S1EP2: The Things You Do to Survive

This week on Fancy Coffee Time, we're throwing away the script and speaking straight from the heart. October 10th was World Mental Health Day, but it also marked an anniversary that will forever hold a special place in my heart. It was the day I married my former husband, Mike. After witnessing his struggles with mental health and reflecting on our journey together, I felt called to share some of the lessons I've learned about love, loss, forgiveness, and healing. One of the greatest lessons I've learned throughout my own healing journey is that we are not defined by our mistakes or the things we've done to survive. We're allowed to forgive ourselves for the ways we coped when we didn't know any better. We're allowed to take accountability, grow, change, and become the people we've always deserved to be. If there's one thing I hope you take away from this conversation, it's that you don't have to wait until you've forgiven yourself, figured everything out, or hit rock bottom to begin healing. Maybe your first step is opening a journal, finding a therapist, having an honest conversation with someone you trust, or simply acknowledging that you deserve something better for yourself. Whatever that first step looks like, I hope you'll give yourself permission to take it. Your past doesn't have to determine the rest of your story. If you're struggling with your mental health, please reach out for support. You don't have to carry everything alone, and you deserve to be heard, understood, and supported. In the United States, you can call or text *988* for free, confidential mental health crisis support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You don't have to be in crisis to ask for help. *Your healing matters, and so do you.* So grab your fancy coffee, pull up a chair, and come as you are. We're healing out loud, one conversation at a time.