Contributed by: Jackie Davis
In the spirit of the theme of storytelling I wanted to share a piece of my own story on this wonderful occasion, Mother’s Day.
My mother is a beautiful soul, an amazing person, a fabulous friend, and my all-time go-to StoryKeeper. For those unfamiliar with the phrase, a StoryKeeper is someone who has pledged to Be there, Listen, and Protect the stories they are shared. I may not have always known it, but I can go to her with anything I need to get off my chest. She holds my story in confidence. She listens without judgement. She is my sounding board to navigate my next steps and as a bonus, I trust her to “check me” if I need more than a sounding board.
A bit about me… I’ve had my struggles. Many of us have. I learned about ancestral struggles (being a mixed race child), I stumbled across the mental health conditions of my elders at a young age, and struggled with my own symptoms of anxiety, depression, and suicidilogy that still linger in my adult life. I’ve conquered many of my demons and continue to access my personal toolkit to function, thrive, and enjoy my day to day life. Some days are hard. Some days are great. Yet no matter my mood, I can share it with my ultimate StoryKeeper – my mom.
I would not be able to function as I do without the main “tool” in my tool box… mama. No matter my mood, I know I can send a quick text, call, or even stop by unannounced to say “I need to talk.”
I trust her with every secret, every thought, every curiosity. She listens, no matter what jumbled mess may spill out, she listens. I hope that I am as half as good a sounding board as she is to me. Listening can be contagious when you do it with purpose for the other person. I hope to be her StoryKeeper whenever she needs an ear, a shoulder, and an open heart.
Now that you’ve heard my story, will you keep it? Take the #KeepMyStory challenge today, take the pledge to become an MHC StoryKeeper and join the network of dedicated StoryKeepers across the state (and beyond!) Learn more by visiting Day#3 of #31DaysofWellness at www.mhconn.org/31daysofwellness/may32020.
And for those still looking for a last minute Mother’s Day gift, give the gift of charity by making a donation in honor of your mom at www.mhconn.org/31days. Happy Mother’s Day!
