
Ms. Marvel Vol. 7: Damage Per Second
Ms. Marvel Vol. 8: Mecca
Supergirl: Being Super by Mariko Tamaki
Young Adult:
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Self Help:
The Posttraumatic Growth Workbook: Coming through Trauma Wiser, Stronger, and More Resilient by Richard G Tedeschi
You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero
Nonfiction:
Hope in the Dark: Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities by Rebecca Solnit
More Than Two: A Practical Guide to Polyamory by Franklin Veaux
Women Who Run with Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estes
The Complete Poetry of Anne Sexton
At the end of the year, I self-published my own book!
You can now read the journey of my recovery after my last hospitalization, available on Amazon as a paperback or for your kindle.
In between, I started my own online mental health newsletter and I started my own business:
Hope Is Real Mental Health LLC
My business is the vehicle for my mental health presentations, art workshops, books, and art.
I led an LGBT Cultural Competency Workshop at the GMHCN St. Simons Conference to rave reviews.
I performed with the R2ISE Theater at Emory - I wrote a piece called, "The Gift of Psychosis."
I led a few mental health workshops for my old youth group with lots of enthusiastic participation.
I sold some art.
I helped my church qualify for the United Church of Christ mental health designation (Mental Health Hope and Wellness).
Holy Shit! I did a lot!!
lol. That's not even everything!
Last year was for completing goals and new beginnings-this year is to see those new beginnings grow and blossom! Out of my trauma grew many redemptions fed by the waters of hope, love, and support.
When I reflect on all I accomplished last year, I am filled with gratitude. Surely, I could not have completed any part of it without the help and support from my family, my therapist, my peers, my friends, my church. I would say, "my God," except that I feel like that name puts human limits on a force that is so much bigger than what we can comprehend.
I will leave this post with a gratitude poem I wrote last year: