Overcoming Schizophrenia

I'm grateful for my sanity- I've learned not to take it for granted. I'm grateful for my health insurance and effectiveness of my medications to keep symptoms at bay. More importantly, I'm grateful for my family and extended family (friends). I'm able to bounce back because I have a solid support system and treatment team. Modeling Recovery When my family and I learned about my schizophrenia we didn't know what to expect nor what recovery could look like. Back in 2007, when I was diagnosed, there weren't people- black nor white disclosing their illness on public platforms like YouTube and social media.      There was nobody to model recovery for me- being a young black woman. However, I saw the movie with Diana Ross- Out of the Darkness. A movie made for television about a young African-American female living with schizophrenia. In short, she dropped out of medical school and suffered with her diagnosis. Fortunately, she got involved in her recovery and star...

This month (June) is the anniversary of my mother's life. The picture of me and my mother was taken while I was in high school. In this picture, we were standing on the porch in front of her antique shop. There are countless lessons she instilled in me, however, entrepreneurship is one of the few at the top of that list. Another is how to be a great supporter and mother by making loving sacrifices for one's child. While I was not well, and at my worse, she stopped working to relocate, in order to care and support me. I love my mother, and that experience portrayed the woman, and mother I aim to be remembered by my own child. I saw an American Greetings card and purchased it for myself. I think of my mother everyday, I want to acknowledge and celebrate her with another soothing image for me. I am honoring my mother's life and passing due to stage four breast cancer. I am also honoring all amazing mothers and women who've impacted us in loving ways among a milli...