Q & A - Silver Siren Edition
I recently read a “Q&A with the editor” in a magazine. I said to myself, "Self. How can this be adapted to be relatable by most people?” Because most of us are going through something. We ride the highs, we barrel through the lows. We don’t share our Achilles heel. We post what we want others to see. But wouldn’t it be refreshing to read real? And so, I was inspired…imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Q: Where am I going?
To the gym. Then to the office. To educate with a heck of a story that changes the game.
Q: What am I decorating with?
I have a mood board, a wing, and a prayer. I appreciate the art of clipping magazines for inspiration. Give me Ralph Lauren, Serena and Lily, and mix in vintage flea market antiques. Your home should tell a story. Big box doesn’t spark conversation. I prefer to curate a home with a hodgepodge of quality pieces that say timeless, inherited, and cherished.
Q: What am I using?
My brain, my voice, my moral compass, my intuition, my time, and my loyalty to create authentic relationships that make a difference.
Q: What am I coveting?
Sweat equity. A trauma-informed lawyer. A chosen family. Sleeping in on a Sunday. Fall candles that transport me to a small town in Vermont. Anything Vetiver. An infrared sauna session. A nip of Drambuie in a stout, heavy-bottomed glass, etched with an initial. A Tempur-Pedic pillow. A home-cooked meal. Peanut butter cups from The Fresh Market. Any day I can move my body is a day I’m coveting.
Q: What keeps me going?
Restitution for justice. Education to implement change. Healing for a future. My psychiatrist. My psychologist. Leaders who have blazed trails in “mental health”. Clinicians who see the bigger picture. And you-you keep me going.
Q: What’s my dream?
1. Educate leadership about institutional betrayal, moral injury, and the psychological shattering after violating patient/civil/ and disability rights. Pay attention to the warning signs your employees are sending.
2. To change how we take care of the people who take care of us.
3. To change how “mental health” is treated and perceived.
4. To take the stigma out of talking about religion.
Q: What I’m wearing?
While I believe your clothes don’t define you, I also know your look sends a message, and people will judge. Currently, I’m wearing my favorite pair of jeans. These feel like butter, cost less than $50, and are borrowed from {redacted for protection} who bought them at TJ Maxx.
Q: What I’m gifting?
I go for a bespoke, tailored approach. Wellyhaus florals. My favorite book to gift to an expectant mother is “You Are Special” by Max Lucado. I’ve been known to collect your favorite snacks/beverages and drop off a basket as an act of service that says, “I thought about you!”
No matter what, take the time to send handwritten correspondence - it’s worth more than you realize. A handwritten card on quality cardstock is the pièce de résistance. The world is full of electronic devices that have us addicted. We’ve become far too reliant on autocorrect instead of education. Watch what you say, how you say it, and take the time to be kind.
Q: What am I reading?
Anything related to psychology, first responders, mental resilience, and perseverance.
Q: What am I listening to?
Podcasts about psychology. Musicwise - my playlists are a jukebox of vitamins for my soul. I blend whatever speaks to me. Music takes me on a mental getaway. Favorite artists? Needtobreathe, The Beatles, Ray Lamontagne, Motley Crue, Frank Sinatra. Pepper in some Vitamin Strings Quartet, maybe a little country, and we’re off to the races!
Q: What am I thinking?
Life is fragile. I think I got this. The best is yet to come.
Q: What am I talking about?
I’m talking about change. I’m talking about God. I’m talking about the moments that give me goosebumps. I’m talking about glimmers. I’m talking about what makes life beautiful.
Q: What am I building?
Something that will change the game. Stick around and find out.