World Mental Health Day - Rambo

October is a month for many things, including Breast Cancer Awareness, Columbus Day/Indigenous People Day, Halloween, and many others. But something that is going to always be prominent is mental health and establishing open communication with those people in your life when you are struggling. 

Since 1992 when the day was first established by the World Federation for Mental Health and the first celebration by Deputy Secretary-General Richard Hunter; the world has worked to establish a general education/understanding of what it means to take care of your mental health. Some topics over the years have included mental health among women and children, human rights, aging, work, trauma, and so many others. 

Sometimes we forget just all that is wrapped up in mental health and how much it can impact our lives. Mental health for one person is never going to be the same for someone else. We use terminology to try and be able to define these things; words like trauma, anxiety, depression, hysteria, autism, abuse, compulsory. But words and definitions in themselves can cause problems and categorizations that are inaccurate. It allows us to self-diagnose. It allows us to stereotype. I know I have.

I sit here and I evaluate myself, I compare myself to those around me. And I become overwhelmed at just how troublesome I think I am. I have become overly familiar with the nuances in my life over the past few years. I have come to realize that a lot of what I perceived as normal, are actually signs of neglect and abuse. I have come to determine through my own ideas and the ideas of others that I have anxiety, I have some compulsory issues, I have some sensory stimulation responses, I have depression. None of these are officially diagnosed mind you, and maybe I have worsened them (especially recently) by trying to build and act on them but that doesn't make them any less real or pertinent in my life.

No matter what you are going through in life, there are always going to be things that cause you to seek an outlet, there are going to be people that disrupt your routine, there are going to be things that hold you back, there are going to be situations that cause you to be uncomfortable and have fear. We just need to continue to recognize these things and rather than only place ourselves into a box of isolation that can cause things to get worse.

Reach out.

Seek help.

Speak up.

I may not but we all should.

Y'know. Sometimes, if I sit here in the dark and I focus only on what I am physically doing. My literal actions. Sitting here typing away on a soft bed, wrapped in a warm blanket, and listening to some amazing soul-touching music; I can close my eyes for a second or two and be transported away to a time and space where I do not feel so uneasy in my life. A different timeline where I have come to a place where I am content with my life choices and am at ease with all future actions. A place where I can achieve a number of aspirations without hesitation or fear. 

Wouldn't it be grand if we could just all be in that happy place we envision for ourselves rather than have to transport ourselves there for a small duration?

Take the time to reach out to your loved ones always but especially on this October 10th for World Mental Health Day <3

Movie Review: Haunted Mansion (2003)

 

Disney presents the Haunted Mansion (2003)

Original Release Synopsis: 

"Workaholic real estate agent Jim Evers (Eddie Murphy) is accused by his wife, Sara (Marsha Thomason), of neglecting his son (Marc John Jefferies) and daughter (Aree Davis), so he takes the family on a vacation. Along the way, the family stops off at a sinister mansion that Jim has been asked to sell, only to discover it's haunted by Master Gracey (Nathaniel Parker) ; his stern butler, Ramsley (Terence Stamp) ; and two other servants who need some help breaking a curse."

Opening Weekend Sales: $24,278,410

Box Office Sales: $182.3 billion

Personal Review: 

'The Haunted Mansion' film is something I can recall watching on Disney Channel every October growing up. I can not recall much of how I felt viewing it at such a young age but I can only imagine relating to the child actors a lot when it came to the curiosity of being in a strange place as well as the fear and disgust of facing things like a spider coated door. As an adult, I definitely picked up more on the designs of the costumes, the architectural significance and probability of the actual mansion, and of course the singing. C'mon now, who doesn't love that musical quartet of singing busts?!? Overall, the movie still holds audiences captive and provides a mythical escape from the real world. Something I never really noted before as a youngster though? The french influence on the film as well as the corresponding rides at various Disney parks, reminds me ever so vaguely of the french significance of another Disney film, 'Beauty and the Beast'. This became extremely apparent to me when I viewed the end scene of Master Gracey being reunited with his Elizabeth. She appeared in a bunched up yellow dress similar to that of Belle's as they floated up in golden shimmers to the beyond. Just another fun way re-watching movies can keep you entertained I guess.

The First Weekend of October

 October. 

A month that gets overlooked by some but is the superior, spoopiest month for others.

For myself, October is not only the start of cooler weather and feeling at home in my own skin, taking in the smells of bonfires, the crunch of the crisp leaves under your feet, and all that other marvelous bug free living. October is also when I get to do the most outside, especially when it comes to decorating the home.

The summer months are too hot and bright for me to be comfortable doing much and while I enjoy the rainy season of the spring, the bright colors and growth; its also a time for a lot of other people to be popping out of the woodwork. And I am by no means a people person, even if my customer service persona tries to tell you otherwise. 

So fall is my domain.

Death and decay are the joy of my life most days and if I could bottle it up to remember for all eternity, I would gladly do so.

This weekend, we start to prepare for the Wicca hour. Pulling out all our various decor and planning our theme for this years yard display.

Who knows, maybe we will manage to get a Haunted House going for the first time!

What are some of your favorite seasonal attributes?

What do you plan on doing for Halloween this year? Is Covid going to hold everyone back for yet another round of tricks and treats or will everyone come to life with more gusto than before?