When there is no enemy from within, the enemy on the outside can not harm you. That’s a biggie. Mental health is a biggie. Knowing who you are & knowing what you stand for is a biggie. Because that means when you go through the hard stuff, that’s one less worry you will have. Sure, you will still struggle mentally. That’s inevitable. But you will not have to worry that you’re losing yourself. You will not beat yourself up nearly as hard. So then, when you are up against the learning curve of whatever your life changing event may be, you can go at it full force. You won’t be piling worry on top of worry. At least not on top of this worry. Because we all know that it only takes one worry too many for it all to come toppling down. And picking yourself up mentally while you are trying to pick yourself up physically? Phew. I don’t even know if I could ever find the words to describe what that would be like. And I’m really hoping I never will have to.

I view mental health as kind of like a bullet proof vest. Something that is thick enough to help protect you but doesn’t inhibit you from doing what you need to do to function on the daily or during the hard stuff. Its job is to cover the things that make me, me & you, you. Sure it will still hurt like hell when you take that bullet. The initial shock that the vest absorbs might knock you on your ass. But eventually, after the pain has passed, you will be able to get back up & still have all your pieces in tact. You might not be exactly the same person you were beforehand & you might have some dents from where the bullet hit, but you will have the option to still be the old you, though you probably won’t want to be. But the moral of the story, the stronger your mind & your mental health is, the better chance you have to endure and survive each shot that life shoots at you. Each fire being a new obstacle. Some shots will feel like there was no break between them, hitting you when you are down. While others will feel more like a missile. But as long as you have your bullet proof vest on, the better chance you have at survival. Sure, even the thickest of vests don’t give you a 100% chance of making it through, but it does give you pretty good odds. And whatever yours is lacking, the friends & family & community that is supporting you can help make up the rest. So do what you can, when you can to give yourself a mental health day. It’s just as important as leg day, and it makes you look twice as gorgeous. Having passion for having a good mind is a beautiful thing.

Your mind is a tricky thing. It can be your hardest critic sometimes, though you really wish it wasn’t. But the best way to keep on chugging, to keep the faith & know your strength is to be polite but straight forward. With not just those around us that doubt us but with ourselves too. You don’t have to keep thinking that the cup as half empty if you feel it in your gut that it’s half full. Don’t think your mind has to be right just because it’s your brain. It doesn’t always know best. It’s ok to have a differing opinion than your own mind. Especially if it means a healthier you in the long run. And to do that, to be polite but straight forward, is to thank it, your doubting mind, the doubting crowd that surrounds us, that it for its opinion & just keep carrying on. Towards the person you aspire to be despite all odds. It’ll be hard. I mean you are having a conflicting opinion with your own mind. But you know you better than anyone else. So if you truly believe you are stronger than whatever mountain you are presented with, then you are. Don’t let anyone, especially yourself, tell you any differently. So today I am asking you to wear your bullet proof vest with pride. Patch it when it needs patching. And most importantly, never forget how important it is.

#TheOneLeggedMommy #MentalHealth #BulletProofVest #Amputee #OwnsWorstCritic #GlassHalfFull #NecrotizingFasciitis #HipDisarticulation #LegDay