Category Archives: Mental Illness

Faces, Faces, and Even More Faces

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The response to my I Need Your Face blog post was wonderful. I did try to thank everyone – who sent me their face – individually, however, I am sure that I forgot a few. If you did not get a thank you from me, please know I do appreciate your submission.

I have something very special in mind for all the faces I received, and I will be e-mailing each person who sent me face the details before anyone else gets them. I will be spending the rest of my week working on The Many Faces of Mental Illness project.

I am so excited, because I think it is going to turn out beautifully!

School, Alaska, and a Job

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I have had so much going on lately, and I just do not know where to start. Life has been good, there have been a few tears, and a whole lot of blessings.

 

School

 

School has been going really well. There’s a whole lot for me to learn, but I think I have done well so far. Right now, my GPA is a perfect 4.0. This is actually what it looks like:

Current Points: 228 / 228  =  100%

Next week I have a huge test, it is worth 132 points. I got all my class work done early this week, so I hope to be spending quite a bit of time studying the materials that will be on the test. The first session of the semester is almost over. There are only about three and half weeks left – maybe a smidge less. Next session I will be taking two classes. Those will be review classes. I take my first psychology class in the first session of next semester.

 

Alaska Cruise

 

Originally, the plan had been for us to drive from Georgia to Seattle in get on the cruise ship and drive back home when the cruise is over. I was not completely thrilled with this idea, however, I was not going to say a word against it because, after all, the endpoint would be the cruise. I had actually even started looking at the map so maybe I could put to a vote in to stop at some places I had never been before. Things have changed. I am so glad they have changed. It turns out the cost for a round-trip ticket from Georgia to Seattle and back is fairly inexpensive for some reason. It actually would turn out cheaper for us to fly that would be to drive. So now we’re going to fly to Seattle. Yay! I’m sure that I would have found a way to enjoy the drive, but flying gets us there much faster.

 

The Content Authority

 

Several weeks ago, I filled out an application for The Content Authority. What they do is hire writers to copy-write. Clients will submit work orders to The Content Authority. Those work orders contain key words, and instructions for a set of well written paragraphs. Most of the time these paragraph should be persuasive paragraphs. Generally, the client uses what has been written for them to create webpages, and/or sell a product. It is not very exciting work, but it seems like most of the people who do it enjoy what they’re doing. A couple months ago, I found out that The Content Authority has finally reviewed my application and sample writing and decided I might be a good fit for them.

I get paid by the word, and right now the pay is extremely low. However, I do have the opportunity to work my way up and get paid more. I have already completed my first job assignment, the editors have approved it, and now I’m just waiting for the customer to pick up. I made a whole total of $2.01 for that first assignment. It is $2.01 that I did not have before.

I honestly can’t think of too many times when I’ve had such a great week. Even though the weather is hot, I have enjoyed sitting on the back patio.

I Still Need Your Face

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I am looking for Faces! Your Face! For a project I am working on.

The original post about this project can be found here:

I Need Your Face

The response I have gotten so far has out weighed any expectations I had. I am overwhelmed, touched and blessed by all of you who have submitted a photograph. So many of you have taken the time to share a little of your story with me. Thank you for doing that. You are all so inspiring!

The cut off to send me your face for this round of the project will be Monday, June 13, 2011.

Did you notice I said “this round of the project”? Ya’ll have inspired me to create something a little different than what I intended, something I believe is even better than what I had originally imagined. I am currently setting all the details in place, and will make an announcement when it is all ready.

In the meantime…send me your face! Tell your friends to send me their faces. Men, women, young, and old, lets show the world what the Faces of Mental Illness really look like!

 

I Need Your Face

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Last night, I read a post on WEGO heath, titled The Faces of Mental Illness. It was short, and to the point…

There is no one face of mental illness

and ended with this question…

I think it is important to show the world that all kinds of faces can be associated with mental illness. How about you?

I did not take me long to decide on my answer…

Yes!

I have thought of how I can do my part to show the world the many faces of mental illness. I am literally going to show the faces.

I need your face! and your face! and yours too!

Please send me a picture of you (or your family member with a mental illness), your name (indicate if you want your name shown), and a little statement granting me permission to use your picture on my blog. I will create a blog post using the pictures. The title of the post will be The Many Faces of Mental Illness.

 

Come on and join me! Let’s show the world The Many Faces of Mental Illness!


my email is melissalynnshell@gmail dot com

Power of Positive Words – B

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letter b

Words are powerful. They can affect a person’s mood, attitude, and outlook on life. If we are constantly being barraged by words that belittle us- most of the time these come out of our own mind – then we are going to go around viewing everything from a negative point of view. This can become a very difficult habit to stop.

The best thing we can do to shift from a negative point of view is to be mindful of the words we use. One way to do this is to build up a positive word bank. The way I like to do this is to think of a word that goes with each letter of the alphabet, and explain why the word makes me positively happy.

Buddy – This word makes me feel positively happy because…I want one! For the first time in a long time, I think I want to have a social life. I am just trying to figure out how to go about it.

Power of Positive Words – A

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Words are powerful. They can affect a person’s mood, attitude, and outlook on life. If we are constantly being barraged by words that belittle us- most of the time these come out of our own mind – then we are going to go around viewing everything from a negative point of view. This can become a very difficult habit to stop.

The best thing we can do to shift from a negative point of view is to be mindful of the words we use. One way to do this is to build up a positive word bank. The way I like to do this is to think of a word that goes with each letter of the alphabet, and explain why the word makes me positively happy.

 

Aspire – This word makes me feel positively happy because it represents the dream I thought would never happen. I had honestly given up on the idea that I would ever go back to college. It seemed like an impossible dream. But look at me now, not only am I back in college, I aspire to obtain a Bachelors of Psychology

Counting My Blessings

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Image found on "My Time" a blog by Lori Shrout

Counting My Blessings (formerly know as Thankful Five) is something I like to do to remind myself of all the wonderful things I have in my life.

Some of the blessings I am counting this week are:

  • Our backyard – even in a subdivision there are many birds who visit our backyard. Just sitting out there you can hear a wide variety of bird songs, and chatter
  • My mother – she is an incredible person, who is strong, and caring. She has had a very difficult last few months, but she is getting through it.
  • College – I am loving the challenge that college is presenting me.
  • Truth – when someone takes the time to tell me the truth about myself – with love and respect – it means a great deal to me.
  • Music – I have been listening to more music lately, and I am enjoying it.

North to Alaska

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The other night I was told something extremely exciting. My mother, a friend of hers, my grandmother, and I are all taking a cruise to Alaska in September. I can’t believe it! Alaska is one of those places I have always wanted to go, but figured I would never make it.

Going to Alaska is just only part of the excitement. Mom has booked us a deluxe veranda suite on the ms Amsterdam. Of course there’s enough sleeping areas for everyone so we can share the suite, we will even have our own private area to sit outside and watch the ocean. With all the amenities that come with the suite, I am going to feel extremely pampered. Some of those lovely things are:

  • A whirl pool bath – I anticipate looking like a prune several times during the trip.
  • Corsages for our first formal night – I cannot remember the last time I wore a corsage
  • Hors d’oeuvres served before dinner each evening on request
  • A cocktail party with the ship’s officers – How cool is that?!
  • High tea – I have never done this.
  • A special lounge, only accessible to certain guests – I already checked, it  even has wifi!

Our ports of call during the cruise are:

  • Leave from Seattle, Washington
  • Puget Sound
  • Glacier Bay
  • Juneau, Alaska
  • Sitka, Alaska
  • Ketchican, Alaska
  • Victoria, British Columbia Canada

We are currently discussing what types of excursions we would like to participate in. I have one in mind I would like to do.

It is called Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s Tour. You get to watch them crab fish and etc. on the Aluetian Ballad – a crab boat that was on Season II of The World’s Deadliest Catch. The information says that there is a lot of wild life to see, like whales, seals and more. The fisherman also share their fishing stories with you. I will let you know which ones we decide on!

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My Do-Overs

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I have been feeling rather inspired by the do-over concept I mentioned in a previous post – If I Could Do Things Differently. It has made me look at my past in a much more positive way. I realize that I have a whole bunch of do-over stories I can share. After reigning in my enthusiasm just a little bit, I figured out that some of my stories would best be shared in a more private environment, however, that still leaves me with quite a few that I feel comfortable talking about here.

I have decided that every once a while I’m going to share a do-over story. In case you didn’t go look at If I Could Do Things Differently, let me remind you of how I am using/defining the word do-over:

Do-Overs are experiences to which I MIGHT have reacted or acted differently if there had been a mentor present in my life at the time. They are not an expression of any type of longing or desire to change the decisions, and choices I made in my past. They are something I am sharing for the benefit of others, who might find themselves in a similar situation.

Please feel free to share any of your do-over stories with me, either here on my blog or on your own blog. I would be happy to provide a link back.