We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Christina Odell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Christina below.
Christina, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
In September of 2019 I received a call that no one wants to receive. I learned that the father of my two sons, Bradley and Sean had taken his own life. The world stopped that day because not only did I have to navigate my own grief but I also had to tell my sons that they lost their father and try to navigate their grief as well. In those upcoming weeks we could barely stay above water. We had just moved to a new town where the boys didn’t have any friends or support inside of their school. In coping with his loss I created my art business called Cali Organic Art. I made art using dried and pressed flowers which quickly became my therapy. The art that I made evolved into mental health “You Matter” signs with a semicolon which became my most popular piece.
About a year after the loss of their father, my oldest son Bradley started to suffer from depression. He was placed on medication and attempted therapy which is not something a teen boy is open to doing. For 2 long years I fought alongside Bradley to get him better, with multiple hospitalizations, medication changes, and diagnoses. In 2022 we thought we were finally on the mend. Bradley had just gotten a job and his drivers permit, he was getting good grades in school and excited about his future. He was attending football games and getting back into doing what normal teens do. The morning of October 15, 2022 we woke up like any normal day but this day was anything but normal. Bradley had taken his life, he had lost his battle with suicide, he was only 15 years old.
After losing Bradley I knew enough is enough. My then 13 year old son, Sean has now lost his father and brother to suicide in a 3 year span. Sean was expected to go back to school and I learned quickly that there are no mental health programs in the FL school system. Something has to be done for these teens that are living in a world unlike any world we have ever experienced. With the social pressure, social media, bullying, and everything in between it is so hard for teens to experience living their best life. I knew that I had one of two paths to take. I could let my grief take over and spiral into a person that I would no longer know and my two surviving sons would lose their mother or I could use this tragedy and try my hardest to make a difference. I chose to turn my pain into purpose and if I can help one teen or one parent not have to be a part of this club then I know that Bradley’s death will not be in vain. Operation You Matter is created in Bradley’s honor and we will help our community of teens.
My vision for Operation You Matter is to bring mental health and suicide awareness to teens and help them create a better everyday life. It is my mission to provide youth with a safe space to use creativity as a means for their own mental health awareness.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Operation You Matter offers individuals the chance to explore mental health awareness through artistic expression.
Art therapy possesses the potential to enhance both communication and focus, while also aiding in the alleviation of feelings of seclusion. Within our program, individuals will be granted the chance to convey their inner selves through artistic means, concurrently cultivating an awareness of their mental well-being. A variety of mental health prompts and materials will be at their disposal, enabling them to craft their own exquisite masterpiece—one that they can elegantly frame and carry home, serving as a perpetual reminder of their inherent value, unblemished perfection, and significance.
Through the collaborative creation of mental health-inspired artwork alongside their peers, a profound sense of community will flourish. This shared creative journey will underscore the understanding that the concealed struggles teenagers confront on a daily basis are not solitary endeavors, but rather a collective battlefield. Amid the silent skirmishes of adolescence, dialogues remain pivotal to mental well-being. Individuals will be afforded the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations, unveiling their challenges, anxieties, triumphs, and achievements. In a bid to foster introspection and expression, individuals will also receive personal journals, with encouragement to chronicle their thoughts on a daily basis.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
My three main qualities would have to be empathy, understanding, and building relationships. Building meaningful connections with teens has been a huge part of my healing journey, everyone that has come across my path has been a blessing and I hope that Operation You Matter was able to make a positive impact on those individuals as well. My advise to anyone early on their journey would just be to never doubt your potential or your impact! Keep moving forward and stay strong.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Operation You Matter is always looking to partner and collaborate with individuals. We set the tone for creating a safe space to build community and talk about mental health and skies is the limit when it comes to how this can be done. Any individuals that do art, have a program for teens, or mental health professionals would really benefit Operation You Matter.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.operationyoumatterfl.org
- Instagram: @operationyoumatterfl
- Facebook: @operationyoumatterfl
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
