“After every storm, there is a rainbow. If you have eyes, you will find it. If you have wisdom, you will create it. If you have love for yourself and others, you won’t need it.” – Shannon L. Alder
Some of the most successful folks in our community thrive despite experiencing mental health challenges. We are inspired by their strength and honored that they would share their stories with us below.
Kimberly Ritchie
I’ve always been grateful for the steady rhythms that living on a farm or ranch provide. This was never more true than during the pandemic. When it was easy to succumb to fear and a desire to pull the blankets over our heads in the morning, it wasn’t a choice. That’s the gift of raising animals or growing food, it requires you to show up everyday. It not only gets you out of bed, but it plants you firmly in nature. It insures you never miss a snowflake, or a rainbow, or the turning of the leaves. Read more>>
Madi Kreates
Throughout my journey, I’ve encountered a multitude of challenges related to mental health issues. There were days when the weight of the world seemed unbearable, when trauma plagued my home life from an early age, affecting not just me but also my two sisters. In those dark moments, I found a source of unwavering determination – my sisters. Read more>>
Candi Little
While I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit, Eye Candi was born out of a newfound passion for life and my art. In Jan 2023 I celebrated my 4th year of sobriety. I began my journey in Permanent Makeup just 1 year into my sobriety. The initial years for most individuals in recovery are filled with self doubt, bouts of depression, guilt, and a general sense of just being lost & unsure of what steps to take to recreate a life and figuring out what that life even looks like? Read more>>
Uzuri Boatwright
In 2015, I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) while pursuing my bachelors degree. I remembered feeling scared and unsure of myself. I did not want to talk about it due to the shame associated with trauma and sexual assault. There is a stigma in the black community when it comes to mental health and spirituality. Read more>>
Sierra Annie
I have struggled with depression and anxiety for the better part of the last ten years of my life. Mental illness took so much from me for many years. I lost relationships, opportunities, money, friends, and so much precious time. In 2020, I did extensive therapy and was finally ready to heal. I was blessed with a therapist who truly changed my life and my perspective on healing. Read more>>
Alissa Harbin
I’ve had many unrecognizable versions of myself due to my mental health challenges that created the person I am today. I was diagnosed with complex PTSD, so everyday is a challenge. I think my dads death, by suicide, and finding out I was pregnant was the realization for me that not only did I want to heal but I wanted to help heal others. Both of those events happened at 19, along with a horribly abusive situation. Read more>>
