Happiness Through Grace

01/08/2024

I know the feeling of not wanting to be in this world.

I know how it feels to think you are a burden to everyone who knows you.

I know the pain of feeling worthless and full of guilt for absolutely no reason at all.

I know what it feels like to live in fear of abandonment.

I know the heaviness and fatigue my body feels when all these thoughts consume me.

I know the uncomfortableness of wondering if you said the wrong thing, too much, or not enough in social situations and if others are tearing you to pieces after the interaction.

I also know these thoughts FEEL real, but are not reality. Depression and anxiety twists and turns your thoughts to appear real.

I’ve had many years of fighting my illness and am aware of the ups, the downs, and crazy turns it brings but I know in life, there are always better days ahead.

To the person who is struggling, I know what you are going through. The future seems too hard to fight.

To the person supporting them, keep loving on them, get them professional help, and be the person who will be by their side no matter what.

Depression and anxiety are mental illnesses. They bring a lot of emotions to the table and try to push those who love them the most away.

10/01/2022

One year ago today, we put on the Happiness Through Grace 5K.

It was meant to be an annual event during mental health awareness week.

Little did I know that God knew the plans for this weekend before I did and made sure it wasn’t approved.

Although Hurricane Ian didn’t cause a lot devastation in Matthews, it did bring high winds, a lot of rain and caused several events to be canceled this weekend.

I don’t know the plans going forward but I sure am proud of how the event went down last year.

$6000 donated to 2 local non- profits, 275 participants, and alot of great conversations had!!

06/11/2022

You’re familiar with anxiety and depression. But can you have both at the same time? And how does treatment differ for the two?

06/05/2022

Stopped by to visit George at work. The real gift is having grandma here to visit from MN :)

05/04/2022

Please take a moment to watch this:

High functioning depression is real..
Depression is hard to explain and hard to understand but I am so thankful for this Red Table Talk to shed some light.

05/03/2022

If you ever want to know how someone is feeling look in their eyes.

So much can be learned by just making eye contact and engaging in conversation with another person.

We are so programmed to ask the question:
“How are you?”
while responding with the simple answer:
“Good! You?”
without truly paying attention to each other.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

I challenge you to find out how people are really doing?

My eyes tell me everything in these pictures and remind me exactly of how I was feeling on those days, with the last one showing happiness.

Engage with each other. You never know how much of a difference it can make.

04/12/2022

I feel that……

It’s hard to say I’m not doing well. I never want to be the one that brings the low energy or constant complaining of what my mind is thinking or my body is feeling, so I don’t. I have trained myself to hide it very well, so well that it’s hard for others to comprehend or believe I could be struggling.

On the outside everything looks great but the insides are a mess. For some reason this season of depression is lasting longer than in years past.

But I’m constantly researching to find answers as to why I could be dealing with this.
BUT, I am also constantly bullying myself to stop thinking the way I do. I convince myself that I am just making my symptoms up. I’ve been to the doctor more this season than I have been since I’ve had babies. The physical symptoms make me feel like I have something serious going on.


I believe others think I’m faking mental illness and so I tell myself I am too. The thing is, I don’t REALLY know if others are thinking that but my anxiety makes me believe it, So I shame myself.

Reality is, It’s an illness. If I broke my arm, I couldn’t just say that it wasn’t broken and have it be fixed.
It’s broken.

My mind is broken and it’s exhausting whether you see it on the outside or not.

New medication is in the works but it will take time. That’s the hard part of figuring it all out….. it just takes time, and lots and lots of grace.

04/10/2022

How to start talking about Mental Health…..

Here’s how to break the ice if you see a loved one dealing with mood issues.

04/01/2022

“Concerns about adolescent mental health were rising before the pandemic: Teens had been reporting poor mental health at higher rates. Between 2009 and 2019, the percentage of teens who reported having “persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness” rose from 26 percent to 37 percent. In 2021, the figure rose to 44 percent.”

Covid will be affecting us in more areas than we could have ever predicted.

Nearly 30 percent of the teens surveyed said a parent or other adult in their home lost work during the pandemic, and a quarter struggled with hunger. Two-thirds said they had difficulty with schoolwork.

03/30/2022

You don’t have to struggle or even understand to be supportive.

Just seeing your smile, wearing the shirt, or saying I see you and I am here for you, is the best gift you can give sometimes.

Happiness Through Grace is all about acceptance, grace, and talking about mental health.

03/19/2022

Every single day…… create your own happiness.

Even on the hard days, it is possible as long as you are in charge.
Maybe your happiness is resting,
taking a walk, watching a movie, doing absolutely nothing.

Allow yourself to just be you and do what makes YOU happy.