Hope is Real!

The rainbow fist is going to be the cover of the new book, with title added, of course. Practice makes perfect-I made at least six different pictures of fists and rainbow won. However, people really liked my purple fist too, so I’m not throwing it away. I think I will make these two pictures into stickers and maybe enamel pins. Consider donating or subscribing to my patreon account-the money will help me be able to turn my art into these fun products! #rainbow #purpleart #rainbowart #supportlocalart #atlantaartist #artheals #bethechange #recovery #endstigma #mentalwellness #mentalillnessisnotacrime #alifeworthliving #hopeisreal #gratitude #pride #prideart #mentalhealthmatters #bpdwarrior #anxietyrelief #riseup #keepgoing #spoonie https://www.instagram.com/p/CC6JCCPFgMh/?igshid=ihcsjs5elfq4

White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. I colored this last night during my zoom coloring party. You have to be creative during this pandemic! Mindful coloring soothes the soul. What are you doing to soothe your soul during these scary times? #whiterabbit #mindfulness #selfsoothing #distresstolerance #dbt #dbtskills #bpdrecovery #edrecovery #bpdwarrior #edwarrior #anxietyrelief #anxietywarrior #aliceinwonderland #coloring #alifeworthliving #hopeisreal #recovery #mentalhealthmatters #beatstigma #depressionwarrior https://www.instagram.com/p/CC1ZXQslqcu/?igshid=qcbv2l8w8aj0

The next piece I put on Etsy to sell and it’s another one of my favorites. “No one was willing to discuss the truth.” I made this a long time ago but it feels very relevant. It would be a great addition to a writer’s wall! Are you willing to discuss “the truth?” The truth that mental health applies to everyone and we need to end the stigma against it? I hope so! The link to my Etsy shop is in the bio. #etsy #supportlocalartists #artheals #truth #stigma #endstigma #mentalhealthmatters #endmentalhealthstigma #recovery #atlantaartist #blackoutpoetry #blackoutpoet #blackoutpoetrycommunity #bpdrecovery #bpdwarrior #arttherapy #edrecovery #edwarrior #anxietywarrior #anxietyrelief #ocdwarrior #depressionwarrior #bipolarbadass #schizoawesome #alifeworthliving #hopeisreal #bethechange https://www.instagram.com/p/CCymo8yFUU1/?igshid=4hx3h8f2cfci

“Somehow my soul feels suddenly free...” a framed collage I’m selling on Etsy-link in bio. I really love this piece-when I saw the frame in Goodwill a few years ago, I knew immediately what picture belonged there. It’s hard to feel free nowadays-with covid and racism and stigma in this country. Art helps me feel freer as I express myself through paint, magazines cutouts, and words. How are you maintaining a sense of freedom for yourself? #freedom #recovery #artheals #collage #framedart #artforsale #etsy #endstigma #blacklivesmatter #wearamask #goodwill #alifeworthliving #hopeisreal #artistlife #bpdwarrior #bpdrecovery #edwarrior #edrecovery #depressionwarrior #anxietyrelief #ocdrelief #bipolarrecovery #bipolarwarrior #schizoawesome #bethechange #freeyourmind #loveyourself #supportlocalartists https://www.instagram.com/p/CCv6TVGl1-V/?igshid=d0m3xugsyl9d

Getting ready for my wellness activity tonight-I hope you can come! (Yes, that is my shower curtain lol) The theme is encouragement and positive affirmations and dialectics for recovery! Intrigued? Check us out! _________________________________________ The workshop will explore what to do when feeling stuck, not good enough, and wanting to give up using poetry and music. I will also introduce the concept of dialectics and how that can be a helpful tool in recovery. **zoom ID: 865 2178 2305** **zoom passcode: 553684** __________________________________________ I chose this particular topic because I have received so much interest over the concept of dialectics lately. I promise this will not be boring! The activity is designed to last an hour, but if people want to stay after and talk longer, we can. *Mental health wellness applies to everybody, so anyone with an open mind and heart can join. Feel free to invite others. #mentalhealth #recovery #mentalwellness #dialectics #dbt #onlinewellness #bpdrecovery #bpdwarrior #edwarrior #edrecovery #anxietyrelief #gadrelief #gadwarrior #spoonie #spooniewarrior #ocdwarrior #depressionrecocery #depressionwarrior #bipolarwarrior #schizowarrior #gratitude #hopeisreal ## #positiveenergy #positivevibes #keepgoing #wellnessworkshop https://www.instagram.com/p/CCrhfXElY2T/?igshid=kmzbl8zmtq4e

Hello everybody! This is something new I'm trying out-if people like this, then I might start hosting a couple a month. I love creating out of the box wellness activities and dialogue about mental health. Right now, I create and facilitate peer support wellness activities for Dekalb County Drug Court but I would love to broaden my world, so I thought I would open up some of my wellness activities to the public. The event is free. There will be a link for donations if so inspired. _________________________________________ The workshop will explore what to do when feeling stuck, not good enough, and wanting to give up using poetry and music. I will also introduce the concept of dialectics and how that can be a helpful tool in recovery. **zoom ID: 865 2178 2305** **zoom passcode: 553684** __________________________________________ I chose this particular topic because I have received so much interest over the concept of dialectics lately. I promise this will not be boring! The activity is designed to last an hour, but if people want to stay after and talk longer, we can. *Mental health wellness applies to everybody, so anyone with an open mind and heart can join. Feel free to invite others. #mentalhealth #recovery #mentalwellness #dialectics #dbt #onlinewellness #bpdrecovery #bpdwarrior #edwarrior #edrecovery #anxietyrelief #gadrelief #gadwarrior #spoonie #spooniewarrior #ocdwarrior #depressionrecocery #depressionwarrior #bipolarwarrior #schizowarrior #gratitude #hopeisreal ## #positiveenergy #positivevibes #keepgoing #wellnessworkshop https://www.instagram.com/p/CCqWlJbFGx4/?igshid=1ipcz7p03f0zo

For whoever needs to hear this today: Today in my wellness group we talked about how to challenge mental health and addiction stigma and self-stigma. We ended on the thought that if we ever start thinking we’re stuck, we can go back and remind ourselves that being in recovery means that we can and will change for the better. #recovery #hopeisreal #recoveryisreal #alifeworthliving #endstigma #mentalhealth #mentalhealthstigma #addictionstigma #mentalillnessisnotacrime #selfstigma #mentalhealthdiscrimination #bethechange #changeisinevitable #keepgoing #onedayatatime #recoverywarrior #bpdrecovery #edrecovery #anxietyrecovery #depressionrecovery #bipolarrecovery #schizorecovery #mentalillnessrecovery #ptsdrecovery #bpdwarrior #edwarrior #anxietywarrior #ocdwarrior #bipolarwarrior #depressionwarrior https://www.instagram.com/p/CCorLnrl4bQ/?igshid=ymia4iyn3t0p

This is the image I’ve had in my head for days now: a rainbow, a fist, a heart. I might tweak the picture a bit but this is the basic design for my new book. I’m so excited! It makes me feel joyful to look at it and that is exactly how I want people to feel. What do you think? One step closer to my goal. Donate, buy, or subscribe to help me pay for publishing. But more than that-pray, send good vibes, love, and feedback. Be kind. #rainbowbaby #selfpublishing #prayers #spirituality #artheals #prayerheals #writingheals #hopeisreal #alifeworthliving #keepgoing #bethechange #recovery #mentalhealth #bpdrecovery #edrecovery #ocdrecovery #depressionrecovery #anxietyrelief #anxietyrecovery #spooniewarrior #spoonie #schizoawesome #gadrecovery #chronicpainwarrior #anxietywarrior #bpdwarrior #edwarrior #gratefulheart #gratitude #goodvibes https://www.instagram.com/p/CClcuzDFIpb/?igshid=1tcir3l5mnbt7

“How are you not throwing away your shot?” Last Thursday’s wellness activity was on “My Shot” from Hamilton. We spent an hour listening to the powerful energizing music and analyzing the lyrics. We talked about our goals and dreams and freedom for all. This Wednesday I am going to host my first public wellness activity and I hope to see you there! We will be talking about dialectics and positive affirmations. If it goes well, then I may do another in a couple more weeks and it would have to be on this song, right?! How could I not-it’s so fun and uplifting! This Wednesday’s activity starts at 7p. Zoom ID 865 2178 2305 Zoom passcode 553684 (BTW, I am starting something new-behind my Instagram posts will be a graphic about how to support me. Don’t feel obligated, but every little bit does help.) #hamilton #myshot #wellness #peersupport #mentalhealthwellness #mentalhealth #zoomevents #dialetics #musicheals #alifeworthliving #hopeisreal #positiveaffirmations #goodvibes #goodenergy #gratitude #gratefuleveryday #dontmissit #wellnessevent #recovery #mentalhealthrecovery https://www.instagram.com/p/CCjAPhcFkmF/?igshid=118xugpd0vbf2

Langston Hughes-Are we splashing yet? R2ISE is doing a zoom Black Lives Matter event tonight. Let me know if interested. #blacklivesmatter #poetryheals #langstonhughes #sunsetindixie #alifeworthliving #hopeisreal https://www.instagram.com/p/CCgjKeOFGxE/?igshid=6q558qq5q280

I used a tripod for my iphone and I’m really happy with the result! In my new book, Hope Is Real: Radical Recovery Prayers coming out soon, each day has a scripture, prayer, action item and a book recommendation. This is action item for the first entry-write down all of your worries until a piece of paper and crumple it into a ball and throw it away! As someone with GAD (generalized anxiety disorder), I can worry and ruminate to the extreme but worry does not actually make anything better, so I am working on ruminating less and loving life more. Go to my blog -link in bio- and see some other of my anti-worry actions. #dontworrybehappy #gad #anxietyrecovery #gadrecovery #anxietywarrior #anxietyrelief #ocdrecovery #ocdwarrior #mentalhealth #stopstigma #recovery #copingskills #bloggersofinstagram #fatshion #flabulous #prayerworks #prayerheals #pray #letgo #goodvibrations #positivethoughts #grateful #tipfortheday #mentalhealthmatters #alifeworthliving #beskillful #letgoandletgod #keepgoing #newbook #writingheals https://www.instagram.com/p/CCdeQX8lgN_/?igshid=1czupxd0c9i4e

Positive affirmations from my most recent blog post-link in bio. I’m also hosting a free workshop on July 15th-“positive affirmations for hard feelings.” We’ll talk about how to handle feeling stuck, and wanting to quit. I’ll introduce dialectics and how they help me, plus there will be some poetry and music. Zoom ID: 865 2178 2305 zoom password: 553684 I’d love to see you! #positiveaffirmations #bloggersofinstagram #recoveryblogger #dialectics #wellness #wellnessworkshop recovery #mentalwellness #gratitude #grateful #dbt #dbtskills #bpdrecovery #bpdwarrior #edrecovery #edwarrior #anxietywarrior #depressionhelp #stopthestigma #ocdwarrior #ocdrecovery #alifeworthliving #hopeisreal #schizoawesome #goodenergy #keepgoing https://www.instagram.com/p/CCbKctflVjX/?igshid=rlmhmw4pm2cy

Your little shot of mindfulness beauty and gratitude this morning. #mindfulness #gratitude #grateful #positiveenergy #bethechange #goodvibes #dbt #dbtskills #bpdrecovery #bpdwarrior #anxietywarrior #anxietyrecovery #depressionwarrior #edrecovery #edwarrior #schizoawesome https://www.instagram.com/p/CCYz3mWFdHt/?igshid=1tutjjcjsqvq1

New blog post about dialectics-link in bio. Mine today is The sky is gloomy and I can still be positive. What dialectics help you? #dialectics #sodialectical #dbt #dbtskills #copingskills #positivity #bpdrecovery #bpdwarrior #edrecovery #edwarrior #anxietyrecovery #anxietywarrior #depressionwarrior #bipolarwarrior #schizoawesome #alifeworthliving #hopeisreal #mentalhealth #gratitude #gratefuleveryday #wisemind #positiveaffirmations https://www.instagram.com/p/CCTmJeblCwo/?igshid=1imocachokchj

New blog post about the Fourth of July in these times. Link in bio. Last night I tried out my new fire pit and made s’mores with my roommate’s kids. It was fun and made me happy. I’ve had to reframe how I think about this holiday using dialectics. I can love this country because it is my home and I can hate its white supremacy. I can recognize that this country was founded on genocide and slavery and choose to follow love. I can celebrate family and push for systematic change. Read my blog post for more. #dialectics #dbt #dbtskills #blogger #recovery #firepit #smores #foodporn #edrecovery #bpdrecovery #joy #gratitude #alifeworthliving #hopeisreal #blacklivesmatter https://www.instagram.com/p/CCRMYthl6Ew/?igshid=1qdsyaqb0l2xg

I’m wearing my #irunwithmaud shirt today Just got back from a Black Lives Matter prayer march through Kirkwood. I’ve also got a new blog post out about different ways of thinking of the Fourth of July. Link is in the bio. Learn how dialectics are helping me in my recovery and in my striving to be anti racist. #blacklivesmatter #independenceday #antiracism #dialectics #dbtskills #recovery #bloggersofinstagram #writingheals #bpdrecovery #keepgoing https://www.instagram.com/p/CCOcqxKFBlm/?igshid=m9whvwjt8q0m