On #letstalk day, I’m thinking about how we check in with, and care for each other. Having friends who’ve been patient with my endless mistakes has changed absolutely everything for me, and there aren’t enough days or ways to appreciate them. When we’re told to talk and reach out, we don’t often hear about just how messy this process is for everyone involved. Mental illness can make everyday tasks seem impossible, and this includes reaching out. The messy nature of asking for

For me, fighting mental illness means fiercely fighting to connect, #BellLetsTalk has been a huge part of learning that. In the past, the initiative itself has often caused me confusion as to whether it’s good or bad. Though this year I’ve realized that, even though I’ll always have doubts, my main motivation is making sure we keep the volume up on this topic. There are still so many important aspects of mental health that seem terrifying to bring up, alone. The fact that the

“It’s only writing. It’s only drawing, and remembering something, that’s all. Caption...caption– clueless in new york...” With that, Fun Home explains my summer nyc life surprisingly well. After nearly 6 months, I was back for the first time. This visit showed me that in a single moment, it’s possible to be both overwhelmed by the unexpected ways a place that you once knew has changed, but also be terrified that certain things still haven’t changed at all. No matter how many