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Dear Families, Friends, and Partners, “You need to take care of yourself." “You have to put your own oxygen mask on first”. As a parent of a young adult with a disability and the spouse of someone with cancer, I’ve heard these reminders a time or ten. I generally shrug off these well-meant suggestions and keep going, but as we enter Mental Health Awareness month, I’m challenged to stop…or at least pause... to reconsider. For me, what can taking care of myself and my mental wellness mean? Hint… it’s not a spa day or a long bubble bath (though both sound lovely). For me, it’s deciding to take steps towards health (literally…I’m working on increasing my steps every day), acknowledging when I feel overwhelmed, and talking with those closest to me. It’s realizing that some days are fantastic, and some we just get through, and that's okay. As we enter May and start to look towards summer, I hope that you are able to make your own wellness – physical and mental – a priority without guilt. So, drink an extra glass of water, listen to a favorite song, or stand outside for a few minutes…because to take care of others, we really do have to take care of ourselves. In community, Christy Reese, Executive Director
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