The Persistent Hero

What did The Little Engine That Could, Hercules, Harry Potter, and Elle Woods all have in common? Well, yep, you guessed it, perseverance and persistence. When things became difficult, they braved their fear and conquered their obstacle, whether it was a mountain, Hades, Voldemort, or Law School. We are constantly being told these incredible stories of inspiration, and don’t get me wrong, I love a good hero, but could the levels be hindering us? These stories start with a regular person like us. First, the person faces a great challenge, and then they try to conquer the challenge before they are ready, they fail, they have inspired again, and then conquer the challenge—the end.

However, what about when we need more time to conquer the challenge? Are we not heroes, then? Are we unrealistically expecting to meet these challenges? Then when we do not, do we let it hurt our confidence? If this resonates with you, know you are not alone. It happens to so many of us. Now what? Should you give up? Is life meaningless? NOT!

Who is to say that was the right path, anyway? Have you considered that perhaps what was behind that door was harmful and life pointed you in a better direction for a reason? Plus, there are many lessons to be learned from mistakes. If we constantly conquer our challenges, we narrow our chances to learn. Sometimes enduring failure is part of the process. Understanding the lesson of failure is essential to a greater appreciation of winning. We like to believe we have our entire lives figured out “I will be a doctor, get married at 28, have three kids, and have one million dollars by 30.” If only we were able to predict the future that easily. John Lennon said it best, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans…”.

I’d be remiss if I told you I always succeeded. That is nearly impossible, but if you know the secret trick to guaranteed success, please let me know. However, I have learned not only how to accept failure but also to learn and grow from it. This is not to say you should always aim to fail, but when it happens, know there is value to it.

The truth is that no one has more insight into what tomorrow will bring than you. This gives us all a level playing field. Feeling sad or let down when you fail is okay, and you should let yourself think that. However, remember that the sun will rise again, and the next day is full of new opportunities. Dust off your clothes, get up, try again, or change your course. Whatever you choose to do, know that by moving on, you are persevering and persisting through it all. At this point, you have become your hero, and that, my friends, is beautiful. Channel inner that Mariah Carey!

Music Can Heal

They say that one thing brings us (humanity) altogether. That thing is music. Music has transcended time, languages, distribution methods, and more to become what it is today. Since I was young, music has been a part of my healing. It is not meant to therapy or medication but rather to aid depression/anxiety alongside other treatments. If I feel particularly sad or angry, sometimes blasting sad or angry music in the car does just the trick.

The thing about music is that it lets us know we are not alone in our emotions. It shows us that even celebrities like Ariana Grande or The Weeknd understand how we feel (because they likely have experienced the same sentiment). This helps us as humans to feel connected as opposed to feeling isolated and alone. Feeling connection naturally increases feelings of belonging. When we feel connected, our emotions are understood and validated.


Take the playlist below with a grain of salt. It is a modge-podge of songs I have compiled over the last few years, encapsulating many of life’s emotions/feelings. I like to put it on when I am in our feelings (sad, happy, angry, etc.). There is truly something for everyone on here. Please don’t hold it too much against me, but there are multiples oldies; but hey, like I said, it transcends time! If you hate a song on here, that’s cool, don’t listen to it, then. There are a couple of religious-ish songs on the playlist; if you want to skip them, please do. This in no way, shape, or form is meant to influence you or your beliefs. This is just what has helped us in the past. I hope you get something out of it too. If not, try to create your own. Be sure to share it with us! You never know who you could be helping in the process.

Music affects us all differently, and what could be meaningful for one person may not have any meaning for another. That is OKAY! That is the beauty of it, the unique connection. If you have time to give our playlist a listen, please do. If not, no worries, and cheers to you anyway!

The Mental Health stigma is SO overplayed.

Mental wellness is rooted in positivity and rewiring our brains to think mindfully. This can lead to a much happier, more productive, and more fulfilling life. It is no secret that mental health has been stigmatized for decades now. While the world is opening up to mental health, there is still much to do. That is where this platform comes in! Well, partly because I believe every person who speaks up about their mental health is helping to end the stigma. That’s where YOU come in! I want to hear about your mental health journey! I want to hear and support you, the good, the bad, the ugly, the indifferent – whatever it is you feel moved and comfortable sharing with us.

At A Sound Mind And Body, I am still in the early stages of development. The idea is to become a mental health community where you can find resources, inspiration, education, and inquire about mental health. I plan and hope to evolve from there. I encourage you to push the mental health envelope (respectfully, of course). There is still much to be discovered regarding mental health and the human psyche.

Welcome. If you feel down and want to look into your options. Welcome. Suppose you need a little encouragement. Welcome. Suppose you are new to the mental health community and need help knowing where to begin. Welcome. If you are unsure, anxious, and have a million questions. Welcome. Suppose you stumbled upon us and do not know why you are here. Welcome.

As you can see, there is a place at the table for everyone at Her Sound Mind. This is a place were differences are celebrated. I do not tolerate exclusivity and/or bullying because of our differences. If that is ever experienced, observed, or threatened, please report this immediately, as it does not meet our code of conduct. ALL are welcome. Thank you for being here! Hope to see you here again soon!