“This year, instead of doing a Christmas song, this year, Greg and I decided to celebrate Hanukkah,” Grohl said. “By recording eight songs by eight famous Jewish artists and releasing one song each night of Hanukkah.”

Ok, obviously I think this is rad because I’m a huge Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters fan… and because I’m a very proud Jew and love to see my culture and heritage being acknowledged and celebrated.

But there’s something deeper going on here too, consciously or not, that I’m just loving. I’ve spoken and shared a lot about the undercurrents of antisemitism that permeate our culture - both from the political right, the political left, and everything in between. And over the last year, I’ve felt it so strongly and painfully especially in the context of everything else happening in the world.

I believe so strongly that music and culture are a way to bridge divides and to bring more cultural understanding and respect. I believe that artists have such a unique power and responsibility to use their influence to drive that change and to make impact that goes far beyond just them and their music. Whether or not it intentional, what Dave and Greg are doing here is bringing the humanity, understanding and recognition of the Jewish voices that have contributed so much to our society. They’re breaking the rules and the norms of just a white Christian-centered society… and saying there are other voices to hear and listen to. Love everything about this!

Happy Chanukah!

In keeping with the theme of gratitude… I’m about to get real vulnerable with y’all… (why am I southern all of a sudden?!)

I’ve suffered for years. I’ve dealt with depression, anxiety and major issues of self-worth. I’ve spent years in therapy digging deep and getting to the crux of what I was feeling and where it was coming from. And it was invaluable. I got to know myself inside and out and know why I was so unhappy. But something was still missing. I still didn’t quite know how to change it. I knew intellectually… I’d read lots of self-help books, watched all the TED talks, and talked through ideas and strategies with my therapist. But, though not back in the throes of depression, I would inevitably come back to feeling stuck and not being able to turn the ship around.

I’ve spent 17 years in the music industry helping people who want to be stars and make a huge impact in the world through their art and talent. And I’ve loved it. It always felt so rewarding to be a part of that magic. But I got lost in it. My identity and self-worth became so wrapped up in my career that without it I didn’t know who I was or what my purpose was. I felt at my strongest when I was leading a team from behind the scenes, steering the ship for artists and clients through record releases, tours, and marketing campaigns. And it was always in service of helping their light shine… but I lost sight of how to let my own light shine. My purpose became intertwined with theirs. So whenever my career took an unexpected turn (it’s the music industry- there were a lot of them), I got so thrown off course because I felt like I was losing a part of myself.

This past year presented an opportunity to take a step back from the only way I’ve known, and really dig deep into my purpose. I learned tools and skills that have quite literally changed my life. Nothing compares to having tangible, practical tools for awareness into how my brain works and what I can do with it to create the life I want.

I now know deep in my being that my purpose transcends my career… it transcends the “how” when I really believe the “why.” My career is just one of the vehicles I have to help me fulfill my why. So what is my why?  It’s to make an authentic positive impact and be an example of what it means to be in service of a greater good. It’s to help others make lasting impact - in the world, their communities, or even just their own lives. To help them use their music, art, experience, and talents to make the positive impact that they want to make. I believe that has to start from within. 

I’ve actively been learning and using tools that have brought me so much strength and clarity.

And when I discover something that helps me, I can’t help but want to share it with everyone I know and meet. (Just ask my hair stylist, aesthetician, therapist, you name it... when they’re good, I send everyone to them!) Which is why I’m on the path I’m on now... to be able to share those tools with my own perspective and experience with everyone that I can. 

So, right now, I am just eternally grateful for all of it. For the struggle, for the pain, for the confusion, and for the not knowing. Because all of that brought me to where I am now and to where I’m going. I’m grateful that I have the tools to deal with anything that comes my way and the tools to ask myself the hard questions that will continue to move me forward. I’m grateful for all of the teachers and coaches in my life in every form they take - family, friends, clients, artists, colleagues, and yes, some of the most incredibly smart and inspiring life coaches and thought leaders that I have the privilege to learn from and grow with!

If any of this resonates with you and you want to up-level your life, your activism, your music, your art, your career and make lasting impact… get in touch to see if I can help you.

I always think of him on Veteran’s Day (and pretty much every day.) By a twist of fate, he didn’t see combat… but the rest of his unit was sent to Europe and never came back. I think often how my life would’ve been if things had gone differently. Or if I’d even be here at all.

I owe my life to him. Not just my physical existence, but the ability to go after my dreams and live a life of meaning, purpose, giving to my community and doing my best to make the world a better place. None of that would be possible without his influence and support and I feel it daily.

He loved this country. He believed in fighting for his country and for the opportunities and safety it provided to his family,  the Jewish people, and immigrants from all over the world. He also loved Israel and he believed in the need and importance of a Jewish home in our ancestral homeland. It was one of my proudest moments to be able to dedicate a plaque to him at Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem on the Wall of Honor which honors Jewish men and women who served their countries. 

I think he’d be proud of this country today and the steps we’re taking towards progress and making it better.

I hope he’s proud of me.

Miss you, Grampa.

“The people have chosen empathy”

This was on the screens last night as the Vice-President Elect and President Elect took the stage. It gave me chills and I found myself way more emotional than I anticipated I would be. I felt the collective sigh of relief that was shared all across the country. It was as if I hadn’t even noticed how I was holding my breath for the last 4 years anytime I heard something from or about the president. To see someone on stage that exudes decency and character just came as such a breath of fresh air and of a sense of hope for the future.

I recognize that not everyone feels this way. I am doing my best to understand and accept other opinions and views. But I have to admit, right now it’s a struggle. For me, this election wasn’t just about policy. It was about values. It was about having a sense of decency, character, and empathy in the highest office of this country. Whether I agreed with the policies of the current administration or not, any seemingly “good” that was accomplished was tarnished by the demeanor and character with which it was carried out and the deep moral wound  and division created in our country.

While my personal politics tend to lean left, I think independently per issue and don’t just align with one party on everything. If there were a leader that I didn’t agree with, but I could respect his character and felt that he lead with decency, I could accept that. But that’s not what we had for the last 4 years. We had a leader that led through the lens of his own malignant narcissism, fear-mongering, hateful rhetoric. 

Joe Biden’s message of unity is exactly what this country needs right now. I know it won’t be an easy task and will probably take years past his administration, but this is a first step. To see Kamala Harris take the stage as the first woman and person of color to take the second highest office, was nothing short of extraordinary. I am just so proud to be an American today (and a Philadelphian!!) and am filled with hope.

But, we cannot ignore that over 70 million people thought the country should go in a different direction. While some of those people may be driven by hate, I do think (hope?) it’s a small percentage, and that most are just driven by what they think will be best for themselves and their families. But it’s time we think past ourselves. It’s time we reach out to each other and learn to accept our differences and find ways to move forward. 

We also need to remember, that just because there will be a new president, does not mean our job is done. There are still systems in place that are designed to lift some people up, and keep others down and we all need to do our part to change those systems. We all have significant impact to make and I hope that this change will allow us the space to do so.

Did you know your thoughts are optional? And whether or not you believe them is optional? We have thousands of thoughts going through our human brains on any given day that will present themselves to us. Very few of those are actually hard facts. Most of them are just stories we tell ourselves to interpret what’s happening around us. The good news is, that we have the power to choose which ones to believe and hold on to and choose ones that will serve us in the long run.

I know we’re all having a lot of thoughts today. Thoughts that cause feelings of anxiety, terror, judgement, or apathy. Or maybe ones that make us feel hopeful, optimistic, or energized. 

No matter the outcome of what happens today, how we choose to think about it and feel about it will determine how we show up and what we do next. Of course what happens today matters. On a national, international and local level - what happens in politics and government affects us whether we choose to engage with it or not. But when we give all the power of what we think and feel to people and circumstances that we have no control over - where does that leave us?

Yes, your vote matters! But once you cast your vote, you can’t control the outcome. Even if you get your desired outcome, you can’t control what politicians will ultimately do. You can use your voice, and you can use your influence. But you can’t control it. 

I don’t think it’s any secret where I stand in this particular election - but right now, that’s irrelevant. Whether “your guy” wins or loses - you get to choose whether YOU win or lose. If you choose thoughts that make you feel defeated and angry and cut out anyone that disagrees with you… does anyone win? But if you choose thoughts that make you feel determined and empowered…. then you win no matter what and you get to use your voice and influence in ways that will have lasting impact.

Some thoughts I’m choosing today:

• My voice matters, regardless of the outcome

• I can serve and inspire no matter who is in government

• I can be a force for good, no matter who is president

• I don’t need to have the president I want to show up with love. Love will ultimately lead us where we need to go

What are you choosing?

This past week I went on a puppy mission.

A family friend of ours in LA had posted on Facebook that her golden retrievers had a litter of puppies. My brother in Philly saw the pictures and knew that one of those puppies just had to be a part of their family.

I got to go meet the puppies, and a couple weeks later, I went to pick up our little Thea (short for Theodosia) and fly her from LA to Philly. I was there for a week, spending time with family and falling utterly in love with this little fur-ball.

It’s hard not to fall in love with a puppy. They’re adorable, soft and cuddly, playful little beings. But I realized what really seals that bond, is caring for a being that is completely dependent on you. I spent the week feeding her, caring for her, putting her to sleep at night and soothing her. I also helped with the beginning of her training and felt like a proud mama the first time she let me know she had to go outside to poop instead of just going on the floor. 

The overall method of training a puppy is to redirect them when they’re doing something negative and give them positive reinforcement when they do something good. You’re never supposed to yell at them or punish them… just redirect their attention and behavior.

It struck me that this is what we need to do for ourselves as well. Our brains will naturally do things that we don’t want them to do, just like little puppies. That’s how they’re wired. They’ll present thoughts that don’t serve us - tell us we’re not good enough, that something is too risky and too scary and do all sorts of things to hold us back and keep us “safe.”  Beating ourselves up and telling ourselves that we need to change doesn’t help. But redirecting our thoughts, and reinforcing the ones that serve us will always move us forward. This is the basis of thought work, self-love and growth.

How great would it be if we could care for ourselves and train our brains the same way we care for and train a puppy? With love, patience and the ultimate goal of bringing out our best. Maybe if we really treated ourselves this way, we could fall in love with ourselves the way I fell in love with this puppy. 

One of the things I love about being Jewish are the opportunities for reflection and connection. Instead of making New Years resolutions once a year... I get to make them twice! And usually that means beating myself up twice as much for not following through. Beating myself up twice as much for another year passing and all of the new signs of time on my face, my body and my heart. This year I’m committing to be different.

We can all agree the 5780/2020 has been one of the most challenging years of our lifetimes. But with challenge comes opportunity for growth. I went into this past year more optimistic than I ever had in previous years. I really felt and believed that everything I’d been working towards and hoping for would come to fruition this past year. As they say, we plan and G-d laughs. It didn’t happen exactly the way I thought or hoped it would… but it’s happening exactly as it’s supposed to and exactly how I need it to. I hoped that this would be “my year” for love and for career growth and fulfillment. And although it’s not what I thought it would look like… I did find it. I found more love within and for myself than I’ve ever had before. I found more fulfillment in the pause of life and spending quality time with my family than I thought would be possible. And my career took a turn that scared the hell out of me… but is turning out to be better than I ever could have imagined.  I’ll be sharing more about that soon. I’m just so excited to be incorporating my experience in the music industry with my background in psychology and personal growth, and my passion for activism and helping people achieve their dreams. I truly feel like I’m following my calling and I know I wouldn’t have gotten here if it wasn’t for all of the hardships of this past year. 

I can’t wait to share it all with you in the weeks and months ahead. My goals for 5781/2021 include to share more, connect more, appreciate more, and inspire more. I very rarely post pictures of myself because I can be so critical of myself... but as my 13 yr old niece told me this morning - if you want to help others shine their light, you have to recognize the light within you! The student may have become the teacher 😉. So here it is. I’m finding the light within.

As the Jewish new year brings new energy to all of the world, may we all tap into that energy and feel so much peace, love and joy that the troubles of this past year seem like a distant memory. Shana Tovah! 

I've been wanting one of these signs I've seen on so many lawns, but felt something was missing. I was feeling left out. Artists 4 Israel finally made the sign I was waiting for!

I've been thinking a lot lately about the power of artists' influence especially as it relates to antisemitism.

The rise we’ve seen in antisemitism over the last couple of months isn’t anything new. Antisemitism is one of the oldest and most deeply rooted forms of hate that exists in the world. Whenever there’s a crisis in society - antisemitism will rear its ugly head. Because that is the ultimate expression of antisemitism - whatever the current societal ills are, they’re blamed on the Jewish people. 

When capitalism is considered evil - Jews are money mongering capitalists who control all of the the banks. When communism is evil - Jews are the perpetrators. When racism is evil - Jews are the masterminds behind the slave trade. When colonialism is evil- the Jews and the “Zionist empire” are colonizing land that doesn’t belong to them. And the list goes on and on and on. It’s contradictory, outright falsehoods, and riddled with hate. But it’s not new.

So why are we all talking about it so much now? Because a number of people in positions of influence, deserved or not, did what’s been done for thousands for years. They took an opportunity of civil unrest, a pandemic, and general sentiments of fear and panic to scapegoat Jews and perpetuate antisemitic tropes that have been around for centuries. 

What’s most troubling though, is not only that they help to spread these messages, but that they are so ignorant and unaware of what they’re doing. Yes, many are outright antisemitic, but I would argue that most don’t even realize the roots of what they’re saying and the harm and pain that it causes. DeSean Jackson, Nick Cannon, Chelsea Handler and countless others, are not educated enough on the issues to understand the hate that they’re perpetuating when they share the sentiments and messages of Louis Farrakhan. Seth Rogen, though claiming to be a proud Jew, has no real knowledge or education on Zionism and the modern state of Israel or understanding of how anti-zionism and antisemitism are inherently intertwined. These celebrities latch onto the current headlines and sound bites from the people they think they’re supposed to be aligned with and just repeat nonsense without really taking the time to educate themselves. 

In today’s world, it’s trendy to be an activist. Take a look at all of the “Instagram influencers” at the BLM protests who were literally there just for the photos. It’s maddening. Activism should not be a trend. True activism is a way of life, a value system that one doesn’t have to flaunt, but rather lives by and organically influences by way of example through integrity and authenticity. When they’re wrong, they are willing to admit they are wrong and take the proper steps to listen, understand and learn. For this, I will give credit to Nick Cannon who seems to be quite sincere in his apology and willingness to listen and educate himself.

One could argue that nobody really cares what these celebrities say- they’re not politicians or academics - who really cares? I wish that were true. But the truth is, the world we live in is so deeply influenced by social media, by popular culture, and by all forms of media - that people in these positions of influence wield extraordinary power. And this doesn’t have to be a bad thing. In fact, I believe it provides an amazing opportunity for real change and real societal progress. But that power has to be used responsibly, intentionally, intelligently, and with true care. I believe so strongly that music, entertainment, and art in all forms have a unique power to unify, to connect, and open up avenues of dialogue and understanding. That’s how it should be used. Not to divide and alienate. 

This is why I love working with artists who care deeply about the world around them and understand the power of their platform for activism. Artists who want to be educated on issues before speaking about them, and who want to spread messages of positivity and love. When an artist or celebrity authentically gets behind a positive message and cause - the results can be astounding. Unfortunately, when they spread messages of hate - even when stemming from ignorance or without realizing that’s what they’re doing - the results can be so damaging and hurtful. And rarely can a simple apology undo the damage caused. 

We’re seeing the effects of this in the world of antisemitism and anti-Israel hatred. The same people who in one post call for love, equality, and respect, spread messages of hate and division in their very next post. I’d like to believe most of them don’t even realize what they’re doing. However, I truly believe that we don’t fight hate with hate. As a true Jewish activist- our best response is to stand proud and continue to spread messages of positivity and love. We need to do our best to educate the world on who we are and what we stand for, standing side-by-side in the necessary fight for justice with those that may not understand us. This is the only way that can lead to true unity and understanding. 

I’ve been thinking, processing, feeling, and most importantly... listening. So much has come up for me in the last few days, and while I’ve been sharing a lot of posts that I found impactful to my stories, I feel like I need to say more.

I’ve never identified as part of “white society.” My identity as a Jew has always been first and foremost - not only as my religion, but as my nationality and cultural identity as well. I identify as a minority in America. When I think of the term “white supremacy,” I think of people that hate ME and my community and people just as much as other minorities. I’ve never been a racist - at least not in the shallow and widely used definition of the term. My father marched with Martin Luther King Jr and risked his life time and time again for the civil rights movement. I grew up with parents who taught me that we are all human and creations of the same G-d. My family follows the Chabad tradition and philosophy (which granted, has its own issues with racism among some of its followers) and the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe who put an emphasis on treating ALL people with love and spreading more acts of goodness and kindness. But in spite of all of that, the color of my skin is still white. And because of that, and only that, I have benefited from a society built to lift up people with white skin and beat down people with black skin. That makes me part of the problem. I am just as susceptible to the institutionalized racism and the undercurrents of racial stereotypes that run through nearly every aspect of our society. Most of us don’t even notice we are being primed and conditioned to think, feel and behave in certain ways. It’s past time that we start to pay attention, notice, and make change.

It’s not the Black community that has a problem with racism, it’s the white society that is infected to its core with this virus of inherent and institutionalized racism. It’s white society that needs to fight it and root it out.

For the last few years, I’ve had an internal battle with my support of Black Lives Matter. Not because I don’t support and value the mission and message, but because some of its leadership has aligned with the BDS movement - a movement that is aimed at demonizing and delegitimizing the State of Israel - the land of my people. It hurt and pained me (still does) that a movement that I want so badly to align myself with, had seemingly excluded me in this way. Over the last week or so I’ve done some deep diving and soul searching to figure out how to resolve this conflict in myself. I can’t say it’s completely resolved - but I’ve come to some realizations. Ultimately, now is the time to fight for the Black community. Hate is rooted in fear and ignorance and we are ALL susceptible to it. Even those that are the victims of it. If I want to root out the hate towards my community and people in THIS country, it needs to start with the deepest and longest form of hatred that this country was quite literally built on - and that’s towards the Black community. How can I hope to root out any form of hatred when this one still runs so deep? If we can start here, then we can start to make changes from within. Some people within the BLM movement (SOME not nearly all) have made a false equivalency between the struggle of the Black community in the US and the struggle of the Palestinian people viewing Israel as the “white nationalist” oppressor. While I know how wrong this is, how can I fault people for being vulnerable to the subtle and not so subtle messages they are being fed? By fighting for a common goal alongside them, we can begin to help them realize how wrong they are about Israel. The same way they can open our eyes to so many subtle and not so subtle messages targeting their community that we’ve been vulnerable to.

That is why I am going to continue to speak up against injustice and continue to LISTEN. It is not my job as a white person to define what racism looks like. The same way nobody outside the Jewish community can tell me what Jewish identity means, or tell me what anti-semitism looks like, we as people with white skin can not tell the Black community what they should feel like, how they should be experiencing this world, or how they should respond. It is our responsibility to listen and to look inwards and make change. First within ourselves, our families, our communities, and then ultimately, the world.

I’ve seen too many people in my circle- well-meaning, good people - commenting on the riots, but making no comment about the murder of George Floyd or the injustices that Black people have been suffering for hundreds and hundreds of years. If you’re focusing solely on how people are responding to injustice and violence, I’m sorry but you’re completely missing the point and part of the problem. We don’t get to tell those suffering how to or how not to respond. We need to HEAR them and do the work we need to do on ourselves and our society. And don’t let yourself fall victim to the same subtle messages of stereotype and hate that people are trying to fight against. In many cases, the rioting and violence has been instigated by white agitators - not the Black community or Black Lives Matter. As Chris Cuomo so well said it - it’s judging symptoms and missing the illness.

As much as it hurts, I need to recognize my role as part of the problem. I can only promise to listen, speak up, and do better to be part of the solution.

#BlackLivesMatter #JusticeforGeorgeFloyd #GeorgeFloyd

It was an honor to be interviewed by the amazing, Jessica Abo, for a feature on Entrepeneur.com.

Check it out here:

We also filmed a version for JNF-Jewish National Fund where I got to talk about how wonderful it is to use your professional skills to make a difference in the world around a cause that is so dear to my heart. Stay tuned for more on the new Arts & Entertainment Taskforce from JNF!

Chester. Chris. Layne. Scott. Kurt. 

The list goes on…. 

These were some of the names and the voices that helped shape me and shape my taste and appreciation for music. They’re all gone way before their time. Why? Because of depression, addiction and mental illness in one form or another. These are silent killers. We can’t be silent anymore.

When news hit of Chester Bennington’s death by suicide, I was in shock. I can’t quite explain what made it hit me so hard in a way that others before hadn’t. The news about Chris hit just as hard, but this was a little different. I was in my car on my way to see my therapist (thank G-d for that) and a special breaking news announcement came in on Alt Nation on Sirius XM. I screamed out loud in my car “WTF??!!!” and had to pull over and text my friend and former co-worker who is connected to Linkin Park’s management to confirm. I just couldn’t believe it was true. I’m not sure why this one was such a trigger for me. Maybe it was the build up of all of them. Maybe it was the timing of some things I’m going through in my personal life with myself and my family that made it hit really close to home. Whatever the reason, my reaction was intense and visceral. In a way I feel numb. But I’m also so so sad. And scared. And perhaps most importantly, I’m motivated. I’m motivated to STOP THE SILENCE.

So many people are suffering in silence. Why are we so scared to talk about mental health and mental illness? Why should it be any different than any other illness or disease? Mental health issues do not make us weak. It makes us real.  This is true for everyone, but I speak especially to the music and entertainment industry because the fact is, we are a community at risk. Musicians, artists, creatives, and those of us who are surrounded by them in our professional and daily lives are especially at risk. Many of us are sensitive people who are deeply affected by the energy of the people around us. We have a responsibility to each other and to ourselves to break the stigma around mental health issues and say “It’s ok. You’re not alone.”  Especially those of us in management and artist relations who sometimes have to be “stand-in therapists” for our clients. We can’t brush away or minimize the signs of suffering. We have to hold each other accountable. 

Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do to help someone who doesn’t want to be helped. But, we can start to change the conversation around the issues. We can start to create an environment of more love and less hate. More acceptance and less judgement. More understanding and less silence. We can start to let people know that suffering is universal and there is no shame in it.

I’m going to start by revealing the story of my own struggle. This is something that is very hard for a generally private and introverted person - but I believe that we can no longer treat suffering as some dirty secret that we need to hide.

I’ve suffered with depression and anxiety in one form or another since I was a young child. At different stages in my life I’ve tried various medications and seen many therapists. For the most part, my depression was chronic. It was like a quiet shadow that followed me wherever I went. It wasn’t so severe that it always interfered with my daily life, but it was just always there and was always whispering in my ear. There were a few times where the depression got louder and did start to interrupt my life. In those times of crisis, I somehow got through them with the help of therapy, but never really addressed the underlying issues.

As an adult, I’ve done a relatively good job of hiding it. Sure, those very close to me know bits and pieces of it, but the really dark parts I keep just for myself.  About 5 years ago, a few months after I moved to LA, I hit another really dark, low place. At that point in my life, I had been through enough to recognize the signs and knew that I needed to do something.  I found an amazing therapist who after a couple of months of seeing me recognized that I needed to be back on medication in order for her to be most effective. I was quite resistant for a while. I had been on medication before and thought I was now “strong” enough to do it on my own and “naturally.” At one point, things got so bad that my therapist told me she wouldn’t be able to continue seeing me unless I went to a doctor and started medication.  She recognized that there was a chemical imbalance that caused the neurotransmitters in my brain to go all out of whack and misfire. This caused me to have a constant barrage of negative thoughts and chatter that I just could not turn off. There was no way for us to work through the issues that were bothering me when I couldn’t even quiet my brain enough to think clearly. 

I listened to her and got myself to a doctor and back on medication. It wasn’t an immediate or automatic fix. It took a while to find the right medication, the right dosage, and to allow my body to get used to it.  But, eventually it did, and my thoughts started to quiet down. And that’s when the REAL work began. The medication was not my cure. It was just a tool that allowed me to really do the work on myself that I needed to do.

I now accept that for whatever reason (genetics, environment, past trauma, and probably a combination of many factors), my brain chemistry is off and needs some correction with the help of medication. It may be something I need for the rest of my life, and it may not be. But I have no reason to be ashamed of it. If I’m deficient in Vitamin D or Iron, I take supplements. This shouldn’t be viewed with any harsher judgement than those.  I’ve been on medication and working with my therapist ever since - over 5 years now. I say working,  because it is WORK. It’s not comfortable and it’s not easy. I’ve had to confront many things about myself and my life that were painful and difficult to confront. There are times where it’s been downright miserable. But I can honestly say that I am healthier now than I’ve ever been in my life.

That’s not to say that I don’t still struggle. In fact, I’ve recently been going through an especially tough time with things in my personal life and family. But I now have more tools and skills to get me through it and to grow from it. Perhaps even more importantly, I know that if ever get to a place that is so dark that I think I can’t get out - there’s always help, and there’s always hope. And it doesn’t make me weak, it doesn’t make me less than or incapable of being successful and doing great things. It just makes me human.

Now, my story is mine alone. Medication is not the answer for everybody (and I believe that it’s never the only answer for anybody). Each person’s struggle is unique and so their solution and recovery has to be unique to them as well. Help can come in many different forms- a good therapist, a rehab program, medication, even a good friend. But one thing that’s not unique - is that no person can do it completely alone. They have to be able to seek the help they need without the fear of ridicule or judgement. We wouldn’t allow someone with cancer to suffer alone and not receive treatment because they’re too scared. We can’t allow someone with mental illness to either. 

That’s where we ALL come in. 

People are scared to make a bigger deal of something that may not warrant it. Nobody wants to sound the alarm and be the overreacting drama queen when their friend is just a little sad over a breakup. But why not? Educate yourselves and know the signs. Hold each other accountable. Make agreements with your friends and family that you will tell each other if things are ever feeling overwhelming. Sometimes it’s ok to “over-react.” Under-reacting has much more dire consequences.  We need to create a safe, loving, and accepting environment. We need to be aware of the people around us and look for the signs that they may be suffering more than normal.

To those in pain - know that you’re not alone and don’t hide it. I’m not saying to walk around with your pain on your sleeve and tell everyone you meet, but don’t hide it away from everybody either. Confide in the people you love and trust. Don’t be scared or ashamed to seek professional help. Hell, even the healthiest and strongest among us could benefit from some professional help once in a while! There are so many resources out there and so many people willing to help - if only they new where the help is needed.

I don’t have all of the answers. We need to change the culture we live in. We need to get rid of a stigma that’s been around for centuries. It’s not an easy task, but I’m hoping that just by speaking about it, we can start the process together.

There is so much pain in the world. So many people suffering. But there’s also a lot of love. Let’s allow the love to be louder than the “sound of silence.”