Welcome to my blog!

Hello all,

I wanted to take a moment to discuss the name of my blog. “Take care” is often something you might say to a loved one when you are telling them goodbye. The intention behind this farewell statement is usually focused on traveling safely or, in recent times, using extreme caution to protect yourself and others from contracting COVID-19. To me, “take care” means to be cautious of your overall wellbeing which includes but is not limited to physical, mental, and emotional health.

We typically know what it means to take care of our physical wellbeing; however, the lines become blurred in regards to mental and emotional wellbeing.

Mental and emotional health are virtually dependent upon one another – emotions effect thoughts and thoughts effect emotions. However, the emotional and mental battles we have with ourselves are not evident to the outside world. Individually, we are the only ones that truly know how we feel or how certain events in our lives have impacted us. What may seem incredibly mild to one person could absolutely destroy another. Trying to communicate our feelings and experiences is another challenge all on its own. In my research and readings about mental health, an example really stuck out to me: imagine trying to explain how a strawberry tastes to someone who has never eaten a strawberry. Take a moment and think how challenging that would be. The person would never truly be able to understand what a strawberry tastes like unless they ate one themselves.

This is the perfect example in regards to mental health and related issues. Unless you have experienced it yourself, you truly cannot understand the magnitude of it. Additionally, every experience we have in life shapes how we respond to future experiences. This is why a single event may not effect one person as severely as another. It is also important to note that most people do not share every detail of their life with us. We only know as much a person chooses to share with us. And even when someone does share their stories or discusses difficult moments in their life, the negative effect of the events are not always disclosed.

Moreover, many people may also display various negative behaviors in response to how certain life events have impacted them. The internal struggles an individual faces may also effect their behaviors. This is so important to remember with every interaction we have with another person.

Further, mental and emotional issues are not “one size fits all”; therefore, it can be challenging to figure out what we should do to take care of our mental and emotional wellbeing. Unfortunately, these strategies are not taught in school and oftentimes not taught at home. Many of us are left wondering what we can do to improve our situation and not knowing where to turn for answers. It is my hope that the information I share will help someone find those answers or serve as a guide for taking care of your own mental and emotional health.

Additionally, our mental and emotional wellbeing can impact others. Our actions and behaviors are strongly related to our thoughts and emotions. Our actions and behaviors impact the people we are around; thus, effecting the way they think and feel about themselves. Therefore, we must become self-aware, take time to self-reflect, and seek self-help when necessary. Not just for ourselves, but for the impact we have on others as well.

It is equally important to consider our role in supporting individuals who may be visibly or silently suffering. Remember, many people do not show they are suffering to the outside world and even if they do, the impact of their suffering is not always disclosed. I’m a firm believer that we must take care of not only our mental and emotional health, but also that of other individuals. Don’t get me wrong, I do not believe we should assume full responsibility for someone else’s mental and emotional health. However, I do believe we must make an effort to show kindness, grace, empathy, and compassion to each other in order to motivate others to help themselves and not minimize the impact of another’s suffering. It is the intention behind our words, actions, and behavior that can mean the difference in someone seeking professional help or adding fuel to the fire that leads someone to their breaking point.

So first and foremost, we must take care of and assume responsibility for our own mental and emotional health. Once we have made those improvements in our own lives, I believe we should essentially “take care” of others by being kind, supportive, and provide encouragement as they embark on their own journey of managing, or in some cases recovering, from their mental and emotional issues.

In summary, my blog was named “Take Care,” as a reminder to take care of your own mental and emotional health; then, support and encourage others who may be struggling or suffering as well. I will be sharing information that has helped me on my journey of improving my own mental health including but not limited to personal examples, articles, books, and various strategies. Additionally, I want to offer support to others on their journey in taking care of their own mental and emotional health. If you have questions or would like to share your own personal tips or stories, feel free to leave a comment below!