“J” is for Journey #atozchallenge

“The hardest part of any journey is taking that  first step.”  How true this simple sentence is, we think, plan, speculate and worry, but it’s not until we take that step that we actually believe we can do what we are capable of.  

I thought it would be interesting to do some research and find out what the band  Journey had to say about this topic, and surprisingly, I found quite a bit that pertained to my life, my own journey and my desire for everyone with mental illness.  

 “Be Good to Yourself”  ‘Runnin’ out of self-control, Getting’ close to an overload, Up against a no win situation.’   ‘Be good to yourself when, nobody else will, Oh be good to yourself.  You're walkin' a high wire, caught in a cross fire, Oh be good to yourself’

There are far too many days when I do feel like I am up against the wall, that there is no way out, no hope for stability and peace of mind.  Then I remember, no one, not my doctor’s, friends or family can make my mind behave and do what I want.  They do not have the power or ability to create a new life for me, that I must do on my own.  I must take care of myself, do what is right for me even when others do not understand my actions, they do not have too; this is my circus.  

“Wheel in the Sky”  ‘Wheel in the sky keeps on turnin’, I don’t know where I’ll be tomorrow, Wheel in the sky keeps on turnin’

 This is probably closest to what those with mental illness face each day, not knowing what the next minute will bring, will I want to give up or keep going?  Will I smile or cry? There is never a concrete answer to these questions, yet I ask them each day, hoping today will be the day that it all makes sense; that research comes through with a cure and the jumble of miss fired neurons in the brain finally settle and give life back to all those who were deprived of their proper function.  

“Don’t Stop Believing”  ‘Livin’ just to find emotion,  Hidin’ somewhere in the night’  

This, of course is the final thought and the most important, never stop believing that everything will be OK in the end, the sun will shine again and there will come a day when smiling is no longer a burden, but something done naturally.  We can’t stop speaking out, fighting for better mental health care, the battle to end the stigma of this illness.  Not believing isn’t an option, when the days are the darkest is when we need to remember what the words say,  be good to yourself and don’t stop believing.