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| Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. |
I tell you this because as a person with mental illness, being busy can add a lot of stress and make my symptoms sky rocket to the point of becoming non-functional. I avoid that kind of busy often. But I decided to plan for this kind of busy and prepare myself for it so that I could enjoy the events and the family members involved in them.
My middle niece had her junior high theater performance. She was wonderful! I could hear her speaking parts and her vocal parts. She is a dynamic actress and brings a lot to the stage. I couldn't be more proud of her. I missed her choral concert which really bummed me out so being at her play was very important to me. She's a beautiful young lady with lots of talent.
It was the IHSA Finals Track Meet for my oldest niece. Her first as a freshman on the varsity team. She ran three events. I was an icicle by the end of her third heat. She ran her heart out. Her 4x100m team smoked the other schools. I'd been to as many meets as I could go to. I am so proud of her efforts and her love of athletics.
My youngest niece joined soccer for the first time. She's been tearing up the field this spring. I was fortunate enough to be able to see her last two soccer games. I was even there to see her score a goal!!! She is aggressive and does exactly what her coaches tell her to do. I can't wait to see how she develops in this sport.
My nephew graduated from high school. That was quite a site to see and be part of. Watching him being born all the way through his academic years thus far is certainly something to behold. This young man has had to make some hard choices but in the end, he's made more right ones than wrong ones. I'm eager to see where God leads him in the next chapter of his life.
Doing good for others, for me, means managing my mental illness in such a way that I can show up for these young people who I love beyond reason. If that means I have to chill out and isolate a few days beforehand, I do it. If it means I have to take anxiety meds or take them with me, I do it. If it means I limit the amount of time I can stay at an event or socialize afterwards, I do it.
My illnesses are not hidden from my family or my close friends. They are not the main focus, either. If I have enough prep time, I ask how much the person wants me to be there. Then I measure how much energy the event will require. Then I take it from there.
Doing good for others is also doing good for myself.
I don't live in isolation unless I need to fill up my solitude tank.
Sometimes doing good for others takes me out of my comfort zone.
In the end, it's not such a bad thing.
