Mental Health: A Rollercoaster of Life

Alright, let's dive into the wacky world of mental health! It's like that distant relative who shows up uninvited at family gatherings—doesn't care who you are, it affects everyone: dads, mums, siblings, even the person nodding off next to you on the train.

Now, my own mental health adventure kicked off in my wild young adulthood. I took a dive into the deep end, trying to call it quits on life while simultaneously wrangling my dad's epic battle with the bottle. Miraculously, we survived that chaotic chapter, and Dad ended up trading his booze, drugs and violence for sobriety, clocking in an impressive 26 years before his final bow. He spent the rest of his days playing sobriety superhero to others.

My life's been a rollercoaster ride, like a Netflix series with too many plot twists. I've noticed a lot of us start off with weird addictions: booze, pills, even people! It's like a downward spiral into a vortex of chaos. We never got a lesson in spotting "mental health" at school—no handbook for when your world crumbles like a soggy biscuit.

Here's the kicker: Mental health doesn't discriminate. It doesn't care if you're black, white, purple, or a dancing unicorn. At some point, you're gonna hit a mental speed bump. Some of us cruise past it like pros, but for others, it's like hitting a brick wall.

So, picture this: I'm sprawled on the floor, feeling more worthless than a dropped ice cream cone. Sure, I had friends and a family straight out of a Hallmark movie, but I was stuck in the deep end of the mental health pool, clueless about how to paddle out.

Then, there's Dad's golden rule: write a gratitude list every day. I brushed it off at first, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I scribbled down stuff like "hot water" and "my bed"—bare necessities. Slowly, it morphed into an "I Am" mantra: "I Am worthy, blessed, brave…" You get the gist. It was like a magic spell lifting me out of the darkness.

Leaving my business? Piece of cake. I wanted to sprinkle a bit of sunshine on people struggling with mental health. I'd gaze at gloomy faces on the train, itching to give 'em a pep talk. But, let's face it, random pep talks on public transport? Not the best idea.

Then, one fine Sunday in June 2023, it hit me like a ton of bricks: why not spread those affirmations through clothing? It was like a disco party in my brain—lights flashing, music blaring. If I could sprinkle a little positivity into someone's day, help 'em strut with confidence, then mission accomplished!

So, dear reader, thanks for sticking around through my mental health monologue. Remember, it's all about those tiny steps. Today, muster up a speck of courage, believe in yourself, and who knows? You might just start a wild adventure of your own. Cheers to that! 🎉