Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Meredith Randall. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Meredith, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hops that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
I think about my journey with mental health as a journey of overcoming. Through every phase of this process, I move a little closer to understanding what does and doesn’t work for me. Over the different seasons of my life, I’ve learned that healing isn’t linear. It’s messy and often moves in all directions at once. There are times of progress and times of setback, but each has taught me something valuable. What keeps me moving forward is the ability to push through those difficult moments and continually learn new ways to care for myself and manage what comes up out of nowhere.
There are so many ways that I have persisted but I think the main ones include therapy, surrounding myself with people who love me and I can share with, building routines and rituals to keep me grounded, moving my body, and most recently I’ve been trying to recognize the signs of anxiety or depression earlier.
Therapy as a tool has been key to working through the really hard things. With years of therapy, I’ve been able to work on both my past and present self. I’ve learned to cherish my inner child and to puzzle out whatever I’m currently struggling with, alongside a trained professional who asks the right questions and helps me uncover the root of the issue.
The friends I rely on to be there during the hardest times have been truly invaluable. I spent a long time hiding behind a mask, believing I had to appear a certain way or people would see the mess underneath and leave. As I’ve grown, my circle of close friends has become small but mighty; a reflection of trust, understanding, and shared growth. I’ve learned that who you surround yourself with is often a mirror of who you are.
My routines are a work in progress and I’m not always the greatest at maintaining. But the ones I reach for most often are my shielding practice, journaling, and coffee. Those 3 things prepare me for my hardest days, and if I can do all three in one morning, I feel unstoppable.
Finding my way back into the gym or being active is always the first step i’m gaining traction towards better mental health. It becomes the thing that is easy to wake up at 4:30 am for. I’ve never been a morning person, so the very fact that I am up so early to move my body and feel strong is an amazing feeling. I’ts been a great way to get those feel good hormones first thing.
The latest tool I am working on adding is recognizing my triggers. This is proving to be a key part in keeping me from reverting to less healthy ways of coping. If I am able to look outside myself and see how something is or could affect me, I am able to either disengage or actively work through it. It has been helpful to feel like I have some agency and the bad things aren’t just happening to me.
Overcoming life’s challenges, for me, is about meeting myself where I am, giving myself grace, and to never stop moving forward.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am one half of Ginger Designs, an interior design firm located in Spokane Wa. We specialize in everying from full custom homes & remodels, all the way to the final touches that make a house your home. Our mottos are Design Bold and Design Cool Shit.
I am also one of the recent owners of a cabinet company called Coyote Creek Cabinets. This has been a recent acquisition as of this year and has been such a ride.
A little backstory…
After highschool, I attended a university to accuire my design degree but put my dream on hold after two years to support my husband as he finished his engineering degree. I was then a stay at home mom to the most incredible boy; I love that I was able to do that. I then went back to school and finished my degree and never looked back. The whole process from first year in college to finally obtaining my degree was 17 years. I would say if you want to do something, it’s never to late. Go for it!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Always be learning and growing. The alternative is stagnation. Whether it’s learning about something relevant to a job i’m working on or how to better communicate, the goal is always to be better than I was yesterday.
2. Building relationships in both my personal and professional life has been incredibly impactful. People are complex, but I truly believe everyone has the ability to connect on some level with anyone. Even the smallest point of connection can shift how we see one another. Those connections have taught me compassion, patience, and empathy that carry over into every area of my life.
3. Resiliance. Life doesn’t always go the way we plan, and there have been times I’ve had to rebuild myself from the literal floor. Resilience isn’t about never falling; it’s about learning how to get back up with more perspective and strength. Every time I have chosen to keep going, I have become a stronger version of myself.
My advice for those of you on your journey.
Stay curious. Be genuine in your connections. Give yourself grace and get back up.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
If I had to create an ideal client, I think it comes down to trust. There is a reason you hired me and I will always promise to do my very best to bring what is on the computer or paper to life. When a client trusts you to do your job it is the most amazing feeling. It drives me to work harder to achieve a beautiful product for them. To be clear I give every client the same level of quality, but when you are able to connect and earn a clients respect and trust, it makes the job go so much smoother and I always love the end product a little bit more.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gingerdsgns.com/. https://coyotecreekcabinets.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginger.dsgns/?hl=en
Image Credits
B Park Media,
The Jory Mack Photography,
shanoahbriphotography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
