Remembering the Challenge

I apologize for the gap in blogs. My last one was in August. The past 4 months have been very difficult as I enter into a menopausal time in my life. Not there yet because you are considered menopausal if you haven’t had a period in a year. Well back in July, I thought being in “menopause” according to my doctor meant not more periods. That has not been the case and my brain condition is better now but has been a challenge.

It was two years ago that I was recovering from a fractured ankle.  I remember how challenging that period of time was in my life.  I had never had a physical challenge previously so it was a new experience for me.  The restrictions I had and the inability to drive (it was my right ankle) gave me a perspective that I had not had before.  I learned much from my experience with a physical challenge despite having an invisible challenge for years.

In January 2016, I was honored to write a post for The Mighty.  I recently reviewed the post and it reminded me of how differently an individual with a visible challenge is treated compared to an individual with an invisible challenge.  The insights I learned helps motivate me to continue to strive to decrease the stigma and discrimination that so often is directed towards those with an invisible challenge.  I share the link to the blog post below.  May it bring insight and awareness to others.  Many blessings to you in 2017.

What Hurting My Ankle Made Me Realize About Having an Invisible Illness

Facilitating My First Leadership Academy was a Successful Experience

This past weekend, I co-facilitated a Leadership Academy for the first time.  It was a great experience. The Leadership Academy is an exemplary training program designed for peer, family and parent leaders in mental health recovery.  The Academy is an educational training program for those who are eager to strengthen their leadership, networking and advocacy skills. 

The Academy focuses on creating system and community changes through collective self-determination, which exemplifies empowerment.  I originally attended the Academy myself back in May 2013 and completed the train the trainer program in October 2013. 

Due to funding, the Florida Academies were delayed until recently.  So, FINALLY, this past weekend, my co-facilitator, Laura Gribble, and I conducted the first Leadership Academy in our region.  We had a great group of individuals, who participated in the three-day training.  The participants want to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others.  

The Leadership Academy began in Idaho in an effort to increase consumer involvement within the behavioral health system and communities.  The program expanded and in May 2013, the first Florida Leadership Academy was held.  The Florida Leadership Academy is sponsored by CLEAR (Connecting Leadership, Education, Advocacy and Recovery), a statewide program of NAMI of Collier County and the state of Florida's Department of Children and Families, who overseas mental health services in the state of Florida.

Despite being a little "rusty" on the material since it was 2 years ago since I attended the original academy, the weekend training went well.  Laura and I successfully graduated 12 individuals, who are now going to be even more effective in advocacy within their communities.  I am honored to have been a part of the training and I look forward to co-facilitating the next one.